Bereavement Support

Compassionate Friends
St. Mathias Episcopal Church, Huguenot Road, Midlothian
Last Tuesday of each month at 7:15pm. 804-254-0588

Compassionate Friends Support Group
for adults who have lost a child to death,
Meet 3rd Monday of month at 7:30 p.m. in the library of Peakland Methodist Church, 4434 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA
Call (434) 947-4501.

Comfort Zone Camp
A fun and safe camp for grieving children ages 12-17
Camp Hanover Mechanicsville, VA
Call for camp dates and ages - 804-377-3430, 866-488-5679
www.ComfortZoneCamp.org

Comfort Zone Camp Sponsored grief website, very teen friendly - http://www.hellogrief.org/ 

April 9 – 11, 2010: Comfort Zone Camp, the nation’s largest bereavement camp for children, will hold a weekend camp session for children ages 7 – 17 who have experienced the loss of a parent, guardian or sibling.  To apply for camp or for more information, please visit www.comfortzonecamp.org or contact Sherry Mullins by email at sherry@comfortzonecamp.org or by phone at (804) 377-3430.

Comfort Zone Camp Offers Free Grief Support Groups for Children, Teens and Adults
Groups are available for children and teens ages 5-17 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary care giver. Our adult groups are available to those who have lost a spouse or significant other and a separate adult group will be available to those who have experienced the loss of a child. Groups will meet simultaneously in order to serve the entire family.
All groups are provided free of charge
Groups are facilitated by trained grief counselors that will help participants share their personal stories, identify feelings and emotions, discover coping strategies and move forward by honoring loved ones and keeping memories present in our lives.
Where: Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
When: Monday evenings, 6:45- 8:00 pm
   Spring Six Week Session: April 19 – May 24, 2010.  For children, teens, and adults.  
   April 23rd -24th —”Where is God in Our Grief?” A retreat for bereaved parents.  For information contact Hank and Peggy Graeser at graeserh@comcast.net or 804-796-2021.
   Summer Session: To Be Announced
   Fall Session: To Be Announced
Registration forms are online at www.ComfortZoneCamp.org/Grief-Resources
For additional information e-mail us at supportgroups@comfortzonecamp.org or Patti Cox 804-840-6454, Patti@comfortzonecamp.org

Full Circle Grief Center - Program Schedule Summer 2010
Location: 10611 Patterson Ave., Bldg 201, Richmond, VA 23238
Grief support services at no cost for children and adolescents ages 3-18, as well as their parents/caregivers.

Hands on Healing Groups
Professional counselors use various forms of creative expression to help the group members tell their story of loss, identify their feelings, establish effective coping strategies and communication skills, and discover ways to remember their loved ones.
June 21 – July 26, Mondays from 6:00-7:30 PM, weekly for 6 sessions.  (Dinner will be served)
July 21 – August 25, Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30 PM, Weekly for 6 sessions.  (Dinner will be served.)

Creative Connections Remembrance Workshops
Professional counselors work with children to create a keepsake or memorial piece to honor a loved one. A concurrent adult support group is offered. 
June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16 - 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-7:30 PM

Registration information: Susie Nash 804-241-9662 or susie@fullcirclegriefcenter.org
All participants must register before session one of the group meetings.
Visit www.fullcirclegriefcenter.org for list of program offerings.

Grief Support for Individuals and Families
VCU Health Systems.  Call or email for dates and times.
ASK offices, 5211 West Broad St,reet, Richmond. 
Contact Ann Charlescroft, Manager for Bereavement Services at 804-828-4661 or acharles@vcu.edu.

H.E.A.L. Grief Support Groups
Saturday 4/10/2010, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
East District Family Resource Center, 2405 Jefferson Ave., Richmond, VA, 23223
Meetings are free but registration is necessary - cdmoss@healrichmond.org

Bon Secours Hospice
Windsor Park, 8580 Magellan Parkway, Richmond, VA 23227
Ongoing Support Groups from February through November 2010.  Contact Gwen Reed at 804-287-3528 for counseling, information or to register.
Monthly Grief Workshops from February through December 2010.  Contact Trish Kush, Bereavement Assistant at 804-627-5372 for information or to register.

Hospice of Virginia - Bereavement Education and Support Groups
NOTE: Groups and times are subject to additions and changes.  Please call or email for current information.

