Adult Grief Support FAQs

OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center groups form after the death of someone close and are specific to the age of the griever, the length of time since the death, and the relationship to the person who died. Each group consists of five to twelve members and meets every other week at our centers in West Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, and Mid-City/Koreatown.

Currently, our In-House groups are for those grieving a:

• Partner or Spouse
• Teen or Adult Child
• Parent
• Sibling
• Someone Close (i.e., friend, co-worker, other family member)

Please note that the types of groups meeting at each of our three locations differ. We can provide you with more detailed information when you call, including grief support referrals for people whose needs fall outside the range of our services.

Our adult groups for English speakers meet in person at our West Los Angeles and Woodland Hills. We also offer a Limited Virtual Program for people who are unable to meet in person. Additionally, we offer groups in Spanish at our three locations and throughout the community for adults who have experienced the death of someone close.

• Please note that our services are currently only available in Southern California. If our services are not a match for your current grief support needs, here are some suggestions for referrals:
  Use the following link to find grief support services in your area: https://www.dougy.org/grief-support-programs/
• Contact the Palliative Care social worker and/or the chaplain at your local hospital and ask them for referrals to local grief support groups
• Contact a local mortuary or hospice, they often have referrals for local grief support
• If you are interested in therapy, please use the following link where you can search for therapists by location and specialty in addition to countless other search criteria: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
  

Yes, we offer groups in Spanish at our three locations and throughout the community for adults who have experienced the death of someone close. For more information, please click here to read in Spanish.

Most of OUR HOUSE’s grief support groups for adults are offered based on age as well as relationship to the person who died and are small, closed groups (not open, drop-in style groups). Because of this, we typically do not receive enough requests for this type of support to form and sustain small, closed groups. Often, different grief support programs specialize in specific areas of grief. We acknowledge that those grieving due to pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant death or the death of a young child would benefit from one of the programs with our community partners that specialize in this type of grief. We offer referrals for services with partner organizations for this reason. Everyone who is grieving a loss is welcome to call OUR HOUSE to receive referrals and we acknowledge MISS Foundation and Compassionate Friends as two of our community partners who provide support for those grieving a pregnancy, infant or young child.

Currently, we do not offer any pet bereavement groups. We do, however, have a list of referrals we can give you. Please contact us at (310) 473-1511 for more information.

Grief support groups for adults grieving a partner/spouse, parent, sibling, or someone close begin within the first 12 months after the death. Groups for parents who are grieving the death of an adult or teen child begin within the first 18 months after the death. Ongoing general grief support groups are offered within 3 years after the death.

Our adult groups usually meet Monday through Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., depending on the location. Occasionally, we have a group that meets during the day.

1. Complete the Services Inquiry Form and one of our clinicians will call you within two business days to discuss our services. You may also call OUR HOUSE from 9:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday-Friday at (310) 473-1511 or toll free at (888) 417-1444 to speak directly with a clinician.
2. The clinician will be able to answer your questions about our services and schedule a Pre-Group Appointment (PGA).
3. After the PGA, if it is determined that one of our groups is appropriate for your needs, you will be offered a spot in the next available group. Wait time varies based on the number of people ready to join a specific group at any given time.
   

The Pre-Group Appointment is designed to give you the opportunity to tell your story and assess your interest in joining a group. OUR HOUSE clinicians use these meetings to determine whether our groups can meet your needs and to make a plan for your individual grief needs.

As a non-profit agency, our services are offered on a sliding-scale. The suggested fee for the Pre-Group Appointment is $65, and the suggested fee for each group meeting is $35; we can slide down to $1 for either service. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Private health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medi-Cal do not cover our services.

• The emotional content of each group meeting may take time to process.
• Grievers’ schedules often do not allow for a weekly commitment to attend groups regularly.
• Group members are encouraged to meet with one another outside of their OUR HOUSE group on the alternate weeks when group does not meet.

OUR HOUSE grief support groups are small closed groups. All members are encouraged to attend on a regular basis.
When someone makes the commitment to join a group, we request that they are present for all sessions to both give and receive support.
We understand that from time to time a group member will need to miss a group meeting; we ask that they let OUR HOUSE know of their upcoming absence in advance.
Group participants agree to refrain from using alcohol and recreational drugs prior to attending group meetings.
Confidentiality is maintained for all support group discussions.

OUR HOUSE grief support groups are co-led by highly trained and supervised volunteer group leaders who are trained and supervised regularly by our clinical staff. We utilize a non-disclosure model for our group leaders, meaning that they do not share their grief history or other personal information with group members.

No.

Please see our What to Say, What to Do? information page. For additional support materials, please review our bookstore and library of Grief Pages.

OUR HOUSE grief support groups are run by volunteers and the focus of groups is providing support that is specific to grief. If other issues arise in group, conversations will be redirected to the topic of grief or the relationship they had with their person. Group participants support one another through the bonds of shared grief experiences. In a grief support group with OUR HOUSE, different activities, including specific discussion prompts, writing and other creative expressions will be used to help participants fully express their grief while reminiscing, sharing memories, and finding ways to maintain a connection with their person.

As we continue to align our protocols with LA County public health guidelines, effective July 1, 2023, staff, volunteers, program participants, and visitors entering OUR HOUSE spaces will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination status. Once indoors, individuals may elect to wear a mask if desired. To keep the OUR HOUSE community safe, all individuals are advised to stay home, rest, and recuperate if experiencing symptoms of illness. In all offices, OUR HOUSE staff will ensure that current LA County-recommended COVID sanitation protocols are followed. This policy is subject to change in accordance with LA County public health guidelines.