Grief and Bereavement Support

Alameda grief support services are open to the public and provide support for adults, young adults and teens (12 years old and up) who have experienced a loss due to death. Whether you prefer the help of a trained professional in individual sessions or you want to lean on and draw strength from others who are grieving in a support group, the Alameda bereavement team offers various services to help you navigate your grief in a healthy way.

Our programs for adults, young adults and children include:

• Individual grief support sessions with professionally-trained licensed therapists, grief counselors or supervised marriage and family therapist associates. 
• Daughters Grieving Their Mothers: The mother-daughter relationship is unique to each woman, yet something shared. This eight-week group addresses the unique meaning of this loss for adult daughters. 
• Partner Loss: An eight-week grief support group for those who have lost a spouse or partner. Support one another as you grieve and learn to navigate life without your loved one. 
• Young Daughters Mother Loss Monthly Art Therapy: This ongoing support group will provide an opportunity for young daughters (in their 20s and 30s) to process feelings and experiences related to navigating life after the death of their mother.  Please call Julia Boekelheide, Bereavement Coordinator, for more information and to register at 510-846-3154. 
• Grief and Hiking: For more information, please call Chela Richheimer, Bereavement Counselor, at 510-409-3039. 
• Educational sessions on grief. 
• Annual memorial service events. 
• Handling the holidays workshop. 
• Grief and loss trainings available to community mental health providers. 

Groups are currently being held both virtually and in person.

The bereavement program is funded by community support. Groups are offered at no fee. Donations are gratefully accepted.

Our free grief support programs are available to everyone in the community. Please call to preregister before joining. While grief services remain free, we gratefully accept donations. Support services include:

• Individual counseling via phone, Zoom or in person, depending on your location
• Support groups, including groups for those who have lost their partner or spouse and daughters grieving mothers
• A four-week bereavement book club
• An eight-week Zoom support group for expressing grief through art
• Grieving Through Movement programs, including a weekly, drop-in hiking group and a two-hour in-person stretching workshop that helps release tension from the body
• Getting through the holidays workshop
• Annual memorial service events

For more information or to enroll in a program in Concord, please call 925-363-4126.

Sutter Care at Home's Hospice Bereavement Program provides free individual and group support for those grieving a loved one, as well as grief education for organizations. Support services include:

• Drop-in support groups
• Group discussions and strategies for handling the holidays
• Multi-week support groups for the loss of a spouse or partner and for the loss of a parent. Enrollment is required.
• A children’s bereavement art group for kids ages 4–17 to help them express their grief through art. Led by an experienced art therapist, the children are grouped by age and type of loss. Enrollment is required.
• Annual memorial service events

For more information or to enroll in a program in Roseville, please call 916-797-7900.

Sutter Care at Home's Hospice Bereavement Program offers free individual and group support to those grieving the loss of a loved one. Services are available at no cost to both Sutter Hospice families and community members. Donations are greatly appreciated. Support services include:

• An eight-week grief support group for adults grieving the death of a spouse or partner. Enrollment is required. Available in Sacramento and Davis.
• An eight-week grief support group for adults who have lost a parent. Enrollment is required. Available in Sacramento.
• A children’s bereavement art group for kids ages 4–17 to help them express their grief through art. Led by an experienced art therapist, the children are grouped by age and type of loss. Enrollment is required.

For more information or to enroll in a program in Sacramento, please call 916-388-6215 or 916-388-6255.

The Bereavement Program at Sutter Care at Home Hospice in San Francisco offers individual and group support to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one in San Francisco and Marin counties. All services are offered for free. There will never be a charge for our services. Support services include:

• One-on-one counseling sessions
• Support groups, including groups for spousal and partner loss

Grief Support Groups
We offer a variety of different support group series on a rotation basis. 

• Most of our groups are closed series. Closed series support groups last 4-8 weeks.
• Groups meet weekly for 90 minutes per session. There are 5-10 participants per group series.
• All group members must be signed up before the first session. No new members will be admitted after the first session.
• Support group topics include Romantic Loss, Parent Loss, Men’s Grief, Book Club, Writing With Grief, Grief Yoga, LGBTQ+ and other topics.

To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Alex Rush, Bereavement Coordinator, at 415-370-6203, or email him at alexander.rush@sutterhealth.org

The Sutter Care at Home Bereavement Program provides individual and group support for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Support services include:

• Individual counseling and phone support
• Support groups, including groups for adult children who have lost parents, spousal and partner loss, and drop-in support groups
• Getting through the holidays workshop

For more information or to enroll in a program in San Mateo, please call 650-685-2830.

Our Santa Rosa bereavement and grief support programs are open to the public and provide support for adults, young adults and children who have experienced a loss. We host an annual Service of Remembrance to honor the memory of loved ones who have died. Individual counseling is also available, as well as community education and training.

We also offer a variety of support groups, including:

• Adults Who Have Lost Parents: An eight-week grief support group
• Bereaved Parents: Support for parents whose young or adult child has died
• Daughters Grieving Their Mothers: An eight-week support group
• Family and caregiver support groups for adults whose loved one has a life-threatening illness
• Holiday groups for coping with grief and loss around Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving and winter holidays.
• Infant and Pregnancy Loss for people coping with grief due to miscarriage or the death of an infant.
• Parents Supporting Their Grieving Children: a six-week support group for adults whose children have lost a parent.
• Partner Loss: daytime and evening support groups for adults whose spouse or partner has died.
• People in Grief: an eight-week group for people whose loved one has died.
• Survivors of Suicide Loss: support for those who lost a loved one to suicide.
• Just for Kids: support for children ages 5–12 whose loved one has a life-threatening illness.
• Kids Together: support for children ages 5–12 who have experienced the death of a loved one.
• School-Based Grief Groups: Sutter Care at Home offers free grief support groups at school campuses in Sonoma County for children who experienced the loss of a loved one. These groups, held during the school day, provide a safe space for students to express their feelings, ask questions and learn about grief through age-appropriate activities and discussions. Please call 707-535-5784 for more information.
• Teenagers Living With Loss: support or teens ages 13–17, before or after a death in their family or circle of friends.

For more information or to enroll in a program in Santa Rosa, please call 707-535-5780.

Saratoga Hospice, also referred to as Hospice of the Valley, offers grief and bereavement support in Santa Clara County to help individuals and families cope with life transitions such as death, divorce, illness or job loss. The Center for Grief and Loss provides individual counseling and group support. Support services include:

• Individual grief support sessions with professionally trained therapists or supervised marriage and family therapists
• Therapist trainees or interns
• Grief support groups
• Educational sessions on grief
• Annual memorial service events
• Getting through the holidays workshop
• Biannual Children’s Night Out Program

For more information or to enroll in a program in Saratoga, please call 408-559-5614.

Sutter Care at Home’s Bereavement Program in Yuba City offers free grief support for children, teens, adults and families affected by the loss of a loved one. The program recognizes that grief is a natural and individual process and supports healing through care and acceptance. All grief services are provided at no cost, but donations are kindly appreciated. Support services include:

• Onsite evening support services for children ages 5–10 with concurrent parent group
• Onsite evening support services for adolescents ages 11–18 with concurrent parent group
• Onsite support for adults and caregivers
• Onsite maternal child health supportive services
• Offsite supportive services facilitated at the Tri Counties Juvenile Hall Facility
• Offsite school supportive services

For more information or to enroll in a program in Yuba City, please call 530-749-3460.