2012 09 BP Sac-Placer News September

Bereaved Parents of the USA
Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter
September 2012
Gatherings & Activities
Inside this issue
September 2012 Gatherings
September Gatherings
1
Welcome
2
Keys to Recovery
2
Celebrating Life is a Better Way
3
A Grief Model
4
The Way Through Grief
4
The First Year After Loss
4
NOT a Matter of Choice
5
Comfort Offered By BP/USA
5
Be a Light House
6
Coming Events
7
Reader’s Choice
7
Family Bulletin Board
8
BP/USA Guiding Principles
9
Chapter Contacts
9
Dads-New meeting day for the dads group
Local Resources
10
Resources for Children
11
Internet Resources
12
Counselors
13
Sac Valley/South Placer County Areas (Second Thursday)
Date & Time: Thursday, September 13, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Carrow’s Restaurant, 100 N Sunrise Ave, Roseville.
Details: Dinner ordered individually from the menu.
RSVP to [email protected] or 916-806-7305.
Moms
Sacramento Valley Area (First Thursday)
Date & Time: Thursday, September 6, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Rinda’s home in Orangevale. For address, RSVP to
[email protected] or 916-768-3891.
Details: Bring a favorite main dish, salad or dessert to share.
We encourage everyone to bring a photo of their child.
South Placer County Foothills Area (Second Thursday)
Date & Time: Thursday, September 13, 6:00 p.m.
Location: St. Teresa Catholic Church, Beatitudes Room
11600 Atwood Rd, Auburn, 95603. (The Beatitudes Room is
located in the small building directly behind the church.)
Details: Bring a favorite main dish, salad or dessert to share.
We encourage everyone to bring a photo of their child.
RSVP to [email protected] or 916-768-3891.
September is Worldwide Suicide Prevention Month.
The more people who are aware of the danger signs,
the better chance we have that fewer will die.
Save the date!
October Parent Groups
Moms 10/4 & 10/11; Dads 10/11
National Gathering, 7/26-28/ 2013
Bereaved Parents of the USA
2012 Worldwide Candle Lighting
December 9, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
Sacramento, California
Lions Gate Hotel & Conference Center
A Warm And Understanding Welcome to our Newcomers
If you are reading our newsletter for the first time, we hope you have found the information
to be helpful. We would like to invite you to join us at one of our upcoming support groups
or activities. We would never have chosen to join this “club,” but as we learn together how to
process our grief, we are thankful for our new friends. We are here to help.
KEYS TO RECOVERY
Part 9 of a series
The Legacy
You may have heard someone say, “When we die,
our children are our legacy, but when our child dies, we
become their legacy.” A legacy is something we pass
on to others who outlive us. For instance, when a
grandfather dies, we might say, “He left his children a
legacy of love and respect.” But what kind of a legacy
can a young child leave for us?
At my son’s Celebration of Life, I shared about the
legacy Zack left us. “He brightened the room when he
walked through the door… He was a friend to many…
He met his challenges head on.” During his 22 years,
Zack lived life to the fullest.
We may think our child’s opportunity to leave a
legacy was cut short. My friend Donna’s holds the
opposite view. She believes that her son, Justin, lived a
full life. His legacy was friendship, caring for others,
and the willingness to change for the better. Even if our
child died as a baby, the joy they gave us was their
legacy.
Remembering what our child enjoyed and what their
goals were, can spark ideas that will motivate us to do
things that will carry their memory forward. It’s as if
we can extend their life by living out their dreams.
Amazing and thoughtful things have been accomplished
by parents whose children have died.
John & Karen’s son was a skilled baseball player.
They raised funds so under privileged children could
play Little League. Steve & Mary’s daughter attended a
private school. They paid the tuition of a little girl
whose
Grief is a process.
Recovery is a choice.
The way we grieve is a decision.
whose parents couldn’t have afforded it. After Elizabeth
& John’s 16 year old son died in a car accident, they
celebrated his birthday by treating strangers to
beverages at Starbucks in his honor. The book, Riding
with the Blue Moth by Bill Hancock tells the story of
how a dad fulfilled his son’s goal of bicycling across the
USA. The list is endless.
