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Kara offers emotional support and information
to adults, teenagers and children who are grieving a death or coping
with a life-threatening illness.
Change and loss are natural in the cycle of life. We experience
grief and emotional distress with any significant loss. Support
from those with experience in dealing with personal loss can help
ease the pain and promote healing. Kara provides a safe place for
those who are grieving, or anticipating another's or their own death,
to express and normalize their feelings.
Kara is a nonprofit organization serving the San Francisco Bay
Area since 1976. Our services are provided primarily by volunteers
who have experience in healing from personal loss. With the aid
of professional staff and ongoing training, Kara's volunteers facilitate
others' journeys during life-threatening illness and bereavement.
There is no charge for Kara's services. We are supported primarily
by tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.
To request any of Kara's services below,
please call (650-321-5272) or use this Contact
Form.
Individual Peer Counseling
Individual peer counseling for adults and teens who are anticipating
or grieving the death of a loved one, or anticipating their own
death. Trained volunteer peer counselors provide one-to-one emotional
support. An initial interview is scheduled to assess the client's
need and determine appropriate service.
More . . .
Grief-Related Therapy
Fee-based professional psychotherapy for bereaved adults, teens,
children, couples and families. Therapy is provided to clients whose
loss is complicated by higher degrees of trauma, and/or additional
relational or emotional circumstances.
More .
. .
Camp Erin
A two-day grief support camp designed for children and teens ages
6-17, who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.
More . . .
Grief Support Groups
Grief support groups for children, teenagers and adults who are
grieving a death, organized by age and type of bereavement. Group
participants share their experience and learn from the experience
of others. An initial interview is scheduled to assess the client's
need and determine appropriate service.
Spouse/partner loss groups for parents
Parent/caregiver loss groups for: teens, children.
Child loss groups for:
- parents whose adult child died
- parents whose child under 18 died
- children whose sibling or friend has died
- teens whose sibling or friend has died
Survivors of another's suicide groups for: adults, parents,
children and teens.
Grief Group for Men who have recently had a significant
person in their life die.
Professional Caregivers Support Group
Drop-in groups: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (1-2:30p);
and 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of the month (7p-8:30p), at Kara's
office. There are no groups during the week between Christmas
and New Year. The drop-in groups are for adults who are grieving
any type of death of someone in their lives (i.e., mixed loss
including spouse/partner). No appointment or interview is needed.
More
. . .
Community Outreach & Education
- On-site Services: Visits to schools and workplaces to
help organizations process their grief when a death has occurred
or is anticipated. Experienced facilitators help people process
their reactions to the death and find ways to process their grief.
- Presentations on death and grief, tailored to meet a
group's special needs.
- Annual Holiday Candlelight Service of Remembrance: An
interfaith service where members of the community remember family
and friends who have died. The service takes place on the first
Thursday in December.
- Annual grief conference: A one-day conference featuring
authorities on death and grief.
More . . .
Consultations
- with grieving individuals and families
- with teachers, mental health workers, and other professionals
Referral Services
- Resources for individuals, families and caregivers needing help
after a death
- Referral information for professionals and individuals seeking
information on grief support services, both local and out of the
area
- Referral
Guidelines for refering clients to Kara
Contact
Us
457 Kingsley Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-321-5272
Office hours are M-F, 9AM to 4PM Pacific time.
Here is a map
to our office.
Kara is the Gothic root of the word "care."
It means to reach out, to care, to lament, to grieve with.
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