Grief Support to Start at Peace Island Medical Center

Monday, Feb. 1 and every other week through April 11, 2 – 3:15 p.m., at Peace Island Medical Center, Friday Harbor

— from Lori Polevoi —

A six-week grief support group for those healing the loss of a loved one begins Monday, Feb. 1 and runs every other week through April 11 at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, 1117 Spring St., Friday Harbor. Meeting time is 2 to 3:15 p.m., and cost is free.

The group will be facilitated by Andrea Zikakis, a PeaceHealth spiritual care chaplain, and Gary Waters, MSW, Ed.S., a behavioral health consultant at PeaceHealth Peace Island with public and private practice in educational psychology, clinical social work, family therapy and chemical dependency treatment. Together they will create for participants a safe place to grieve loss and process life. Because this is not a drop-in group, participants will be asked to attend each of the following meetings, if able:

Feb. 1 – Meet one another and create a safe space for future sharing
Feb. 15 – Consider and discuss characteristics of grief
Feb. 29 – Consider the journey through grief
March 14 – Offer assistance through self-created rituals and group conversations
March 28 – Companioning loneliness in bereavement
April 11 – Honoring grief; continuing life

For more information or to express your interest in attending, please call Zikakis at 360-788-6300 ext. 2456.

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PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center comprises a 10-bed critical access hospital, primary care and specialty clinics, a cancer center, expanded diagnostic and treatment services, an operating suite for outpatient procedures and a 24-hour emergency department. PeaceHealth Peace Island operates as part of PeaceHealth’s Northwest Network, which includes PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, PeaceHealth United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley, several PeaceHealth Medical Group primary care and specialty clinics, cardiovascular and cancer centers, diagnostic laboratory and imaging services. PeaceHealth, with medical centers in Alaska, Washington and Oregon, is a not-for-profit health care system founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1891.