Grief and Traumatic Bereavement Counseling
Small Bereavement Support Groups

Dr. URSULA WEIDE
Licensed Psychologist
Certified Thanatologist (Grief and Bereavement Specialist)

WE HAVE BEEN THERE - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Small group meets every Tuesday evening in the Old Town of Alexandria, VA, and every Friday evening in Rockville, MD. By appointment only. The initial private consultation with Dr. Weide is free.

Please note that my groups are different from most other groups in the area - these are not drop-in groups but membership is stable, and relationships between members become close and suppportive. No outsiders are allowed. Meetings are not dedicated to specific subjects but we discuss whatever members want to bring up. Also, we meet all year round!

Please read on below!

Offices in Old Town Alexandria, VA 22314, and in Rockville, MD 20852

Nationwide Loss and Grief Telephone Support Network
Please click on Telephone Support


THE ADULT GRIEF GROUP

Based on my personal experience as a young bereaved spouse and my professional background as a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Counselor and Certified Thanatologist (Grief and Bereavement Specialist), I facilitate group interaction. Participants are able to share the extraordinary dimension they now find themselves in with others who have had to face similar losses. Often, this is the only place a bereaved person can safely talk about everything s/he is experiencing. Group members thus realize that their perceptual and emotional world is not unique but a natural part of what they and others are going through.

No, you are not going crazy in spite of your seemingly strange acts, thoughts, feelings and perceptions since the moment of death of your spouse or partner, sibling, child or other loved one! And sharing the experience with group participants who are further along in the process of facing the future serves as reassurance that yes, you can survive too. And that you can make progress with making sense of your loss.

Even though individual experiences may differ, it is the traumatic dimension of grief which links us all. Whenever the death was premature, sudden, violent, or when the survivor witnessed decline and death or participated in the terminal care of a loved one, symptoms of trauma develop.

Life has changed, and these symptoms of traumatic grief affect our daily functioning, our interactions with others, and how we view the future. The group is a safe place to talk about your experiences and feelings with others who share them. And to develop your individual coping skills which will help you to go on in spite of the trauma.

Please note that there are never more than six participants. Membership is stable as participants may remain in the group for as long as they choose. This is not a "structured" format with meetings dedicated to particular subjects. We go wherever group members want to go!

Please click here to contact Dr. Weide or call (240) 229-1893 in Maryland
and (703) 548-3866 in Virginia for more information concerning individual
and/or group grief counseling.

Offices in Old Town, Alexandria VA 22314, and in Rockville, MD 20852


The initial private and individual consultation for prospective group members is FREE.

It serves the purposes of getting to know each other, provide reassurance, develop a picture of your situation, impart information about the signs of grief and trauma, explain the group process, and determine what services would be most useful for you at this time. Group members are seen individually whenever the need arises.


ADOLESCENTS

Compared with adults, adolescents have fewer opportunities for social support and support in the community. In addition, they have not yet had time to develop the coping skills most adults can resort to at a time of great need. Also, whenever there is a traumatized adolescent, the adult environment most likely has become temporarily impaired in response to the tragedy. Dr. Weide offers both individual and group counseling for adolescents. (Please click on Adolescents/Children) .

She also helps FAMILIES cope with loss and grief.

Please click here to contact Dr. Weide for more information or call (703) 548-3866 in Virginia and (240) 229-1893 in Maryland.

Offices in Old Town, Alexandria, VA 22314, and in Rockville, MD 20852



SEPARATION AND DIVORCE

The loss of a marriage and family - for many the foundation of life - can also trigger grief reactions.

Often, a host of issues imposes itself. There may be anger, feelings of remorse, the absence of opportunity for closure, and the disconcerting questions of what if...

Because of Dr. Weide's in-depth experience with grief, she brings a particularly insightful perspective to these losses as well.

Please click here to contact Dr. Weide for more information or call (240) 229-1893 in Maryland and (703) 548-3866 in Virginia.

Offices in Old Town, Alexandria, VA 22314, and in Rockville, MD 20852

Dr. Weide provides services for the following
communities and zip code areas:

Rockville, Bethesda, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Colesville, Gaithersburg, Garret Park, Germantown, Glen Echo, Kensington, North Potomac, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Alexandria, Arlington, Annandale, Belle Haven, Fort Hunt, Chantilly, Frankonia, Great Falls, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Merrifield, Seven Corners, Woodbridge, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Montgomery County, Washington DC, 22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22311, 22312, 22313, 22314, 22315, 22320, 22321, 22331, 22332, 22333, 22334, 22336