READ ON to see how we can help you. PARTICIPATE with us! DONATE & VOLUNTEER
Find out about specific SUPPORT GROUPS by clicking here.
Did you wake up this morning in deep pain because you’ve lost someone special?
Do you feel like no one understands why you’re still crying?
Do you want a safe place to explore your grief?
Would you like to connect with others in grief?
Do you want to learn how to embrace life again?
We can help and here’s how.
SUPPORT GROUPS: Our primary form of support is through peer-to-peer support groups. These are led by trained volunteers, many of whom have experienced a significant loss in their own lives.
“Winterspring was a lifesaver for me; I don’t know what I would have done without it. Their spouse loss bereavement group was the first chance I had since my husband died to be with others who truly understood my grief, my loss, and the depth of my pain. I am very grateful to Winterspring and their wonderful volunteers. Winterspring is an amazing resource.” ~Susanne S., September 2012
When you first come to a group, you may feel scared, uncomfortable, unsure. Typically it takes a couple of weeks for the group to become a cohesive unit, so please stick with it. Some groups are fairly structured and follow a tried and true curriculum of bereavement exploration. Other groups are less structured and tend to follow what spontaneously arises as participants share deeply of their feelings and how loss has affected their lives. Peer-to-peer support provides a bonding experience that helps you heal. All groups are built on respect for individual differences, speaking and listening from the heart, and upholding group boundaries, such as confidentiality.
OTHER SERVICES: Click here to learn about our outreach in the community — Wall of Remembrance, Support after a Death, Education, and our Client Resources Line: 541-552-0620.
COST: The concept of “dana” comes from the Pali language in India and means “generosity from the heart.” Our staff and volunteers give to you from their hearts and we ask you to return the dana to ensure we are here for you and others in the future. We welcome any donation that fits your financial situation and suggest $10 – $20 per session. We don’t turn anyone away for lack of funds in our regular groups. However, continued services depend on replenishing our resources. Specialty classes require a fee, as noted below.
Click here to skip directly to the ONLINE PRE-INTAKE FORM to initiate the intake process. A WinterSpring staff person will contact you to help assess your situation and needs, and answer questions about available support groups.
Our Groups
GROUP INFORMATION:
Ongoing Bereavement Support: General Bereavement
Perhaps you’ve had several losses in your life. Or maybe you’ve been to an eight-week group specific to your loss and want more. WinterSpring offers this drop-in group support every week on Thursday,11:45 am – 1:00 pm in Ashland. Weekly donation requested.
THIS GROUP HAS OPENINGS.
For more information, please call 541-552-0620.
Suicide Survivors – Two very different groups to choose from:
1. Our current Suicide Survivors Eight-Week Bereavement Support Group started on Tuesday, April 2nd and finishes on Tuesday, May 21st. Medford location. Weekly donation. This group is now full and closed to new members. For information about future groups, please call our client line at 541-552-0620.
2. “Unfinished Conversation” — specialty suicide survivors group.
This group is a unique three and a half month, step-by-step healing and journaling survivors group based on the soon-to-be published book titled “Unfinished Conversation.” THIS GROUP IS NOW FULL and closed to new members.
It started Tuesday, March 12th and will continue through Tuesday, June 25th.
For more information please call our client line at 541-552-0620.
NOTE: The fee for this specialty group is $120 for the series.
Spouse/Partner Loss – eight week group.
Losing a spouse is complicated by financial challenges, social challenges, and loss of identity. Our most recent Spouse Loss group began on January 29, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, in Medford, and ran for eight weeks. Weekly donation requested.
Spouse Loss groups are now done until the fall of 2013, but please call 541-552-0620 for more information on other local resources and spouse loss support, and to register to receive information about our next Spouse Loss group.
Bereaved Parents – eight week group.
This group is for people grieving the death of a child of any age. It is enormously helpful to be with other parents experiencing such a devastating loss, not only to be supported but to have the chance to offer support too. Participants have described this group as a lifesaver. Our most recent group began on February 19th, 7-8:30 pm in Medford. Weekly donation.
THIS GROUP IS NOW OVER.
Please call 541-552-0620 to find out about other Bereaved Parent resources and receive information about our next Bereaved Parents group.
Pregnancy Loss Bereavement Support Group in partnership with La Clinica Del Valle. NOTE: This group is for Spanish speakers and conducted entirely in Spanish.
Begins Wednesday, April 3rd and ends Wednesday, May 8th (meets for six Wednesdays). 6:00 – 7:30 pm at La Clinica Del Valle.
To register, contact Martha Rivera at 541-690-3511.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Bereavement Support Group in partnership with Wise Women Care Associates/Trillium Birth Center. For women and their spouses/partners who have lost pregnancies and/or infants. Begins Tuesday, June 4th and ends Tuesday, July 9th. 6:00 - 7:30 pm; Medford location. Donations requested.
For more information or to pre-register, call WinterSpring at 541-552-0620.
Loss of Parent for adults — eight week group. If you’ve lost one or both parents, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others experiencing similar feelings. Our next group will likely begin in the fall of 2013. Weekly donation.
Please call to get on our group announcement list: 541-552-0620.
Children’s Program – Our Children’s Program provides grieving children ages 6 to 12 a safe place to express their feelings through play and art, sharing and listening that promotes healing, understanding peers, and activities to remember and commemorate their loss. This program meets every other Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm in Medford until June. Children’s Program is currently accepting new members. Please call our client line for more information: 541-552-0620.
Teen Programs – Our school-based teen grief groups are offered on-site at various middle and high schools in Jackson County. They are facilitated by a WinterSpring volunteer and school personnel and typically run six to eight weeks. Groups are coordinated on a case by case basis according to volunteer availability and the requests of individual schools.
Companion Animal Loss
If you’ve lost your beloved animal companion, you may want to connect with others in this special grieving process. We recently trained some new volunteers interested in facilitating this kind of support group in the near future. Meanwhile, individual phone support is available for people grieving the loss of a companion animal. Please call our office to get on our announcement list: 541-552-0620.
Coping with the Holidays – Holidays can be so painful without our loved ones. All the cheery music and expectations of happy events and traditions can intensify feelings of sadness and loss. During these groups, participants develop a support system through this difficult time that continues beyond the end of the class series. Weekly donation. Call us at 541-552-0620 if you are interested in getting on the announcement list for this group.
To give us more information if you’d like us to contact you for an intake: click here.