As a not-for-profit organization, we are committed to providing free bereavement services, not only to the families of our patients but to our entire community. We offer traditional emotional support counseling as well as innovative programs for children, teens and adults which address the wide range of bereavement experiences.
Perhaps the greatest gift handed to us by the grief process is the opportunity to move forward into a new understanding of ourselves. When we emerge from grieving the loss of a loved one, we embrace our lives from a slightly different perspective. From this new vantage point we find ourselves re-engaging in ways we never expected or even thought possible. The process of grieving can be a time of rebirth, renewal and growth. Hospice of the East Bay continues to grow alongside the adults, children and teens we guide through their grief experience.
Grieving the death of a loved one can be a painful and lonely experience. It can change our world by altering our relationships with others, and our own sense of identity. Our daily habits are disrupted, activities associated with specific roles are lost, and life plans are derailed in the wake of significant loss. Frequently, it is difficult for us to know if the feelings and reactions we are experiencing are normal ones. Grief is the natural response to profound loss and is the expression of the strong bond you had with the person who died.
No two people grieve in exactly the same way. The way we express our grief is influenced by many things, such as:. The period of grieving is a natural part of the process of healing after a loss.
Healing is possible when we allow ourselves to identify and understand our feelings as they arise. Participating in grief education classes and individual or group counseling can:. This class discusses grief and its natural process, as well as the broad range of common grief reactions. The information presented is helpful for people who are recently bereaved, experiencing grief years after a death, or wanting to support a bereaved friend. The class is currently available to view online here.
