Pathways Hospice’s Summer Grief Workshops Offer Creativity, Healing and Calmness in Sunnyvale and South Bay
Sunnyvale, California (PRWEB) June 05, 2014 -- Pathways Home Health, Hospice & Private Duty is offering nine grief workshops this summer in Sunnyvale and the South Bay. The Pathways Summer Grief Workshops Series will provide a creative, supportive and reflective outlet for individuals who are grieving the death of a loved one.
Workshop subjects range from writing through grief, origami crane creation, finding calm in chaos, to memorial gardening. All workshops are led by Pathways grief counselors, bereavement interns or social workers. Open to the public as well as families members served by Pathways Hospice, the workshops are scheduled for evenings or on weekend days.
Workshops are free of charge, non-denominational and open to the general public. Advanced registration is required to 1 (888) 905-2800, ext. 4241, bereavement(at)pathwayshealth(dot)org
All workshop listed below will be held at Pathways Home Health & Hospice’s Sunnyvale offices unless noted otherwise.
Origami Crane Creation will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, 7:00 - 8:30 pm led by Ann MacLeod and Vivian Shultz. Learn to create a hanging ornament that acknowledges grief while uplifting emotional spirits.
Moving through Grief with Writing will be held Wednesday, June 18, 2014, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Michael Saddoff and Kris Geiger will lead attendees as they explore ways to collect their thoughts, reflect on their feelings and record memories as they move through their grief. The workshop will be both informational and experiential. No sharing of writing will be required.
Contemplative Nature Walk will be held Friday, June 20, 2014, 9:30 - 11:00 am. Find renewal in the wonder and beauty of nature. Led by Alison Turner and Cheryl Seltzer, this gentle walk is intended to awaken the senses and support the journey through grief and change. Discussion will follow. The location is in Menlo Park with details provided upon registration.
Finding Calm in the Middle of Chaos will be held Sunday, June 22, 2014, 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Cheryl Seltzer created this workshop to help participants explore how to listen to their bodies, become more relaxed and connect to their innate wisdom and peace. Together attendees will heal themselves through calm.
You're Not Alone: Reading, Sharing & Grief is a two-day session scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 12:15 – 1:45 pm, and Tuesday, July 22, 2014, 12:15 – 1:45 pm. Attendees are welcome to either or both sessions. Led by Elaine Gee-Wong and Kris Geiger, this workshop will use the book “About Grief: Insights, Setbacks, Grace Notes, Taboos by Ron Marasco and Brian Shuf,” to prompt discussion about grief, loss and connection. Attendees are asked to purchase the book or borrow from a local library, and come prepared to share a passage. The first session on June 24, 2014 will cover Chapters 1 and 2, while the second session July 22, 2014 will cover Chapters 3 and 4.
Helping Grieving & Overwhelmed Families with Organizational Challenges will be held on Friday, July 18, 2014, from 10 am to 12 noon. This panel discussion features local professional organizers, Lisa Mark, CPO, Judy Ott and Jeanne K. Smith. Members of National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), this panel will provide information about aging in place and decluttering. It will also cover how to manage administrative details after the loss of a loved one. Attendees will also learn about time management tips to use while dealing with the loss of a loved one and how clutter makes the grieving process more complicated.
Memorial Garden will be held Sunday, July 27, 2014, 3-5 pm by Missy Gallo and Vivian Shults. Attendees will build a small potted memorial garden in honor of their lost loved one. Attendees should bring a container at least one gallon in size. Pathways Hospice will supply soil, plants, and decorative garden stakes.
Guided Imagery will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014, 10 am to 12 noon. Led by Vicki Panagotacos, this workshop will help attendees envision their everyday lives. It will also teach them tools to shift the focus on the future and to solve problems through imagery.
Sit/Standing Exercise will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2014, 10:00 am – 12 noon, This two-hour workshop will lead attendees through sitting and standing exercises to soften anxiety and lift the sense of dread that comes with grief. Led by Vicki Panagotacos, this workshop is appropriate for all ages. There is no floor work and attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes.
Pathways Home Health & Hospice’s Bereavement Services provide grief support to all in the community, regardless of whether their loved one was a Pathways patient or not. Pathways has one of the most comprehensive grief programs of any hospice in the Bay Area. The services include support groups, individual counseling, phone calls from specially-trained and supervised volunteers, and mailings that explain the grief process and that suggest ways of coping with grief. In addition, Pathways also offers memorial remembrance services centered on the spring and winter holiday season, as well as structured workshops throughout the year.
Workshops are open to the general public, is non-denominational and free of charge. Advanced registration is required to 1 (888) 905-2800, ext. 4241, bereavement(at)pathwayshealth(dot)org.
About Pathways Home Health & Hospice
Pathways Home Health & Hospice is a non-profit community based organization. Pathways was founded in 1977 by a group of physicians who saw a community need for compassionate end-of-life care. That year Pathways served 12 patients. Pathways now serves over 5,000 families annually in five Bay Area counties.
Pathways cares for patients in their place of residence, whether it be their home, hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility. Affiliated with El Camino Hospital and Sequoia Hospital since 1986, Pathways is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a member of the Visiting Nurses Association of America, California Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and the California Association of Health Services at Home.
For more information about Pathways services, summer grief workshops, volunteering, or making a donation in support of Pathways’ families, call 1 (888) 755.7855 or visit http://www.pathwayshealth.org/.
Judy Conner, Pathways Home Health, Hospice, & Private, http://www.pathwayshealth.org/index.html, +1 408-773-4284, [email protected]
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