FEBRUARY 9 • 2023 | 27
L
oss is an unavoidable part
of life, but that doesn’t
make it any less devastat-
ing. Having the right tools and
support can make a difference
as you move through your per-
sonal journey.
Jewish Family Service of
Metro Detroit is providing a
grief and loss support group
where those in need will find
comfort and camaraderie.
This eight-session group,
for women 60+, will be led by
JFS licensed clinicians Mayim
Meyers, LMSW
, and Cici Syms,
LMSW
, and will focus on pro-
viding a safe and supportive
space to acknowledge and begin
to process grief. The sessions
will teach coping skills, explain
the nonlinear process of grief,
help with feelings of isolation,
instill increased understanding
of typical and complex grief,
and establish connections with
others in a similar place.
“I think lots of people know
conceptually that grief is non-
linear and that there are steps,
but it’s very different to under-
stand it on a conceptual level
versus living it, breathing it,
talking about it and experienc-
ing it with other people,
” Meyers
said.
The sessions take place
Fridays from 10-11:30 a.m. at
the West Bloomfield JFS build-
ing (6555 West Maple Road).
Session dates are Feb. 10, Feb.
24, March 10, March 24, April
14, April 28, May 5 and June 2.
JFS was able to access a grant
from the Jewish Fund Teen
Board, which helped fund a
certain amount of training for
many of JFS’ clinical staff to
become much more well versed
in processing grief.
Even before the pandemic,
Syms felt there was a big need
to create connectedness after
someone experienced a loss.
“For a lot of my clients, I had
noticed it was a really isolative
experience,
” Syms said. “It grew
from that. We saw this opportu-
nity and need in the community
to foster not only a connec-
tion in general, but especially
post-pandemic, when people
can be so much more isolated.
”
JFS is hoping to offer this as
a series touching on many dif-
ferent aspects of grief and loss,
including the development of a
group for men, another one for
parents who’ve lost a child and
one for the broader community.
“Loss can be so specific,
depending on the nature of
the loss and the relationship
with the person you might be
mourning,
” Syms said. “I’m
hoping we can try to provide an
array of groups to really encom-
pass the community and the
specific needs that are inherent
in the community.
”
Knowing not everyone can
attend in person, JFS is think-
ing about doing virtual groups
as well. JFS has been asking
for feedback from many of its
community partners to see what
they can do to help and further
explore grief and loss needs
within the community.
“If there’s a need out there,
please call us and let us know so
that we can put together a group
specifically for whatever that
unmet need is,
” Meyers said.
To create an intimate environment,
group size is limited. If you are inter-
ested or for more information, contact
Mayim Meyers at (248) 592-2694 or
mmeyers@jfsdetroit.org.
Jewish Family Service has a program for grieving
women over age 60.
Tools For Grief and Loss
DANNY SCHWARTZ
STAFF WRITER
Hadassah Greater Detroit
invites you to a heart-
healthy program with area
health professionals at 6:45
p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the
Demonstration Kitchen at
Henry Ford Hospital West
Bloomfield, 6777 W. Maple
Road.
Panelists include Diane
Klingler, RN, MSN, ANP/C,
a cardiology nurse at Henry
Ford Hospital; Laurie
Epstein Kach, LMSW
ACSW, a clinical social
worker who will provide
techniques on how to main-
tain healthy habits; and
Julie Levinson, a certified
yoga specialist and lead
yoga teacher at Henry Ford
Health
There will also be a short
video with Dr. Donna
Zwas, director of the Linda
Joy Pollin Cardiovascular
Wellness Center for Women
at Hadassah Hospital in
Jerusalem.
Healthy refreshments will
be served.
Parking is available in
the hospital’s front lot.
Please use the main hospi-
tal entrance. Henry Ford
Hospital West Bloomfield
requires that masks be worn
to enter the building.
All attendees without
exception will be required
to sign a Hadassah Event
Participation Release to
attend Hadassah in-person
events.
For more information, con-
tact Hadassah Greater Detroit
at greaterdetroit@hadassah.
org or (248) 683-5030.
Hadassah Hosts
Program on
Healthy Hearts