Bereavement Program
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Compassionate Grief Support in Sonoma Valley
In partnership with the Sonoma Valley Interfaith Ministerial Association (SVIMA), the Community Mental Health Hub at Hanna now offers bereavement services to support the Sonoma Valley community.
Recognizing the need for expanded grief support beyond initial pastoral care, SVIMA members began collaborating with Hanna clinicians to address diverse community needs. Through their combined efforts, they developed a multi-faceted approach to bereavement, providing various levels of support, including grief groups, individual peer support, and specialized workshops.
Workshops on Managing Grief and Loss
Workshops on grief and loss would provide an initial opportunity for the bereaved to learn about the process of grief and loss, to share their story of loss with others who have lost loved ones and offer resources for those who would like additional support. These workshops might provide individuals with the support they need to move forward in mourning their loss or they might be an avenue for accessing additional support.
Upcoming Workshop: Coping With Grief During the Holidays
Date: Saturday, December 14th
Time: 2-5pm.
Location: Hanna Center Large Conference Room
This workshop will offer background information on grief and loss, an opportunity to share stories of loss, ideas for how to cope with loss during the holiday season and a opportunity to honor the participants' loved ones in a candle lighting service.
Sign Up Below for Workshop
Peer Support for Mourners
Individuals who have personally experienced the loss of a loved one and volunteer their time to provide companionship and accompaniment to mourners during the first year after loss. These individuals would be provided with training in grief and loss, active listening, and the art of companioning the bereaved and support to check in with questions or concerns. They would commit to volunteering their time for a minimum of one year of service and agree to provide peer support to the bereaved during that time. Peer support could be offered to individuals who attend a workshop or reach out to join a grief group, which would provide support during a difficult time. It would address the desire to be responsive to those who are grieving and might not be able to join a group right away.
Grief Groups
Our grief groups were created to support those who are grieving the loss of a loved one by providing information on the grieving process, a safe space to process grief, and offering companionship with other mourners. The grief groups will be for adults in their first year of loss but no earlier than three months after the death of a loved one. Participants will be asked to commit to attending all eight sessions and keeping what they heard in the group sessions confidential. To facilitate group cohesion, each quarterly cohort of eight sessions will be closed. Whenever possible, two clinicians will facilitate each session.
Tentative 2025 Schedule
Tuesdays, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Winter: 01/14/25 - 03/11/25
Spring: 04/15/25 - 06/10/25
Summer: 07/01/25 - 09/09/25
To learn more or inquire about grief groups, please call the Hub at (707) 933-4482.
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Meet the Facilitator
Kristie Kesel Walthard
She/Her/Ella
M.A. AMFT #120630, APCC #8380
Kristie Walthard is an Associate Mental Health Therapist at Hanna Center’s Mental Health Hub. She is a Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT #120630) and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #8380). Kristie’s clinical work is supervised by Anna Lacey, who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #79375).