Sometimes our motivation comes from wanting to
prevent other parents from experiencing the pain we’ve
gone through. In our case, we raised money for safety
signs at the river where Zack drowned. Others have
raised funds for medical research and treatment. Many
people will participate in the upcoming Walk to prevent
suicide that will benefit suicide research and education.
Families have worked to make our communities safer
for children through legislation such as Megan’s Law
and the prosecution of drunk drivers brought about by
the efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Many of us find ourselves doing things to help
soothe the pain of other parents who are struggling with
their grief. People write books to provide knowledge
about the grieving process and share their own
experience. Others lead grief support groups. Some of
us just give hugs.
Losing a child is devastating, but discovering how
we can be our child’s legacy will give us the motivation
and courage to move ahead to where this journey will
take us. Being our child’s legacy will keep their
memory alive and make our life worth living.
STEPS TO HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD: 1) Pick a quiet time and place to think about the legacy your child gave you.
Was it laughter and enthusiasm, self-motivation, endurance despite handicaps, accomplishments, or special interests?
2) Begin a list of things that you can do to honor your child. You can start with simple things, but don’t limit your
imagination. 3) Pick out one thing that will be easy for you to accomplish, and then develop a plan for making it a
reality. 4) You may not be able to do everything on the list, but the important thing is to begin the process of becoming
your child’s legacy. 5) Lastly, include other family members in this process. Their involvement will increase the
impact your child’s life will have on many more people for many years to come.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 2
Celebrating Life is a Better
Way to Cope with Death
By Karma Lowe
Today marks a week since my youngest brother’s
birthday. However, instead of recalling memories of
the family all here together eating cake and ice cream
and celebrating the joyous occasion, my mind conjures
up images that only seem to surface twice a year: on
Jeffrey’s birthday and on the anniversary of his death.
Seven years ago, Jeffrey died by suicide. Though I
was only 14 at the time, and so many years have passed
since his death, when his birthday rolls around each
year, so does the pain. Today, however, is my last day
for mourning. About 3 years ago, I decided, instead of
fighting back my emotions or feebly attempting to act
as though everything is okay, on his birthday and on the
anniversary of his death, I would allow myself a week
to mourn and heal.
I have even developed a ritual. On these two
occasions, I dress all in white, sit in a private place with
the lights turned off, put on Bette Midler’s “Wind
Beneath My Wings” (the song she sang in the movie
Beaches right after her best friend died), light a single
white candle, and sort through old photographs of
Jeffrey and the family. The color white has, for me,
always represented light, rebirth, and newness.
“Instead of mourning his death, I will celebrate his
life.” Lighting a single candle stems from our Catholic
faith. It is a way of showing that the fire of his spirit is
still alive. With the heat of the candle, I can feel the
warmth of his presence. Listening to Midler’s song
helps me say all the things I didn’t get a chance to say,
especially when I carefully listen to the words and
realize how much they apply to Jeffrey and me. The
song seems to have been written for us.
When we were younger, I was the star of the
family. The straight-A student who sang in the church
choir and excelled in academic and athletic
competitions. Jeffrey was the quiet one. He was
reserved, an average student, and spent most of his time
reading or practicing Ninjitsu. No one was surprised
that I commanded most of the attention from my
parents. This didn’t seem to bother Jeffrey, however.
He was easygoing, a good lsitener, and best of all, he
always supported me in everything I did. I thought he
was
was the perfect brother. Losing him was extremely
hard for me.
Everyone kept telling me to cry and let out the
grief I was feeling. Someone even said that a year
from now I wouldn’t remember how painful this
experience was. However, even now I remember how
hard it was to return to school and my everyday life,
and pretend everything was fine, acting as though I
was dealing with his death and would be okay. I know
people meant well by sharing their condolences and
advising me on the best way to deal with my grief. In
the end, I realized no one could truly understand what I
was going through and their remedies for relief may
have worked for them. However, I needed something
more.
