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Programs
The Calgary Sexual Health Centre offers a variety of counselling and education services for people of all ages.


Counselling

All of our counselling services are free and confidential. We value the right of all people to make choices and respect their cultural and social differences.

Pregnancy Testing
Our pregnancy test services are free and confidential. Women can make an appointment or just walk in during our drop in hours Link to hours. If you choose to do a test at our agency you will get your results back within about five minutes. Then we will provide you with the information, support and/or referrals you want depending on the results. You can also come in and pick up a test to do at home. Read more about pregnancy tests. [link to pregnancy tests]

Options Counselling
The Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice agency that offers unplanned pregnancy options counselling. We believe that women have the right and the ability to make choices about their sexual and reproductive health. Our counsellors offer information, support and referrals around all three pregnancy options: parenting, adoption and abortion. Our goal is to provide clear and accurate information in a non-judgmental manner and to support you to make the best decision for yourself. Read more about all pregnancy options online or call to book an appointment with one of our counsellors. [Link to Pregnancy Options]

Birth Control Counselling
We provide counselling around various birth control and safer sex options. These sessions are very interactive and include topics such as anatomy, birth control methods, advantages and disadvantages of each method, where to access birth control, how different methods work and what methods might work best for you. [Link to Safer sex and birth control] We also have free male condoms available.

Post Abortion Counselling
We provide post-abortion counselling to women, their support persons and families. [Link to abortion section]

Phone Counselling
We provide information, support and referrals by telephone to individuals who prefer to call or who are unable to access our services in person. All phone enquiries can be made anonymously and will be kept confidential. We can answer questions on a variety of topics in the area of sexual and reproductive health. If we do not have the information you require, we will refer to an agency that can help. Call us at 403-283-5580.


Comprehensive Sexuality Education

School Programs
Our Sexuality Education program works within the Alberta Education Curriculum, and has been a recommended resource of the Calgary Board of Education since 1975.

We believe sexuality is a natural and healthy part of life that evolves and changes as you do. The goals of our education program are to:


Presentation Topics

The following descriptions represent possible topics that we can include in our programs, including presentations as part of the CALM (Career and Life Management) Program in schools:

Anatomy and Physiology
With a focus on normalizing body functions and debunking myths and stereotypes, participants will learn accurate information about female and male sexual and reproductive systems. Related health care issues such as breast self-examinations, testicular self-examinations and pelvic exams are addressed as well. *Available as a single session

Abstinence and Birth Control
Participants have the opportunity to learn interactively about different methods, how they are used, where they can be accessed, how much they cost, how effective they are and whether or not they reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. We don’t just give the facts; we ensure that there is plenty of discussion around decision making and opportunities for participants to build their negotiation skills.
*available as a single session with a brief Anatomy and Physiology introduction

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), HIV and Safer Sex
With the use of interactive activities, participants will learn accurate information about STIs, how transmission occurs and how to reduce the risk of transmission. Participants are given current information about how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of STIs. Most importantly, participants will also learn skills about how to negotiate safer sex if and when they choose to be sexually active.
*available as a single session with a brief Anatomy and Physiology introduction

Values
Using a value’s continuum, we provide participants with opportunities to explore their values around issues relating to sexuality. Participants learn how to identify their values, voice their beliefs, appreciate differences, and challenge themselves and others respectfully.

Relationships and Decision-Making
Using theatre techniques participants create various scenarios reflecting relationship issues and questions relevant to them. They practise important life skills of communication, decision making, setting personal boundaries and negotiation.

DARE (Diversity and Respecting Everyone)
Through the use of activities and discussion, we provide participants with the opportunity to identify and challenge stereotypes and discuss the impact of homophobia.


Community Outreach

At the Calgary Sexual Health Centre, we don’t believe that education is just about learning the facts. We believe that it is about making meaning of information through discussion about relationships – relationship to the self, to others, to the media and to societal norms.

Using innovative teaching methods, our facilitators provide opportunities to practise important skills of communication, decision making and negotiation so that participants are more prepared and likely to make use of the information they receive when they need it.

Our team of professional educators are available to work with:

We offer workshops on a wide variety of sexual health topics. Workshops can be presented on the topics listed above. We will also customize a presentation based on the needs of the group.

To book a program with the Calgary Sexual Health Centre please submit your request by following the steps below.

1. Email you’re your request to dwark@calgarysexualhealth.ca

2. Please answer the following questions
  1. Which program or programs is your organization or group interested in?
  2. What dates and times are you planning on having us present? (please provide us with a few options)
  3. Describe the group we will be working with, include ages, language requirements, necessary visual props and any other special considerations

Wise Guyz – Relationship and Healthy Sexuality Program for Young Men

Program Overview
Each group of young men spend 10 sessions (1.5-2 hrs each) exploring sexual health and sexuality related topics with a trained male sexual health educator.  The overall goal of the program is to provide participants with targeted information and opportunities to build skills to develop and maintain optimum sexual health and healthy relationships.   The influence of gender stereotyping and masculinity on sexual decision making is highlighted throughout the program.

Outcomes relating to values and emotions identification, communication, condom use and accessing sexual health services will be measured. 

Program components include:

For more information or to book a program please contact Blake Spence at bspence@calgarysexualhealth.ca