Bereavement Support Groups

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care^® of Volusia/Flagler
(as of April 2008)

We at VITAS understand this may be a difficult time for you. You may find it helpful to talk to someone about your feelings or the practical needs related to your loss. You may want to consider a support group or talking to someone individually.

Why a support group?

Support groups can help you identify the normal signs and symptoms of grief, increase your understanding of the grieving process, develop helpful coping strategies, gain strength and insight from shared experiences of group members, and develop a supportive network. Many support groups are free.

When should I choose individual bereavement counseling?

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing in a group environment, consider individual grief and loss counseling as an alternative. Costs vary; some individual counseling may be free.

Following is a list of local bereavement support groups and individual counselors who are available to assist in your grieving process…

EAST VOLUSIA HOSPICE-SPONSORED SUPPORT GROUPS

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care^®

6 week closed support group (no new members after the second meeting)

Call for times and locations

Contact: Elizabeth Mazak, VITAS Bereavement Services Manager, 386.615.2229 or 386.801.2670

Odyssey

8 week closed support group (no new members after the second meeting)

Thursdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

United Presbyterian Church

730 Beville Road

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

RSVP: Susan Smith Bennett, 386.248.2380

HospiceCare

Open ongoing support group

Morning and evening groups available

2^nd Tuesdays, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

4^th Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. - noon

Reflections Building

770 West Granada Boulevard, Suite 304

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

RSVP: Nancy Coleman, 386.671.4762

Hospice of Volusia/Flagler Southeast Volusia County

New Beginnings

7 week closed group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Donna Lunsford, 386.322.4701

Reflections

Social support and networking group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Donna Lunsford, 386.322.4701

Northeast Volusia County

New Beginnings

7 week closed group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Kathleen Moore, 386.673.7770

Reflections

Social support and networking group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Kathleen Moore, 386.673.7770

Begin Again Children’s Grief Center

Children’s Grief Support
(for children 4–18 and their parents)

Open ongoing support group

Tuesday & Thursday evenings

Times and locations vary

Contact: Karen Grant, 386.258.5100

Hospice of Volusia/Flagler
Trauma & Loss Program

(for those grieving the loss of a loved one due to suicide, homicide, accident or military service)

Individual counseling & support
groups available

Last Wednesday of the month, 1 –3 p.m. or

3^rd Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Times and locations vary

Contact: Kim Beck-Frate, 386.258.3237

ASSURE Group for Survivors of Suicide

Open ongoing support group

Meets every 3^rd Monday, 7 p.m.

Call for next date and location

Contact: Judy Brown, 386.252.5785

Epiphany Catholic Church

8 week closed support group

Call for times and locations

Contact: Bonnie Stevenson, 386.689.2283

First Presbyterian Church of
New Smyrna Beach

Open ongoing support group

1^st & 3^rd Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m.

509 Magnolia Street

New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

RSVP: Karen Looney, 386.426.0791

Compassionate Friends

(for parents who have lost a child)

Open ongoing support group

White Chapel Church of God

1730 South Ridgewood Avenue

South Daytona Beach, FL 32119

Contact: Karin Powell, 386.673.3249

L.I.F.T. Group (Living Information for Today)

Open ongoing social group for bereaved includes guest speakers, day trips and monthly luncheons

Times and locations vary

Contact: Nancy Vavra, 386.322.9903

Michael Ladwig, LMHC, NCC

5555 West Granada Boulevard, Suite E3

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

386.676.5421

Atlantic Counseling Center

403 North Wild Olive Avenue

Daytona Beach, FL 32118

386.253.2531

Behavioral Health of Ormond Beach

570 Memorial Circle

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

386.672.7470

Karen Samuels, PhDo:p>

115 East Granada Boulevard, Suite 7

Ormond Beach, FL 32176

386.255.1646

Newman Counseling Alternative

1240 Mason Avenue

Daytona Beach, FL 32117

386.253.4559

Counseling Associates of Port Orange

3959 South Nova Road, Suite 5

Port Orange, FL 32127

3386.761.2390

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care^®

6 week closed support group (no new members after the second meeting)

Call for times and locations

Contact: Elizabeth Mazak, VITAS Bereavement Services Manager, 386.615.2229 or 386.801.2670

Odyssey

8 week closed support group (no new members after the second meeting)

Mondays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Savannah Court

202 Strawberry Oaks Drive

Orange City, FL 32763

RSVP: Susan Smith Bennett, 386.248.2380

HospiceCare

Open ongoing support group

Morning and afternoon groups available

1^st Wednesdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

2^nd Wednesdays, 1 - 2:30 p.m.

DeLand Public Library, Conference Room

130 East Howry Avenue

DeLand, FL 32724

RSVP: Nancy Coleman, 386.671.4762

Hospice of Volusia/Flagler

New Beginnings, 7 week closed group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Edna Cortes, 386.322.4851

Reflections, Social support and networking group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Edna Cortes, 386.322.4851

Begin Again Children’s Grief Centero

Children’s Grief Support
(for children 4–18 and their parents)

Open ongoing support group

Times and locations vary

Contact: Matt Pearce, 386.822.4851

Hospice of Volusia/Flagler
Trauma & Loss Program

(for those grieving the loss of a loved one due to suicide, homicide, accident or military service)

Individual counseling & support
groups available

Times and locations vary

Contact: 386.322.4738

ASSURE Group for Survivors of Suicide

Open ongoing support group

Meets 2^nd & 4^th Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Call for next date and location

Contact: Judy Brown, 386.252.5785

L.I.F.T. Group (Living Information for Today)

Open ongoing social group for bereaved includes guest speakers, day trips and monthly luncheons

Times and locations vary

CContact: Necole Anglim, 386.775.2396

PRIVATE THERAPISTS

A Caring Heart Counseling Center

Myra Josephberg, LCSW

2425 South Volusia Avenue

Orange City, FL 32763

Bonnie Engel, PhD

1025 West New York Avenue

Deland, FL 32720

386.943.9443

Sharon Hyles, LMFT, LMHC

324 East Church Street

Deland, FL 32724

386.734.7535

Elliott Shamis, MS, LMHC

75 Fox Ridge Court, Suite C

Debary, FL 32713

386.668.6989

Parents in Mourning of Flagler County

Open ongoing support group

Last Wednesday of the month, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Palm Coast Library

2500 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest

Palm Coast, FL 32137

RSVP: Donna Lunsford, 386.445.4851

Odyssey Hospice

8 week closed support group (no new members after the second meeting)

Tuesdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Odyssey Health Care office

3 Hargrove Grade, Suite 5

Palm Coast, FL 32137

RRSVP: Susan Smith Bennett, 386.248.2380

HospiceCare

Open ongoing support group

2^nd & 4^th Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. – noon

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

5400 Belle Terre Parkway

Palm Coast, FL 32164

RSVP: Nancy Coleman, 386.671.4762

Call CancerCare at 1.800.813.4673, then press 4 when options are listed. The person answering will do an assessment for needs, and then a social worker will call back in 2-3 days. Or you can access their website at www.cancercare.org

Grief management books and videos offered through Dignity Corporation. Dignity is associated with local funeral homes.