“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu
Death is a thief. It takes more than a life; it steals dreams, relationships, and some of what makes a life worth living. The tunnel of loss that follows can be dark and lonely. But HOPE Connection — through our caring support groups, therapists and mentors — opens a window to let light and life back in.
What happens to grief that is unattended? Are there symptoms? Does grief still exist if it’s put on hold or does it go away by itself? What do I do with it?
When your loved one dies, grief is a natural process in our bodies that can take many forms. It’s unique to every individual and is affected by so many different factors. “25 Factors That Affect How You Grieve and Heal from the Death of a Loved One” explains many of those factors.
Join Hillside Memorial Park in an online Remembrance Service for Father’s Day. Download the flyer for more information.
A long time ago, I presented a half-day workshop called “When the Group Changes.” It was about how difficult it is when any group changes and has to say goodbye. It’s hard to say goodbye, whether it’s an individual, a family or an organization. Everyone grieves. It’s a natural part of life. Life changes and whether we like it or not, it still changes. Nothing is permanent.
Resilience, hope and sometimes pure courage are some of the things that help us through… one day at a time, one step at a time, one minute at a time.
“One thing that we at HOPE know is that community heals. When compassionate hearts gather, love and comfort pour into the broken places and healing happens. It is this understanding that makes HOPE such a vibrant grief support community.” So begins the latest fundraising letter from HOPE Connection Executive Director, Dr. Jo Christner. But it is not a typical fundraising letter, because…
In Hebrew, the number 18 is “chai,” which means “Life.” So it is only appropriate that today – January 18, 2018 – is the official launch of HOPE Connection’s “A Celebration of Life” Bowl-a-thon. This event is being sponsored by our longtime supporter, Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, and will take place at Pinz Bowl, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City 91604, on…
Do you know someone who is grieving a loved one? You can help that person by introducing them to HOPE Connection. Let them know there is a community ready to support them, a community led by trained therapists and whose members know exactly what they are going through because they have been there. A second way to help is by donating to…
We at HOPE Connection devote ourselves to helping people who have endured the loss of a spouse or a parent. But we couldn’t do our job without the support of the entire HOPE community. The letter below was crafted by Deborah Elder-Brown on behalf of HOPE’s Executive Director, Dr. Jo Christner. We invite you to download a PDF of the letter and…
HOPE Connection is a nonprofit specializing in community grief group support. Our groups are located in West Los Angeles, Encino and Westlake Village. Currently, we’re seeking licensed therapists experienced in private practice who are interested in facilitating grief groups. Training/experience in grief work is preferred. Training/experience in group facilitation is required. We’re looking for professionals who are team players, flexible, willing to…
Here’s a sneak peek at David performing “Jumpin’ In Jerusalem!”