The first birthday after his death was especially
hard, and I dealt with it in a very different way than I
do now. I spent the entire month wearing black,
closing myself off from everyone around me, and
crying every time I had the inclination. I don’t regret
dealing with his death that way, but I do find solace
knowing that sever years later, I can silently mourn
without wearing black, without shutting myself off
from the outside world, and without wearing a mask of
happiness. I have healed at my own pace and in my
own time.
I understand now that this is the only advice I
could ever give someone experiencing a similar
tragedy: make your time and deal with it in your own
way. Only your way is the right way. Now I deal with
Jeffrey’s death the best way I know how – by
celebrating his life.
In that, I am at peace.
From The Compassionate Friends of Los Angeles
September 2011
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 3
A Grief Model
A progression through the journey
From A Journey Together, BP/USA
There are many models that describe the grief
journey. Here’s one that seems to closely parallel
the experience of many bereaved parents.
1
Year 1--- The year of firsts: the first birthdays,
anniversaries, holidays. The worst holidays are
Christmas and Mother’s or Father’s Day. It’s all
new and awful. We mostly agree that the
anticipation is usually worse than the actual days.
The Way Through Grief
Some survivors
try to think their way through grief.
That doesn’t work!
Grief is a releasing process,
2
Year 2… Hands down, universally agreed, the
worst year. We think we made it through all those
firsts and its been a whole year. We should be
“getting better,” but soon discover that we now
know just how empty and sad life has become.
Also, the support we had dries up and the feeling
of abandonment is huge.
a discovery process,
a healing process.
We cannot release
or discover
or heal
by the use of our minds alone.
3
Year 3… The year of irrational anger. We made it
through the worst year, so why aren’t we happier?
Instead we’re short fused and find ourselves
constantly angry over relatively insignificant
issues. We need to step back and remind ourselves
that this year is a strange and complicated country
we’re passing through on the grief journey. In our
support group, the veterans assure the newcomers
that year 3 does end.
The brain must follow the heart
at a respectful distance.
It is our hearts that ache
when a loved one dies.
It is our emotions
that are most drastically affected.
Certainly the mind suffers,
4
Year 4… The breakout year with mixed results.
We think we’re ready to start living again and try.
To the rest of the world, we seem normal, but still
we wrestle with giving up the grief, making plans
and being happy. As much as we want to fully
participate in life’s pleasures, something deep
inside is holding us back from really enjoying
ourselves.
the mind recalls,
the mind may plot and plan and wish,
but it is the heart
that will blaze the trail
through the thicket of grief.
~ Carol Staudacher
5
Year 5… The year of engagement. At last we are
ready AND able to engage life in earnest. This is
the year we truly understand (not just give lip
service to) that the loss we suffered will always be
a part of who we’ve become, but our child’s death
need not make the rest of our lives joyless.
Lord, grant me the grace to seek a rainbow.
But, most of all, grant me the courage
to go into the rain.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 4
NOT a Matter of Choice
By Carol Loeher
BP/USA Heart of Florida Chapter
OUR SON KEITH WAS 29 YEARS OLD when he decided to
end his life by suicide in 1999. Suicide is a frightening
word, and it is not only ignorance but fear and stigma
that keep people from understanding why someone
would take their own life. In a way, it is easier to think
that a person made a “choice,” freeing us from knowing
the truth.
The word “choice” continues to perpetuate the
stigma of suicide. The definition of “choice” is “the
freedom in choosing, both in the way one chooses and
in the number of possibilities from which to choose.” In
a pre-suicidal state, an individual is overwhelmed in a
given situation. They suffer extreme mental anguish
and a painful sense of hopelessness. Their sense of
judgment is distorted, and they do not have the ability to
consider options or make “choices.”
They usually want to kill the pain rather than
themselves. Suicidal people may be unable to restrain
themselves from acting on feelings or impulses. This
strong impulse to end the pain is often due to the
depletion of the chemical called serotonin which is a
chemical within the brain that helps restrain impulsive
behavior.
“There is no suffering greater than that which drives
people to suicide. Suicide defines the moment in which
mental pain exceeds the human capacity to bear it. It
represents the abandonment of hope,” says John T.
