Grief Recovery Center

Mission

The mission of the Grief Recovery Center is to compassionately assist all those experiencing grief to move beyond the pain of loss, isolation, and lonliness through support, education, and couseling in the process of healing.

Overview

The Grief Recovery Center was founded in 1991. Sr. Rita M. Coco began providing grief, loss, and bereavement counseling, education, and support, for individuals and family members or their significant others. The GRC grew steadily as did the demand for workshops, support groups and presentations.

Throughout the past 20 years, the Center has served thousands of individuals in a safe and supportive environment that respects the dignity of persons at times when they can feel most vulnerable. The caring, personal, and stable environment of the Grief Recovery Center has been important to its service excellence. Today, the GRC continues to expand especially since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and local and regional requests for grief, loss, and bereavement services are at an all time high.

In July of 2006, Kathy Vilas, JD, LCSW stepped up to the challenge as Executive Director.

"Grief is not an illness. It is a normal experience, a process that needs to be dealt with. The process of accomodation is different for everyone." -Dr. Phyllis Silverman

Services

Grief Counseling: Our primary focus is grief counseling for persons (children, teens and adults) who have experienced a loss. Most of our clients are dealing with issues of bereavement. We also assist persons with grief issues related to divorce, loss due to a chronic illness, and loss due to a sudden disability caused by illness or accident.

Free Bereavement Support Groups: These groups are for widows, widowers, and those adults who have lost parents, siblings, or other significant people in their lives. This is a free service and is facilitated by an LCSW, qualified counselor, or trained volunteer.

The Monday Evening Adult Bereavement Support Group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Grief Recovery Center, 4919 Jamestown Ave., Suite 101, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 and is sponsored by Rabenhorst Funeral Homes.

The Tuesday Evening Adult Bereavement Support Group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church (main Church office meeting room) 14040 Greenwell Springs Rd, Greenwell Springs, LA 707309 and it is a collaboration between the Grief Recovery Center and St. Alphonsus Church and facilitated by a volunteer of the Grief Recovery Center.

The Thursday Evening Adult Loss and Grief Support meets from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at St. Elizabeth Hospital (Use Main Entrance) 1125 W. Hwy. 30, Gonzales, LA and is a collaboration between the Grief Recovery Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital.