Adult Services
Widowed Support Groups
Most adults in Early Group, Transition Group and Perspectives are between the ages of twenty and sixty.
“I did not believe that other widows and widowers would understand my pain . . . (but) the decision to participate in the grief support group was the decision that saved me.”
— Diane B.
“I was 39 years old when my husband of 17 years was killed instantly in a car accident . . . I found the support group sustaining and fulfilling in a way that nothing else was.”
— Kathryn P.
Early Group
This group is for men and women who have had a partner/spouse die and who are in the early stages of grief. Most people attend this group through the first year to year and a half of being widowed. These people are usually in survival mode and trying to get through the days as they begin to process the death of their spouse or partner. The group offers a safe place for people to share their experiences with others, to learn tools to cope with their grief, and to have a place where they feel heard and understood.
Transition Group
This group is for people who have had a partner/spouse die and feel they have moved through the early stages of grief. They are beginning to think about how to create a life without the person who has died. They are also learning how to incorporate the memory of their partner as they move forward. People in this group are looking for tools to help them really live again, rather than just get through the days. They continue to want a safe place where they can express their grief as well as the daily struggles involved with creating a new life following the death of their partner.
Perspectives Group
People in this group are moving past the transition stage of their grief. The death of their spouse/partner may no longer be central to their daily lives, but they continue to appreciate having support as they move into new avenues they hadn’t contemplated before the death. Grief is a continuum and this place on the continuum is about living a new life that is being created. They often are looking at what brings their life meaning; they want to feel fully alive. People in this group understand that their lives are forever changed by the death of their spouse/partner. They are able to see the blessings as well as the sadness of their loss.
Additional Grief Support Groups
Young Adult Group
For adults approximately 19-35 years old who may find themselves living apart from their support systems after the death of a parent, friend or relative. This group generally meets twice a month (please consult the calendar) and our facilitators request that you call in advance to schedule a pre-group meeting. There is a recommended donation of twenty dollars.
Men’s Grief Group
Created as a supplemental group to our Early and Transition Group co-ed groups, the Men’s Grief Group offers a safe place for men to share with other men experiences unique to the male grief process. While the emotional process of grief shared with others is important in this group, there is also a focus on the active process of grieving that many men tend to use to cope with their loss. Most men attend this group through the first few years of being widowed. Men attending this group typically come away with new tools to cope with their grief and the experience of feeling heard and understood.
Adult Creative Group
For men and women who have had a loved one die. The focus of this group is to allow individuals to process their grief in a non-verbal and creative way. Some months a specific project will be highlighted; other months will be “open studio” where you can choose an activity for the evening. As always, all creative levels are welcome, as this is an opportunity to express yourself in a way where the focus is on the process, rather than the product. There will be an opportunity for group members to discuss or share new insights about themselves as they continue along the path of their grief journey. There is a recommended donation of $20 for group plus $5 for materials. This group meets once per month, usually on the last Wednesday of each month. Please consult our Google Calendar for exact dates.
Other Services
Retreats/Workshops
We offer week-end retreats as well as workshops on a variety of subjects that support individual grief journeys.
“I arrived Friday night with the grief monkey weighing heavily on my back. I was angry, frustrated, hopeless and weak. On Sunday, I left a new person…positive, energized, peaceful and strong.”
— Jolie W.
Ceremony of Remembrance
We hold an annual Ceremony of Remembrance to honor loved ones who have died.
Potlucks/Gatherings
We offer a variety of gatherings each month where families can connect socially and support each other. These include monthly potlucks, a holiday party, summer bar-b-ques, pizza parties, boat trips, and more.
For dates and times of these sessions, please see our calendar at our “news and events” page.
There is a recommended donation of twenty dollars for support group sessions. Individual services are available on a sliding fee scale. No one is turned away from The Healing Center for inability to pay.