Maltsberger, M.D., past President of the American
Assn.
Association of Suicidology, practicing psychiatrist
and teacher at Harvard Medical School.
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the
USA and the second leading cause of death for those
ages 25-34. About 30,000 of the 650,000 Americans
who attempt suicide each year die. Suicide is almost
always the result of depression, an illness of the brain.
We can only imagine the horrible mental torture
our son, Keith, endured. Depression is one of the
most terrible and pervasive illnesses of our day. In
1999, the Surgeon General of the United States listed
suicide as a national public crisis. Having accurate
information about depression is critical.
We live in a world where people hang onto old
stereotypes. In order to stop future loss of lives by
suicide, we must make certain to take advantage of
any opportunity to encourage greater awareness. In
that goal, we can make great strides to ensure that
these stereotypes cease to persist.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Area Chapter, BP/USA, 8/12
Comfort offered by Bereaved Parents of the USA
Excerpts from a pamphlet on Suicide written by Elizabeth Estes for Bereaved Parents of the USA
When a child dies by suicide, parents experience the usual emotional upheaval that others go through, but they
often feel a deeper sense of guilt and failure. They feel they should have been able to somehow prevent the suicide,
that they were poor parents or that their child didn’t love them. For all parents, guilt and what-ifs go hand in hand with
grief, but the guilt after a suicide can be all-consuming for months or even years.
Many questions will go unanswered. In time, you may come to realize that you will never have all the answers, the
why will grow less urgent, and you will finally be able to let it rest. You will not get to this last stage easily or quickly, but
hold to the thought that you will get there as you grow and heal.
Somewhere in your grief, you will finally be able to accept that you did your best . But if you can’t, you will learn to
forgive yourself for your mistakes. Forgiving yourself and your child is a big hurdle along grief’s rocky road and is a
sign of the healing you are striving for.
At the beginning of your grief journey, you will think that nothing good can come from the soul-wrenching
experience of your child’s suicide, but you can grow from your grief and reach a new understanding of life and the way
it should be lived. Other families have come to terms with suicide, eventually sifting out happy memories of their child
to carry in their hearts. You cannot alter the fact or change the circumstances of the death, but you can be open to
change yourself for the better. Those opportunities will be there…look for them and embrace your journey.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 5
Be a Light House
The storm will come and there’ll be no shelter.
Stand tall and let your light shine.
Be the lighthouse.
Bring your
LIGHT
One word of
to places
ENCOURAGEMENT
where there
or act of
KINDNESS
is none.
can change
somebody’s
“ WA N T ”
H
O
P
E
Be that beacon of hope
for those who have none.
to live.
Too often, we underestimate the
power of a touch, a smile, a kind word,
a listening ear, an honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring, all of
which have the potential to turn a life
around.
~Leo Buscaglia
Be the lighthouse and
help them find their way.
Be the light to
guide their way.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 10
Coming Events
Save the date!
2013 National Gathering of the
Bereaved Parents of the USA
Lions Gate Hotel &
Conference Center
Sacramento, CA
July 26-28, 2013
Host Chapter:
Sacramento-Placer County
For workshop applications, registration forms, and to
donate visit www.bereavedparentsusa.org/gathering
SUNDAY
DECEMBER 9, 2012
Help others by being involved! We welcome your participation as we plan for the Candle Lighting and
the National Gathering. Both events are memorable and rewarding opportunities for healing.
#
#
#
Reader’s Choice
Standing at the Edge
By Meg Tipper
This memoir chronicles the author Meg Tipper’s journey in the land of grief for the
first year after the sudden death of her 22 year old daughter Maggie. In June, 2008,
Maggie Feiss graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of
Policy Planning and Development. Five months later, one day before she was to
begin her job with the Living Classrooms Foundation in Baltimore, Maggie died of
complications from epilepsy. Suddenly Meg was mourning Maggie’s death instead
of watching her daughter launch into her life. of life.
