Bereavement & Grief Support: San Mateo Area
The Sutter VNA & Hospice Bereavement Program offers individual and group support to those who have experienced a loss. Anyone can use our grief support services, not just hospice families. Unless otherwise noted, events are held at: Sutter VNA & Hospice, 700 S. Claremont Street #220, San Mateo, CA 94402. A sliding-scale donation may be requested; no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. Registration is required.
You may contact either of our Bereavement Program Coordinators:
For Adults
Stephanie Amsden, MSW
650-685-2821
Email: amsdens@sutterhealth.org
For Youth
Susan Hobart, MA
(650)-685-2806
Email: hobarts@sutterhealth.org
- Inidividual 1:1 Counseling
- Adult Grief Support Groups
- Children's Grief Support
- Annual Service of Remembrance
- Phone Assessment/Referrals/Consulting
- Holiday Grief Support
Inidividual 1:1 Counseling
One or more sessions with a counselor can assist in the grieving process. Grief assessment and support is provided including factors which complicate healing, education, self support and stress-reduction. Focus is short-term intervention (not therapy) serving as a bridge between active/intense grief and re-engagement in community activities. Open to everyone and all types of death.
Back to top
Adult Grief Support Groups
Groups are designed for adults grieving all types of current and/or past deaths. Together we learn, share and create ways to adapt to loss and change. Group processes may include grief education, focused discussion and exercises, brain-storming, stress-reduction tools and music.
● Ongoing Weekly Grief Support is available every week all year long as it fits into your schedule. After your initial attendance, thereafter participants may drop-in as desired. Tuesdays 6 – 7:30pm.
● Daughters in Transition – An eight-week support group for daughters who are grieving the death of their mothers.
Back to top
Children's Grief Support
Children and teens grieve differently than adults and benefit from specialized group and individual bereavement support. Support groups are particularly beneficial way for teens and children to develop awareness of feelings related to grief and to meet others their own age who are going through the same process. Expressive arts such as creative writing, movement, collage and painting are integrated into our services. Our Youth Bereavement Program is growing! Contact Sue Hobart at (650) 685-2806 or hobarts@sutterhealth.org to register for the services below or request other services for Bereaved Children and Teens.
The Kids, Horses and Healing Program is a one-day workshop in partnership with the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy for children and teens who have experience the death of a loved one. Sessions occur twice a year from May through September. Contact Sue Hobart at (650) 685-2806 or hobarts@sutterhealth.org
Individual counseling supportis available for children and their parent/guardian, either in their home or our office.
Children’s grief support groups Ongoing (6, 8 or 10 weeks long) either our offices or school sites.
One-day Saturday children’s grief support workshops occur periodically throughout the year for children ages 6-12, and for teens. These programs are a safe and playful time for sharing dance/movement, talking, games and artwork.
Community presentations about children and teen’s grief and loss are available.
Back to top
Annual Service of Remembrance
Join hospice staff and community bereaved for a public, yearly, inter-faith acknowledgement ceremony to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have died. This mid-May, Wednesday evening event unfolds at historic Ralston Hall Mansion in Belmont, starting at 6:30pm.
Back to top
Phone Assessment/Referrals/Consulting
We are often over busy in our fast-paced culture. A brief connection and/or referral to resources can get one going in the right direction. Brain-storming on the phone can often help clarify some of the normal confusion of grief and open up pathways of choice and/or action. Professionals and/or bereaved can call for information, referral, assessment, consulting, and/or support over the phone. Counselor can refer callers to grief support closest to where grievers live/work.
Back to top
Holiday Grief Support
Our grief support around year-end holidays occurs the second week of November during a weekday evening and/or the first Saturday in December. We celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Days during our annual mid-may Service of Remembrance.
Back to top