Richmond:  7231 Forest Avenue, Highland I Building
   Alternating Thursdays 5:00pm – 6:30pm - January 21, February 4, February 18, March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15
   Alternating Thursdays 11:00am – 12:00pm - January 14, January 28, February 11, February 25, March 11, March 25, April 8
Topics include: Up One Day, Down the Next; Living with the Memories, The Things People Say
Contact Johanna Moorman, Bereavement Coordinator, at 804-281-0451 or Johanna.moorman@americanhospice.com 

Tri-Cities: Dunlop House Assisted Living, 235 Dunlop Farms Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
   Alternating Thursdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm.  8 week series of various topics starting January 21. 
Contact Fran Ruggles Albro, Bereavement Coordinator, at 800-501-0451 or fran.albro@americanhospice.com

Kilmarnock: 101 Harris Road, just off Route 3, Rappahannock General Hospital    
     Tuesdays 3:00pm – 4:30pm - January 12 through March 2
Contact Mary Dell Sigler, Bereavement Coordinator, at   804-443-4090 or marydell.sigler@americanhospice.com or Jo Crockett 804-435-8000

Farmville: 202 Clark Street               
     Starting January 28
     Monthly Thursdays 1:30pm – 3:15pm, “Understanding Your Grief” by Alan Wolfelt
     Monthly Thursdays 3:30pm – 4:50pm,  “Seven Choices” by Elizabeth Harper Neeld
Contact Saundra Yates, Bereavement Coordinator, at 434-392-9666 or saundra.yates@americanhospice.com

Hampton/Newport News/Williamsburg              
Contact Fran Ruggles Albro, Bereavement Coordinator, at 800-501-0451 or fran.albro@americanhospice.com

Creative Connections for Families
Richmond:  10611 Patterson Ave, Bldg 201, Richmond, VA 23238
     6:30pm – 7:30pm - January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15 - 
     This program is offered by Hospice of Virginia and Full Circle Grief Center.  It is designed for grieving children and their caregivers, providing opportunity to commemorate a loved one and to process feelings of loss through art and other expressive ways.  Programs may use art, craft making, writing, movement and dance, using different methods each month.
Contact Johanna Moorman, Bereavement Coordinator, at 804-281-0451 or Johanna.moorman@americanhospice.com or Susie Nash, Family Services Coordinator for Full Circle, at 804-241-9662 or Susie@fullcirclegriefcenter.org

Hospice of the Piedmont
Bereavement support groups.  Educational and experiential workshops on grief related issues.  Short term grief counseling provided by bereavement counselors.  Youth services provided through the Journeys program, where children and teens (ages 4-18 years old) receive support and grief education and use art as a tool for creative expression. Youth services include bereavement camps throughout the year for children and teens (age requirements vary for each camp.)
For more information, to register for an event or get on our mailing list, please call the Hospice of the Piedmont office at 434-817-6900 or 1-800-975-5501.  Visit http://www.hopva.org/

Widowed Grief Group
Elaine M.C. Nowinski
emnowinski@fastmail.us - main email
widowedgrief@nowinski.com - secondary email
Spring and Fall groups
603 Holly Grove Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23235
804-272-7787

Walking Through the Valley
Support group for those grieving a death by suicide
3rd Tuesday - 7:00 pm
Christ Church Episcopal - in the parlor off the worship space
5000 Pouncey Tract Road, Glen Allen
804-364-0394

Bereaved Siblings
A support group for those who have lost a brother or sister.
Meets on an as needed basis. I am available during the week or weekend.
For more information and/or directions contact Emily Driscoll 804-484-9494
staywithmewill@hotmail.com

Crater Community Hospice
Bereavement Support Group Series - Open to Crater Community Families and the General Public
3916 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805
March 25 through April 29 - six weeks on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Each weekly group will focus on a different strategy members can use to help cope with the pain of grief and bereavement, including telling the story of their loss, expressing their feelings, managing stress, and remembering and honoring their loved ones.
Contact Karla Helbert, MS, LPC goup facilitator for more information and registration at  karlamarie@verizon.net or 804-892-2782

Griefshare: Dealing with the Death of a Loved One
6 to 8 p.m. Mondays on the campus of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Lynchburg Christian Academy.
Call (434) 832-2031. 

Kid’s Haven: A Center for Grieving Children
provides support for children (ages 3-18) and their families who are grieving the death of a loved one
meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  Call (434) 845-4072. 

RTS Bereavement Services Parents Support Group
Meet 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in private dining room (adjacent to cafeteria), Virginia Baptist Hospital.
For more information Call Evelyn at (434) 200-4568.