Meg’s observations weave inspiring and amusing details of Maggie’s life with
universal feelings of grief. Through the daily entries and occasional photographs, other stories of Meg’s life unfold as well: long-term recovery in a
twelve step program, the first year of retirement and frequent traveling, a
revival of her appreciation of her own mother, the aftermath of Meg’s divorce,
a move, and the cementing of a new romance. While sudden death puts Meg
on the edge of a terrifying emptiness, she finds in that space deeper spiritual
and personal connections, a richer experience of life.
Published by Apprentice
House, 2010.
When ordered through
www.standingattheedge.org,
a donation will be made to
the Maggie Feiss Fund
which supports epilepsy
research.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 7
Family Bulletin Board
Donna Woodard will help you
celebrate your memories
August Moms Gathering-Sac Valley
Spend a day with Donna,
making a scrapbook that
you will treasure.
Preserve your memories of
your child.
Bring wallet size photos.
Materials provided at no charge.
Call Donna at 916-338-3521 to
schedule your scrapbooking date!
July-Foothills (August not available)
Friends for Survival
We help each other learn how to smile again.
Support for those who
have loved ones who
died by suicide
Groups meet monthly:
Sacramento: 2nd Tuesday, 7:00-9:15 pm
Marilyn Koenig, 916-392-0664
Roseville: 3rd Thursday, 6:30-8:30 pm
Dorcas Reily, 530-878-3873 or
Michele Murphy 530-346-6343
www.FriendsForSurvival.org
Amazon.com Gives Back to the
Bereaved Parents of the USA
Visit www.BereavedParentsUSA.com and
access Amazon.com through the link at the
bottom of the home page. All purchases
made through this link will benefit the
Bereaved Parents of the USA national
organization with 4%-13% of each sale.
Thank you, Amazon!
Heritage Oaks Event
Center, Rocklin.
Details on page 5!
Sponsored by the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Saturday, October 6, 10:00 a.m.
California State Capitol
Goal $55,000
For research, education, survivor and
awareness programs–both to prevent
suicide and to assist those affected by
suicide.
http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseact
ion=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=1724
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 8
Bereaved Parents of the USA Guiding Principles
Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter
We are the parents whose children have died. We are the grandparents who have buried grandchildren. We are the
siblings whose brothers and sisters no longer walk with us through life.
We come together as Bereaved Parents of the USA to provide a haven where all bereaved families can meet and
share our long and arduous grief journeys. We attend monthly gatherings whenever we can and for as long as we
believe necessary. We share our fears, confusion, anger, guilt, frustrations, emptiness and feelings of hopelessness so
that hope can be found anew. As we accept, support, comfort and encourage each other, we demonstrate to each other
that survival is possible.
Together we celebrate the lives of our children, share the joys and triumphs as well as the love that will never fade.
Together we learn how little it matters where we live, what our color or our affluence is, or what faith we uphold as we
confront the tragedies of our children’s deaths.
Together, strengthened by the bonds we forge at our gatherings, we offer what we have learned to each other and to
every more recently bereaved family.
We are the Bereaved Parents of the USA. We welcome you.
*******************************
What would YOU like to see in this newsletter?
Contact Chris Harder, 916-768-3891 or
[email protected]
Our Chapter Contacts
Chris Harder (son, 22, drowning) – 916.768.3891, [email protected]
Corinne Summers (son, 22, murdered) – 916.296.2045, [email protected]
Marchelle Meyer (son, 23, motorcycle accident) – 916.947.6767, [email protected]
Rinda Pope (son, 19, military active duty Iraq) – 916.524.1939, [email protected]
Ron Harder (son, 22, drowning) – 916.806.7605, [email protected]
Donations Accepted With Appreciation
The Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter of
the Bereaved Parents of the USA provides grief
support to families who have experienced the death
of a child.
We are a non-profit corporation,
supported by individuals who care. We appreciate
and will use wisely any and all donations for the
support of bereaved families. Tax deductible
receipts will be provided upon request. 501(c)(3).
