Free drop-in Community Grief Groups meet every week throughout Humboldt County. Click here for group locations and times.
Writing Through Grief
Tuesdays, August 14 through September 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Writing Through Grief is a six-week workshop which utilizes writing as a catalyst to attend to and heal grief. Each week a theme is offered, pieces of prose and poetry are read, and prompts are presented to aid in the process of writing. Participants have an opportunity to share their own writing, but only as they wish to. This workshop is open to the community, and everyone is welcome to attend as few or as many weeks as is helpful to them.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801.
Creative Arts Gathering Capturing Memories
Saturday, August 18, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
When someone close to us has died, many find comfort and strength in drawing upon memories of that person. Sometimes, there is a fear that we will lose our memories as time goes on. Having a safe place to collect and hold our memories can help us feel more secure in not losing them. We will have time to reflect on our memories as well as create a container in which to keep them.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801
Advance Care Planning (OLLI Brown Bag Lunch)
Monday, September 10, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
How will your family know your wishes in a health crisis? As part of the HSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s (OLLI) Brown Bag Lunch Series, Hospice social worker, Aisha Coriell, will share information about the importance of making advance care planning decisions before they are needed. Attendees will learn how to approach these important, but often difficult conversations around Advance Care Planning. Get your questions answered and learn how to include your health care wishes in an Advance Directive form. Everyone is invited to attend this free workshop.
Creative Arts Gathering Caring for the Grieving Heart
Saturday, September 15, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Losing someone we love can wound us, break us, tear us apart. Attending to this brokenness asks us to care for ourselves deeply, perhaps in unfamiliar ways. We will explore the multi-dimensional aspect of self-care, including the physical, emotional, spiritual, creative, intellectual, and interpersonal, to create models which include all or some of these dimensions into our lives.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801
Hospice Volunteer Training Saturday & Sunday, October 6 & 7, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hospice Volunteers bring a special kind of caring to Hospice patients and their families. Training is required to become a Patient Care or Grief Support Volunteer. This training includes information on the many ways that volunteer support is offered to patients. Volunteers learn about Hospice services and how to provide specialized support for patients and their families when care matters the most.
For more information about any of the volunteer opportunities, or to register for the training, call 707-267-9813
Creative Arts Gathering The Circular Nature of Grief
Saturday, October 20, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Many experience the emotional impacts of grief in a circular or spiraling fashion. The intensity of emotions ebb and flow, the phases of healing come and go. Many of us feel as if we are right back where we were before when this happens. It is more likely that we are on familiar ground but in a different place. Through the creation of a wreath or spiral, we will examine this process and how best to harvest what it offers.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801
Advance Care Planning Workshop Saturday, November 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
How will your family know your wishes in a health crisis? In this free workshop participants will learn how to approach these important, but often difficult conversations around Advance Care Planning. Get your questions answered and learn how to include your health care wishes in an Advance Directive form. Registration for this free workshop is required. To register, please call 707-445-8443.
Creative Arts Gathering Redefining the Holidays
Saturday, November 17, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This workshop is offered as part of our annual Light Up a Life season.
When you are grieving, holidays are often difficult to navigate. Cultural expectations of happiness can leave those in grief feeling at odds with their surroundings and experience. We will explore broadening the definitions of and responses towards the holidays to find a more comfortable and nurturing way through them.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801
Creative Arts Gathering Ritual and Release
Saturday, December 15, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This workshop is offered as part of our annual Light Up a Life season.
In the work of loss and healing, ritual offers acknowledgement, release, and care of our broken heartedness. The ritual of welcoming light back into the darkest season of the year can also serve to summon light back into our darkest moments of grief. We will offer a simple ritual as well as create a symbol of this type of healing.
For more information or to register, call Julie D. or Gretchen at 707-267-9801