English Spanish

1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 101
Ventura, CA 93003

Grief Support

Livingston’s Grief & Bereavement Center is a lifeline for individuals and families navigating the immense challenges of grief and loss. This program offers a wide spectrum of services, including individual, support groups, and community outreach programs. We provide specialized support for all age groups and aspects of grief, including survivors of suicide and recent widowers.

View list of grief support groups.

GRIEF SUPPORT REGISTRATION FORM

How Grief Support Can Help

Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief.

We offer individual (one-on-one) counseling and support groups with trained grief therapists.

Participating in individual or group counseling will help you better understand the grief process. Grief counseling can help you to develop coping skills, increase independence and autonomy, create new social support systems — and rediscover a sense of hope.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.

988lifeline.org
Mental Health crisis number is 988

The Livingston Difference

Our licensed counselors are specifically trained in grief counseling. Our focused — and free — counseling is offered to the family members of our hospice patients as well as to individuals, couples, children, and families living in our community.

Individual counseling services are offered at our Camarillo Grief & Bereavement Center; group sessions are offered throughout the county.

Our groups are led by licensed medical social workers, licensed marriage family child therapists, chaplains, and volunteers specializing in grief, loss, and transition for adults, children, teens, couples, and families.

We offer a variety of support groups throughout Ventura County including: Young Widow and Widowers, Newly Bereaved Children (Good Grief Club), Survivors of Suicide, Adult Loss of a Parent, Bereaved Mothers, and Teen Support Groups (at local high schools).

Who can benefit

Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one can benefit from grief counseling.

Cost

All bereavement services are offered free of charge.

Community donations are appreciated and help us continue to offer support to those in need. Services are also supported through proceeds from the Camarillo Certified Farmers Market.

Our Support Groups

Facilitated support groups provide an opportunity for individuals to explore their grief — in an environment of trust — with others who are grieving.

All groups are free-of-charge and open to anyone who has experienced a loss. Drop-ins are welcome, but please call to register before attending for the first time.

View support group calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the grief counseling program guidelines?

  • You are grieving the death of a loved one 
  • You are in need of grief support 
  • You are not currently working with another therapist 
  • You are resident of a Ventura County 

How long can you receive grief counseling?

The length of grief counseling will vary depending on the needs of the griever. Services are provided for up to one year. 

When should I start attending a grief support group?

Grief is a unique experience and no two people grieve the same. We advise the griever to wait for at least 6 to 8 weeks after the death of a loved one before joining one of our support groups. This allows you time to move through the shock of the death and be better able to share your story and hear the stories of other group members.

What are the grief support group enrollment guidelines?

  • You are grieving the death of a loved one 
  • You are interested in joining and participating in group support 
  • Our staff will assist you in finding the best group to meet your needs 
  • You are a resident of Ventura County 

What grief support groups do you currently offer?

We have a variety of support groups that are conducted in person and virtually. For a list of our groups, times, and locations please click here.

How do you enroll in a grief support group?

You can call us at 805-389-6870 or click here.
You will need to fill out an enrollment form before attending your first group. 

Can you attend more than one group?

We recommend you attend a few groups until you find the right group for you. We do not recommend you attend more than two groups a week.

How will I know if I am better?

Those persons who have worked with their grief to move toward the dimension of reconciliation should be able to demonstrate: 

  • A recognition of the reality and finality of the death of the person who has died 
  • A return to stable eating and sleeping patterns that were present prior to the death 
  • A renewed sense of energy and personal well-being 
  • A subjective sense of release or relief from the person who has died (they have thoughts of the person, but are not preoccupied with these thoughts) 
  • The capacity to enjoy experiences in life that should normally be enjoyable 
  • The establishment of new and healthy relationships 
  • The capacity to live a full life without feelings of guilt or lack of self-respect 
  • The capacity to organize and plan one’s life toward the future 
  • The capacity to become comfortable with the way things are, rather than attempting to make things as they were 
  • The capacity to being open to more change in one’s life 
  • The awareness that one has allowed self to fully grieve 
  • The awareness that one does not “get over grief”, but instead is able to acknowledge, “This is my new reality and I am ultimately the one who must work to create new meaning and purpose in my life” 
  • The capacity to acknowledge new parts of one’s self that have been discovered in the growth through one’s grief 
  • The capacity to adjust to the new role changes that have resulted from the loss of the relationship 
  • The capacity to be compassionate with oneself when normal resurgences of intense grief occur (holidays, anniversaries, special occasions) 
  • The capacity to acknowledge that the pain of loss is an inherent part of life that results from the ability to give and receive love 

From Alan Wolfelt PhD, Center for Loss and Life Transition 

Contact us today!