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 9
Local Resources for Bereaved Families
GriefShare (13-week support series)
Begins
9/11
Adventure Christian Church, Stanford Ranch Road,
Rocklin. Next series begins September 11, and
runs until December 11, 2012. Call Janet Perez
916-771-5239 for details.
Visit www.GriefShare.org for additional locations.
GriefShare is designed to allow people to join in at
any time during the series.
Life Beyond Loss (Support Group)
Begins
9/11
Destiny Christian Church, 6900 Destiny Drive,
Rocklin. A caring support group offering hope &
healing, restoring purpose for your future. The next
5-week program begins September 11 and runs
through October 9. Call 916-780-2273 for
additional information.
Grief Care (8-week support series)
Begins
9/13
A support group for those who have lost a loved one
of any relationship.
Bayside Church of Granite Bay, 1861 Sierra College
Blvd (corner of Sierra College Blvd & Olympus)
Building C-Room 230.
Sessions begin in January, April and September.
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Next series runs from September 13 – November
1, 2012. Call 916-780-2273 for more details.
To pre-register call Pam Brubaker, 916-783-0538
Friends for Survival, Support for those who
have loved ones who died by suicide
www.FriendsForSurvival.org
Groups meet monthly:
Sacramento: 2nd Tuesday, 7:00-9:15 pm
Marilyn Koenig, 916-392-0664
Roseville: 3rd Thursday, 6:30-8:30 pm
Dorcas Reily, 530-878-3873 or
Michele Murphy 530-346-6343
The Compassionate Friends
Sacramento Valley Chapter
Contact: 916-457-4096 (message line) or
[email protected].
Small Discussion Group for newly bereaved parents.
First Tuesday every month, 7:30-9:00 pm, Christ
Community Church, 5025 Manzanita Ave,
Carmichael.
Large gathering for all bereaved parents. Third Friday
every month, 7:30-9:00 pm. Speakers or discussion
on topics of grief.
Sharing Parents Pregnancy & Infant Loss
Support Groups
Free support group for loss of a baby from conception
through early infancy (up to 6 months of age). For
current calendar of meetings visit
www.SharingParents.org , call 916-392-0664, or
email to [email protected]
Meeting location: Mercy Women’s Center, 650 How
Ave, Ste 530, Sacramento.
1) General meetings monthly for perinatal loss
regardless of how long ago the loss occurred.
2) Subsequent pregnancy meetings held monthly for
parents contemplating future pregnancy or who
are currently pregnant.
3) A four week Short Term Grief series for parents
with recent perinatal loss.
Grief Support Group for Bereaved Parents
UC Davis Hospice
An 8-week educational grief program for parents
who have lost a child age newborn to 21 years.
Contact Don Lewis at 916-734-1139 or email
[email protected].
Grief Support Group for Young Adults
UC Davis Hospice
An 8-week program for those age 17-25 that deals
with the loss of a loved one.
Contact Don Lewis at 916-734-1139.
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/201
0-2011/03/20110309_grief_support.html.
Thank you for sharing resources that
you have found helpful.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 10
Local Resources Especially for Children
Grief & Loss Group for Teens
New!
Guiding Teens Thru Grief
A 7-week peer support group to help teens learn to
express, cope and thrive following the loss of a loved
one or friend. Minimal fee of $38 per 90 minute
session. Next series to begin in October 2012
For information about start date contact co-leaders:
Patricia Allison, LMFT Lic#51011, 916-802-7444 or
[email protected] or
Amy Collins, MFC Lic#43835, 916-759-1133 or
[email protected].
Children's Bereavement Art Group
Locations in Placer & Sacramento Counties Meets
weekly
Free to any child 4-16 who has lost a significant
family member within a year
www.checksutterfirst.org/children/services/pedprgms
/childbereave.cfm
Camp Hope – Livermore, CA
A weekend camp for children ages 6-17 who have
lost a significant loved one
www.camphopeca.com
For families with young children
The Sesame Street When
Families Grieve program
was developed to help
children summon the
strength to heal after the
death of a close parent or
sibling.
Contact [email protected] to
receive your copy of this very helpful outreach
kit. Available in English and Spanish.
