FAQ
Who is this program for?
Clarity Under Pressure (CUP) is available exclusively to women members of the Barrie Police Service — frontline, investigative, supervisory, or civilian support. You do not need to be in crisis to take part; most participants are high-functioning women who've noticed a gap between how they're performing and how they're actually doing.
Where is this located?
This experience is being held in the private upper room of Vetta Nordic Spa, which is located at 3210 Line 3 North, Oro-Medonte, ON.
What are the exact dates and times of this experience?
Sessions are held on Tuesday's from 5-7pm over five consecutive weeks. The sessions are scheduled on September 15, 22, 29, October 6 and 13, 2026.
What is the attendance requirement?
Full attendance at all five sessions, for the entire two-hour duration of each, is required to be considered as having completed the program. Missing part or all of a session means you're recorded as having partially completed it. This doesn't affect your access to sessions already attended, but it does affect eligibility for the next-stage program, Lead From Within (see below).
How do I register?
Any woman working for the Barrie Police Service is eligible to register. Complete the registration form linked on the program page (and available through the link below). Spaces are limited to 6–7 participants per cohort.
What happens once I register?
You will receive an invitation to set up your client account on JANE, a confidential electronic medical record system used by Wellness Within. You will be asked to complete an intake questionnaire to help confirm the experience is appropriate for you and to support the wellbeing of the group. As part of registration, you will also be asked to review a consent form and complete a pre-service assessment. All information is collected, stored, and protected in accordance with PHIPA. The pre-service assessment is anonymous and helps monitor the program's effectiveness in achieving its intended outcomes.
What if I need to miss a session or withdraw partway through?
Life happens, and you're asked to communicate that as it comes up. That said, this is a small, closed group — the value of the format depends on consistent membership, so missed or partial sessions can't be made up individually. If you need to withdraw from the program altogether, talk to your facilitator directly about your options.
What's expected of me? How much do I have to share?
As much or as little as you choose. You are never required to disclose anything you're not comfortable with, and you can pass, pause, or modify any exercise at any time without needing to explain why. Presence — showing up and staying engaged with the group — is the only real requirement.
Is this therapy or counselling?
This is a clinician-facilitated, psychotherapy-informed group experience. While therapeutic benefits often occur, the purpose is not to establish an ongoing therapeutic relationship or provide individual psychotherapy. If concerns arise that would benefit from individual clinical support, your facilitator will respond within her professional scope, which may include discussing appropriate referral options.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes. All personal health information shared in the program is protected under Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). Every participant also signs a confidentiality agreement: what's shared in the room stays in the room, and no one — including the facilitator — discloses another participant's identity or personal disclosures outside the group, during the program or after it ends. There are limited legal exceptions to confidentiality — for example, a real risk of imminent harm, or a legal requirement to disclose. Where it's possible and lawful to do so, you'd be told in advance if any such disclosure were required.
Will my service or supervisor know I'm participating, or what I share?
Your participation and anything you share are not disclosed to your employer, police service, or union without your explicit written consent, except where the law requires it. Program-level reporting to the Barrie Police Service is limited to de-identified, aggregate information—never anything that identifies you individually. That said, the management team at the Barrie Police Service is supportive of participation. If attendance conflicts with your work schedule, it is recommended that you inform your supervisor.
Will I have release time from my role if I'm scheduled to be at work during a session?
Yes. Your managers are supportive of your attendance, and release time is available if a session falls during your scheduled shift. Please consult with your supervisor.
Is there a cost, and is it covered by my benefits?
Green Shield Canada, your extended health provider, has agreed to cover the cost of the group experience. Wellness Within bills Green Shield directly on a per-session basis — you are not expected to pay out of pocket or submit your own claims. A receipt is available on request for your records.
Can I access the thermal baths after the group?
Yes. Participants who register by the posted deadline will receive one complimentary pass for access to the thermal pools from 7:00–9:00 p.m. on any one of the five session days. Access to Vettä Nordic Spa from 7:00–9:00 p.m. on the remaining session days has also been arranged at a reduced rate for women of the Barrie Police Service. This benefit is available provided you are not scheduled to work immediately following the session. Please check Vettä's website for information about what to bring.
What should I wear, and where does it happen?
Civilian dress — this is your time, not the job's. Sessions are held off-site at Vetta Nordic Spa in Oro-Medonte, away from the operational environment.
Will sessions include participants from different levels of management or rank?
Efforts are made to ensure that managers and supervisors are not placed in the same session as frontline officers and administrative staff.
Why is this held at Vetta Nordic Spa?
The setting is an intentional part of the program. Stepping away from the workplace creates the psychological distance needed to think differently, reflect honestly, and engage without the constant demands of the job. The natural environment and optional thermal experiences support recovery and nervous system regulation, complementing the learning that takes place during each session.
Will there be other dates posted for CUP?
Yes. If there is sufficient interest, an additional Clarity Under Pressure cohort will begin in early November. Details, including registration dates, will be announced as they become available.
What happens after Clarity Under Pressure?
Participants who complete all five sessions in full are eligible to register for Lead From Within, a leadership-focused experience is currently in development with the Barrie Police Service.
What is the focus of Lead from Within, and is it only for managers?
Lead From Within explores leadership by looking within — it is not a workshop on management styles or a lecture series on leadership skills. It builds on the self-awareness, pattern recognition, and values clarity developed in Clarity Under Pressure. It is open to any woman who has fully completed Clarity Under Pressure, regardless of position, rank, or role — not just those in management or supervisory positions.
