The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

A safe, comfortable space is being prepared for those who are grieving a loved one at Walla Walla Hospice. Following the writings and journals of Dr. Alan Wolfelt, “Understanding Your Grief” is the first ten-week long grief support group of the year.

For two and a half months, individuals grieving a lost loved one will have the chance to understand the ‘ten essential touchstones to healing your heart, which include dispelling the misconceptions of grief, exploring your feelings of loss, and understanding the six needs of mourning. The group will be led by licensed social workers and spiritual support counselors (often called chaplains).

The support group will begin January 19, from 5:30 p.m- 7 p.m, and will continue each Tuesday for the next ten weeks. The meetings will be held via Zoom call in order to keep all group members safe.

The group will be closed to new participants starting the second week.

“That way, we can create a safe, intimate space for people to share and communicate,” said Brad McMasters, WW Hospice Community Outreach Coordinator. “The groups are usually less than ten, but if we have more than that, there is a possibility of a second group or just waiting until the next group.”

Walla Walla Hospice offers the class to the service region, which encompasses Walla Walla, Columbia, and northeast Umatilla County, however, McMasters said that the online classes make it easier to accommodate people who live out of the service area who have struggled with grief, such as children of Hospice patients.

In order to get supplies and connectivity information to participants ahead of time, pre-registration is required. Interested individuals can email info@wwhospice.org or call (509) 525-5561.

Walla Walla Hospice continues to offer its Tuesday afternoon drop-in Solace support group, from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. each week.