Programs & Camps
Sacramento
Bereavement support groups provide opportunities for you to discuss your experiences and learn about grief with others who have experienced loss. Although most groups are facilitated by trained professionals, the true source of support is others who are also experiencing grief and loss.
Because of one’s extreme sensitivity during a time of loss, others’ responses may be disappointing or feel hurtful. In this situation, it can be very helpful to have a safe place to express your thoughts and feelings where you know everyone will understand and accept you.
Support Groups
SUTTER HEALTH ART THERAPY PROGRAMS
Children’s Art Therapy Support (CATS):
The Children’s Art Therapy Support Group (CATS) helps children learn to cope with and accept a cancer diagnosis through education, peer support and creative art expression.
The goals of the group sessions are to:
¨ Create a safe, non-threatening space where children can openly express their feelings through both art making and verbal sharing;
¨ Provide art activities which help the child move through the emotions associated with a cancer illness and;
¨ Reduce common behavioral responses in children who are experiencing a family illness (e.g. sleep disturbance, decreased concentration, regressive behaviors, and changes in school performance).
Closed group tracks of 6-8 sessions are offered throughout the year. Children are selected from the most widely represented age group. The art sessions meet on Tuesdays at the Sutter Cancer Center from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for participation. For more information and to register, please call the group facilitator, Peggy Gulshen, ATR-BC, LMFT at (916) 454-6555. A closed parent group is also offered as a companion to the CATS group.
Children’s Bereavement Art Group:
This peer support group, facilitated by trained art therapists and volunteers, assists grieving children (ages four through 17 in expressing emotions over the recent death of a loved one by utilizing art and other creative outlets.
The goals of the group are to:
¨ Create safe, sacred space where children and teens can gather with peers to experience validation;
¨ Provide a variety of art media so that participants may healthily and constructively express their own, unique loss experience, and
¨ Assist the whole family with the grief process through role modeling, normalization and education
There are 10 sessions, held every other week over a 5 month period, 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
For more information and to register a child, contact Peggy Gulshen, ATR-BC, LMFT, program coordinator at (916) 454-6555.
Website information available at: www.sutterchildrens.org/childbereavement
Healing Images: Art Therapy Support Group for Adult Cancer Patients:
This group offers creative ways for adults to deal with the many changes that illness may bring to their lives. The goals of the group are to:
¨ Promote the creative process, offering a variety of art media to channel personal experiences into a visible and a manageable form;
¨ Gather patients together as “artmakers”, experiencing the healing and integrative power of the non-verbal; and
¨ Foster sacred, ritual space where artmaking restores and nurtures the whole person.
This group is held from 4:30 – 6:00 pm on the first and third Thursday of the month.
For more information and to register, please call the group facilitator Peggy Gulshen, ATR-BC, LMFT at (916) 454-6555
Program for Young Adults (ages 17-24)
(916) 734-1139
Through UC Davis
Bereaved Mom’s Group
(916) 382-7304
Host: Laura Sullivan
Grief Recovery Method
(916) 764-3062
Host: Heather Brooks
Kaiser Bereavement Support Group
Ongoing
(916) 486-5300
Bereavement Outreach Meetings
Sutter Center for Psychiatry
7700 Folsom Blvd. Sac.
Open to the public
Education 1st and 3rd Weeks of the month
Sharing Groups 2nd, 4th, and 5th weeks of the month
7:30-9pm
Grief Help Sacramento
Bayside Christian Church
Other Groups and Courses (not local)
www.griefhealingdiscussiongroups.com
Programs in California
Arms of Angels/Madison's House*
301 Van Buren Street #17
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 521-3672
Comfort Zone Camp*
20695 S. Western Ave Suite 145
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 781-1032
http:// www.comfortzonecamp.org
Comfort Zone offers free grief resources, resilience training and ongoing support to children who have suffered the loss of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. Our programs focus on the strengths of each child, empowering them to grieve, heal and grow in healthy ways.
East Bay Agency for Children Circle of Care/PALS program*
2540 Charleston St
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 531-7551
East Bay Agency for Children provides counseling and support services to children and their families where a parent, caregiver or family member has died or is living with a life threatening illness. Called "Circle of Care", the program offers simultaneous peer support groups for all family members, with parents/caregivers attending one group and toddlers, elementary school children and teenagers attending their own group. In addition to peer support groups, individual and family counseling is available to children and families impacted by illness or bereavement.