Widow to Widow
2 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month at First Christian Church, 3109 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503. 
Call Alice at DiuGuid Funeral Home for additional information (434)385-8900.

Healing After Suicide
John Randolph Medical Center
3rd Floor Family Life Center
1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7pm
Mary Douglas Krout  at 804-458-3895

Suicide Survivors Support Group
for adult family members and friends who are grieving the death by suicide of a loved one. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.
Call Vicki Sandifer at Mental Health Association of Central Virginia at (434)847-9055 to pre-register for this eight week long support group.

Bon Air United Methodist Church
1645 Buford Road, Richmond, VA  23235
9-week support group for widowed men and women will begin in early March 2010 held on ten Tuesday evenings
Registration cost - $25 (to cover books and materials).  Space is limited,
Contact Elaine Nowinski, Ph.D., Grief Group Facilitator by February 23.
(804) 272-7787 (leave message) or emnowinski@fastmail.us, WidowedGriefGroup@nowinski.com

Grief Support Groups
For those dealing with a sick or dying or passing of a loved one
Golden Living Center, 287 South Blvd., Petersburg, VA 23805
Weekly topics Include: Understanding Grief and the Grief Process, Coping with Feelings, and Self-Care.
Contact Andrea Uzzell at Auzzella@vcu.edu or (804)-239-3417

Nelsen Funeral Home - Bereavement Support Groups
Richmond, Williamsburg, Hopewell, Ashland
Contact Karen Gill, LCSW at 804-909-0123, kgill@nelsenfh.com

Healing Hearts: Support After the Loss of a Loved One
Sandston Recreation Center, 11 J. B. Finley Road, Sandston, VA
July 12, August 9, September 13 , 6:00-7:30 PM  - second Monday of each month
2007 Legacy Hall, 4301 New Town Avenue, Williamsburg, VA
July 14, August 11, September 8,  Noon - 1:30 - second Wednesday of each month 

Young Widows or Widowers Group
A support group designed especially for folks who experienced the death of a spouse too early in life. We meet in the home of Karen Gill 
July 13, August 10, September 14, 7:00 - 8:30, second Tuesday of each month 

Surviving Suicide: Emerging from the Darkness
For those who have experienced the death of a loved one by suicide.
Sandston Library, 23 E. Williamsburg Road, Sandston, VA
July 1, July 22, August 26, September 23, 6 - 7:30 4th Thursday of each month

Nelsen Funeral Home is committed to providing our community with services that promote healing and understanding. These groups are open to any member of the community in need of such services. Please share this information with friends and colleagues who may be searching for support and information in their journey through grief.

General Grief Support Services

Counseling
   CHIP of Greater Richmond - Athena Davis – 233-2850
   Dominion Behavioral Healthcare - Lowell Thomas – 270-1124, Helen Simpson – 270-1124
   Full Circle Grief Center - Allyson Drake – 357-5924
   Grief Resource Center - Jill Fitzgerald – 360-2884, Pat Franco – 559-1427 or 281-8235
   Jewish Family Services – 282-5644
   West End Family Counseling - Tom Terraciano – 747-8300
   Westhampton Family Psychologists - Alison & Stephen Twente – 673-0100

Richmond-Area Grief Support Providers for Youth and Adults
   Yvonne Barry – 363-6437
   Yael Buchsbaum – 673-3500
   Brenda Burgner – 852-2311
   Lee Carter – 346-2087
   Sanford Cassel – 355-9293
   Mary Polce-Lynch – 335-4947
   Carolyn Sharff – 497-2400
   Lisa Zoppetti – 201-5515

Support Groups – Adults
   Bon Secours Hospice and Palliative Care Services - Lee Peebles - 627-5371
   Hospice of Virginia - Fran Albro – 281-0451
   Nelsen Funeral Home - Karen Gill – 909-0123
 
www.thegrievingchild.com

Support Groups – Children & Teens
   Comfort Zone Camp - Sherry Mullins – 377-3430
   Full Circle Grief Center - Allyson Drake – 357-5924
   Christian-Focused Support
   GriefShare - Laura McBride – 795-7316, Joyce Parsley – 798-9014, Jerry or Patsy Deans – 559-7622
   Commonwealth Christian Counseling - Charlotte Markva – 254-7643
   Springboard Group - Alix Miller – 381-4008
   Walking Through the Valley - Tasha Brubaker – 364-0394
   Within Reach Christian Consulting - Dollnita Winston – 687-9418