Perhaps they’re not
really stars in the
sky…
Perhaps
they’re openings
in the heavens where
our loved ones shine down
to let us know they are happy.
Thank you for sharing resources that
you have found helpful.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter Newsletter – September 2012 – Page 11
Internet Resources for Bereaved Families
Umbrella Ministries
The Grief Toolbox
A support ministry reaching out to the hurts and
hearts of mothers who have experienced the loss of a
child. www.umbrellaministries.com
View weekly devotionals at
http://umbrellaministriesocla.com/ To subscribe,
email to [email protected].
A place to find tools for your journey…Articles,
artwork, support groups, and books.
www.GriefToolbox.com.
Open to Hope (On-line Support)
www.OpenToHope.com
Inspirational stories, radio programs, & videos.
Offering support for bereaved seeking hope.
Their new book, “Open to Hope,” is available on
their website. The companion book, “Hope for the
Holidays,” is also an excellent resource.
Grieving Dads Project
Committed to helping grieving dads. Read Kelly
Farley’s blog for grieving dads. Share your story as
you interact with others who join in the conversation.
www.GrievingDads.com.
Angels Across the USA Tour
Grief & Beyond
GRASP (Grief Recovery after a Substance
Follow Alan & Denise’s 2012 tour on Facebook.
View the album of kids who are traveling with them.
Alan’s music is available on line at
www.GriefAndBeyond.com.
Passing)
www.grasphelp.org
Alive Alone, Inc.
Centering Corporation
Grief Resource Center & On-line Book Store
The Grief Digest Magazine available in hard copy
and on-line.
www.centering,org
Christopher’s Candle.com
Lighting the path through suicide loss
Founded by Tina Morris, mother of Christopher
Baker.
Bi-monthly periodical for bereaved parents with no
surviving children
Email to [email protected]
www.alivealone.org
SIDS Alliance of Northern California
1-877-938-7437
Support groups and information
www.sidsnc.org
Wings, A Grief Education Ministry
Founded by Nan & Gary Zastrow
www.wingsgrief.org
Thank you for sharing resources that
you have found helpful.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter – September 2012 – Page 12
Local Grief Counselors
Patricia Allison, LMFT, MFC#51011
LuWanna Airheart, MS, MFC#48410
Marriage and family therapist who has personally
experienced the loss of a spouse and raised two sons
who missed their father. Co-facilitator of Guiding
Teens Thru Grief (see listing in Local Resources for
Bereaved Families).
Phone: 916-802-7444
Email: [email protected]
www.patricia-allisonmftrosevillecounselor.com
Offices located in Roseville at 1380 Lead Hill Blvd,
Ste 160, and in West Sacramento at 1550 Harbor
Blvd, Suite 210.
Licensed marriage & family therapist with a focus on
helping families following the loss of a child.
Phone: 916-784-0110
Life Source, Inc., 2530 Douglas Blvd, Ste 160
Roseville, CA 95661, MarriageCounseling.com
Shannon Chan, MA, IMF63580
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Supervised by Caren Dillman, MFT, MFC37543
Phone: 916-680-8505
[email protected]
www.SacramentoChristianCounselor.com
Amy Collins, MFC, MFC#43835
Marriage and family therapist who has experienced
many different types of losses. Co-facilitator of
Guiding Teens Thru Grief (see listing in Local
Resources for Bereaved Families)
Phone: 916-759-1133
Email: [email protected]
www.FindYourPath2Peace.com
Amy Nistor, MFTI
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern specializing in
support for grieving children
Phone: 916-807-4136
Email: [email protected]
The Life Bridge Office, 6235 W. Walnut, Ste 100,
Loomis, CA.
Diana Aten Conwell, LMFT, MFC#49952
Marriage and family therapist who has experienced
many different types of losses.
Phone: 916-622-4372
Email: [email protected]
Office located in the Johnson Ranch Complex
3300 Douglas Blvd, Bldg 200
Roseville, CA 95661
Thank you for sharing resources that
you have found helpful.
BP/USA Sacramento-South Placer County Chapter – September 2012 – Page 13