Experience Camps
Malibu, CA
Experience Camps are one-week camps for boys and girls who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. It's a place where kids can laugh, cry, play, create, remember the person who died, or forget the grief that weighs them down. It's a place where they can feel "normal", because everyone there has been through something similar and understands what it's like to lose someone important to them. It's a home away from home. And just about everyone will tell you..."It's the best week of the year".
Jessica's House*
741 East Main Street
Turlock, CA 95380
(209) 250-5395
Jessica's House offers peer support groups where children and teens (kindergarten through high school), along with their parents or caregivers, meet with others who have experienced the death of someone close.
Josie's Place for Bereaved Youth & Families*
3288 21st Street, #139
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 513-6343
Kara: Grief Support for Children and Adults*
457 Kingsley Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 321-5272
Manitou Experience*
34 Deloss Street
Wayland, ME 01702
(508) 879-2800
http://www.manitouexperience.org
Manitou Experience is a free week-long overnight camp for grieving boys. We have camps in Maine and California. Manitou Experience in California is at Camp Whittle, about 2 hours east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino National Forest, just up the mountain from Big Bear Lake.
New Hope Grief Support Community*
3443 San Anseline Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90808
(562) 429-0075
Our programs provide essential support for the most overlooked members of our community, delivering unique programs and services to kids, teens, young adults, adults, spouses, parents, and families who are grieving. At New Hope, providing the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being in spirit, mind and body after a loved one dies is at the core of our work.
OneLegacy, a Donate Life Organization*
221 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90012
1-800-423-7220
Grief support services for families of deceased organ and tissue donors in Southern California.Services include: Grief groups, online grief groups, and individual or family counseling for grieving donor families.
OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center*
1663 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 473-1511
We offer grief support education to community professionals, student grief support groups on-site in schools through Los Angeles County and post crisis grief intervention to local organizations in addition to adult, children and adolescent in house bereavement groups.
Okizu-Supporting Families with Childhood Cancer*
16 Digital Drive, Suite 130
Novato, CA 94949
(415) 382-9083
Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corp.*
8019 Compton Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90001
(323) 586-7333
TCCSC provides individual, group, and family therapy wherever (at schools, parks, local coffee shops) and whenever (evenings, weekends, and holidays). Our services include: crisis intervention, grief counseling, Comprehensive Diagnostic and Evaluation, Consultation with Schools, Case Management, Linkage to community resources, Medication Support Services, Gross & Fine Motor Activities, Socialization, Academic Success/Self-Esteem, One-to-One Assistance, Community Skills Interventions, Transportation Assistance , and psychological testing.
Cherie Alexander, MFT**
303 Potrero Street
Space #43-203
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 600-8097
http://www.cheriealexandermft.com
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and former Children's Grief Support Coordinator for Hospice, specializes in providing individual support for grieving children, teens and adults.
Gayle Plessner**
32123 Lindero Canyon Road Suite 202
Westlake Village, CA 91361
(806) 914-9383
Contact email: Offered: Grief support, anxiety related disorders and depression, play/sand tray therapy. Couples, families, individuals of all ages. Offers a sliding scale and currently accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Michelle A Post, MA, LMFT **
10436 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 3030Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 927-5611
Contact email:
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/88939
Services offered: Individual, couple, child, teen & family therapy specializing in grief, loss, anxiety, depression, and career & life transitions using conversation, play and writing.
After School Counseling Services
1515 Floribunda Avenue #305
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 558-1015
The Arnold C. Yoder Survivors Foundation
264 S La Cienega Blvd., #1007
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 684-3964
Art & Creativity for Healing
26087 Getty Drive
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 367-1902
Camp Good Grief
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital
11234 Anderson Street
Loma Linda, CA 92374
(909) 558-8212
Camp Hope California/ Dan Hebert Camp Hope
1632 Ainsdale Drive, Roseville, CA 95747
5535 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550
(916) 772-1400
Camp Reach for the Sky
3530 Camino del Rio N., Suite 101
San Diego, CA
(858) 551-0922
http://www.theseanyfoundation.org/
Camp Reach for the Sky offers 2 options for bereaved families: 1) RyanStrong Bereavement Camp for families that have lost a child under the age of 18 to childhood cancer; and 2) Sibling Camp, a weeklong quality of life camp for siblings of active cancer patients or families that have lost a child to cancer. Our programs are pure quality of life and free for all participants.
