Any recs for grief counselors?

[TheFied]

My wife lost her dad suddenly almost 2 months ago. She is still taking it pretty hard. She went back to work almost a week afterwards but she is still struggling.

Any recommendations for grief counselors in Austin? Preferably SW Austin?

 

[RoundRobin]

No idea on the councelor but I'll pray for your wife and the rest of the family.

RR

 

[Summerof79]

There might be some sort of support group. Sometimes it's just nice to let your feelings out to folks that don't even really know you.

I too will pray for her transition from period of Grief.

 

[Roger]

TheField, there are two options that should yield some results

1) call your church/synagogue or if you don't belong call a local church/synagogue, they often have support groups or people who are trained to meet

2) look in the phonebook and call a hospice. While they may or may not have groups of their own they usually have at least one social worker can either help or direct you in the right direction.

From personal experience and my mom's profession, what I've learned is that you probably are better off emotionally and financially finding a support group that is led either by a counselor or social worker. This will allow your wife to talk about what she needs to talk about and hear that other people are having similar issues. I'd suggest that you offer to go with her at least for the first meeting. If she is having issues that are abnormal then maybe she will need to go to a personal session with a counselor, but most don't need that.

 

[Wild Bill]

TheFied:
I don't know either, but i will also say a prayer for your wife.
WB

 

[Sgt. Longhorn]

If you are in SW Austin call Bethany Lutheran Church and ask for Pastor Gary Knippa. He does all kinds of counseling and is licensed. I think he specializes in marriage, but if he can't help he'll know who can.

FYI that's not my church, and I've only met Pastor Knippa briefly a couple of times, but I know folks who have used him who weren't church goers themselves and they rave about how much he helped them.

 

[William Cannon]

I have a friend who goes to grief support group meetings. I would call them for more info and for a recommendation.
www.forlovechristi.org/contact.html

I'm sorry for your and your wife's loss - it's hard not to miss people when they pass.

 

[TheFied]

I called up our church (St. Catherine of Siena) and they have a bereavement support group that meets every Saturday morning. I think I am going to go with her to the 1st meeting and then let her go on her own. Thanks for the advice! I didn't even know they had this or even think to ask before the comments here.

 

[William Cannon]

A support group that shares her religious beliefs would probably be best. You also may want to see about continuing to go with her to the meetings for more than just the 1st time. Give it a few weeks, it'll make her feel a lot more comfortable and ultimately yield better therapy.

 

[Bevo04]

My fiance just lost her dad to alcoholism. I've received a couple of recommendations to check out "for the love of christie." I'm also in the process of trying to find a grief counselor for her so that she can have the option of individual counseling as well. Both my fiance and her sister are in Austin, so it's something that they can do together. Sorry about your loss.

 

[TxArch]

The Link

PM me if you'd like more info.