Kara is an organization of non-professional volunteers who provide peer counseling to bereaved residents on the Peninsula. Our volunteers participate in an initial 25 hour training program designed to teach skills for grief counseling. After this formal training, the volunteer counselors receive on-going supervision, consultation and training in weekly small group meetings.

Since its founding in 1976, Kara has facilitated the natural process of grief for clients who might also be in therapy. When appropriate, Kara's counseling staff will work collaboratively in a support role with the primary therapist or physician.

In order to provide grief support that is within the skills of our counselors, we have established guidelines for those clients appropriate for our services. Because of the complexity of issues surrounding personal loss, we do not accept clients in the following categories:

• Thought disorder illness, i.e., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or anyone who is taking medication for such illness.
• Bipolar illness, unless stabilized on medication for three years with no hypomanic or major depressive episodes.
• Active substance abuse, including those currently in rehabilitation programs; former substance abusers must be clean and sober for at least one year and be actively involved in a recovery program.
• Active suicidal threat or in major depression.
• Complicated personal or family issues that require greater services than our peer grief support model can provide.

Kara does not charge a fee for its peer support services and relies on donations to fund its programs. We encourage those clients who are in a financial position to do so to make donations to help offset the administrative cost of Kara's services. Services are not based on a client's ability to donate.

We hope this information will assist you in using our services for your clients. If you have any questions, please contact us at (650) 321-5272.