The Center for Grief and Loss for Children
924 West 70th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90044
(866) 74GRIEF
http://griefcenterforchildren.org
Center for Grieving Children
7560 Florin Road
Sacramento, CA 95828
(916) 791-8414
Centre for Living with Dying
Bill Wilson Center
3490 The Alameda
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 243-0222
http://www.billwilsoncenter.org/services/all/living.html
Children's Bereavement Art Group
Sutter Cancer Center
2800 L Street, #400
Sacramento, CA 95820
(916) 454-6555
http://www.suttervnaandhospice.org
Circle of Care
2540 Charleston Street
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 531-7551
Contra Costa Crisis Center
PO Box 3364
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 944-0645
Desert Counseling Center
Children's Grief Support Group w/ Concurrent Parent/Guardian Program
71777 San Jacinto Drive Suite 204
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 636-4116
www.DesertCounselingCenter.com
For children ages 8 to 12 who have lost a parent or sibling. Safe, sensitive, age-appropriate activities for children to express their grief, learn coping skills to help them as they grow, and have fun together. A concurrent program helps their guardians get support as well, not only for their loss but also to help them in their new roles of single parenting and parenting a grieving child.
Footsteps of Saint Agnes
1303 East Herndon
Fresno, CA 93720
(559) 450-5608
Gary's Place for Kids
23332 Mill Creek Drive, Ste 230
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 461-9780
The Gathering Place
514 North Prospect Avenue #19
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 374-6323
The George Mark Children's House
2121 George Mark Lane
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 346-4624
Good Grief for Kids
Community Hospital of the Monterey Penin
23625 Holman Hwy.
Monterey, CA 93942
(831) 625-4753
Greater Hope Foundation
231 East Main Street
Barstow, CA 92311
(760) 256-0432
http://www.greaterhopefoundation.com
Grief Recovery Institute
PO Box 6061-382
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
(818) 907-9600
Grief Without Walls
Los Angeles, CA
(951) 468-5279
Grief support and individual therapy from LCSW Spencer D. Presler, provided in an outdoor setting, for children, teens, young adults, & adults, ages 10 & up. I am also happy to provide free information about grief as well as linkage to other local resources.
ICAN National Center for Child Fatality Review
4024 Durfee Avenue
El Monte, CA 91732
(626) 455-4585
International Network for Attitudinal Healing
33 Buchanan Drive
Sausalito, CA 94965
(888) 222-7205
Josie’s Place*
San Francisco Study Center
3288 21st Street, No 139
San Francisco CA 94110
(415) 513-6343
LiveLoveLau, a foundation for bereaved children
268 Bush Street 4014
San Francisco, California 94104
(415) 890-3528
College assistance for children in California and Hawaii.
VITAS Healthcare
670 N McCarthy Blvd Suite 220
Milpitas, CA 95035
(866) 268-4827
R. Dale Poland, Bereavement Services Manager dale.poland@vitas.com
Miller Children's Hospital and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Todd Cancer Institute
2801 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90801
Odyssey Healthcare, Inc.
71777 San Jacinto Drive, Ste. 201
Palm Desert, CA 92270
(760) 346-2816
Parents Helping Parents
Sobrato Center for Non-Profits
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 727-5775
Walk With Sally
(310) 322-3900
840 Apollo Street Suite 324,
El Segundo Ca 90245
https://www.walkwithsally.org/
Program Manager: jcegelski@walkwithsally.org
"Walk With Sally is dedicated to providing free support services to families impacted by cancer."
Circle of Care in Oakland
Support groups are available in Oakland and Palo Alto for children grieving the loss of a parent, sibling or another loved one
http://www.ebac.org/programs/circle/
Kara in Palo Alto: http://www.kara-grief.org/
For more information about the support group, please call Hedding’s office at
(510) 745-6569, or the Washington Hospital telephone operator at (510) 797-1111.
National Bereavement Resources
Offers links to various topics related to loss and grief. Also offers practical suggestions to help you navigate the days and months following the loss of a loved one.
Caring Connections, (800) 658-8898
A program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Caring Connections is a national consumer engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life. It offers lots of information and support about grief and loss. The program can provide you with information regarding support groups in your area.
Centering Corporation, (866) 218-0101
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and resources for both professionals and the families they serve. Provides books, magazines and workshops on grief and loss for caregivers and families.
The Dougy Center, (866) 775-5683
Provides grief support resources specifically for grieving children, teens and their families. Offers an excellent selection of relevant books, brochures and suggested activities, as well as connections to nationwide centers offering grief counseling and related services.
Hospice Foundation of America, (800) 854-3402
Helps those who cope personally and professionally with terminal illness, death and the process of grief and bereavement.
Local Bereavement Services
There are many local resources for children and adults seeking bereavement services. Hospice by the Bay is UCSF's preferred hospice.
San Francisco Bereavement Services
San Francisco Suicide Prevention 24-Hour Crisis Line
(415) 781-0500
Bay Area Jewish Healing Center
(415) 750-4197
Offers bereavement spiritual support groups, individual counseling, healing prayer and bereavement camp for children and families.
The Compassionate Friends
(877) 969-0010
Offers peer-led grief support after the death of a child.
Jewish Family and Children's Services
(415) 449-3879
Offers non-denominational bereavement support groups, workshops, individual and family counseling, healing and memory services.
Josie's Place
(415) 513-6343
Offers support groups for children and teens.
Pathways
(888) 755-7855
Offers grief support group, individual counseling and workshops.
Peninsula and South Bay Bereavement Services
Centre for Living with Dying (Santa Clara)
(408) 243-0222
Offers individual and group support for adults, children and families.
The Compassionate Friends (Burlingame, Santa Clara, Monterey)
(877) 969-0010
Offers peer-led grief support after the death of a child.
KARA – Grief Support for Children and Adults (Palo Alto)
(650) 321-5272
Offers grief support groups for children, teenagers and adults.
Kaiser Permanente (South San Francisco)
(650) 742-2439
Offers individual and group support for both Kaiser and non-Kaiser members.
Mid-Peninsula Widow and Widowers Association (Los Altos)
(408) 259-4433
Offers peer-led social group providing support for widows and widowers.
Pathways (Sunnyvale, South San Francisco)
(888) 755-7855
Offers individual counseling and support groups for children, teens and parents.
Seton Medical Center (Daly City)
(650) 991-6439
Offers bereavement classes, grief support group.
East Bay Bereavement Services
Camp Erin (Livermore)
(415) 230-6310
Offers free grief support weekend for children and teens ages 6 to 17 coping with loss.
Circle of Care/East Bay Agency for Children (Oakland)
(510) 531-7551
Offers support groups and individual counseling for children, teens and families.
The Compassionate Friends (Oakland, Stockton)
(877) 969-0010
Offers peer-led grief support after the death of a child.
Contra Costa Crisis Center (Walnut Creek)
(800) 837-1818
Offers individual counseling by trained volunteers in clients' homes or at Walnut Creek office. Also provides grief support program for adults, children and teens, as well as a 24-hour grief support hotline.
Crisis Support Services (Oakland)
(800) 309-2131
Offers grief support for individuals, families and groups in Alameda County. Also provides general grief support, as well as support for survivors of homicide or suicide.
Family Service of the Tri-Cities (Fremont)
(510) 574-2100
Offers counseling for youth and their families.
Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay (Berkeley)
(510) 704-7480, ext. 745
Offers a grief support group.
La Clinica De La Raza (Oakland)
(510) 535-6200
Offers Spanish-speaking grief support group.
Pathways (Oakland)
(888) 755-7855
Offers a grief support group and individual counseling.
Saint Rose Hospital (Hayward)
(510) 264-4050
Offers a grief support group.
Sutter VNA and Hospice (Emeryville, Oakland, San Leandro)
(510) 450-8596
Offers grief support groups, art therapy and remembrance services.
North Bay/Northern California Bereavement Services
Camp Erin Oakland Sponsored by Hospice by the Bay (Serving the Bay Area Counties)
(415) 230-6310
Free grief support weekend in Sonoma County for children and teens, ages 6-17, who are coping with loss.
The Compassionate Friends (Cotati, San Rafael, Eureka, Ft. Bragg, Garberville, Yreka)
(877) 969-0010
Offers peer-led grief support after the death of a child.
SAY WillMar Grief Services (Sonoma)
(707) 935-1946
Offers grief support for children, teens and families.