Bereavement Counseling Center for Healthy Aging Support Groups Chronic Pain Support Group The Den for Grieving Kids Food Allergy Support Group Grief and Loss Support Group Home Hospice Care and Bereavement Programs Lupus Support Group Lyme Disease Support Group Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Parish Nurse Partnership Parkinson's Support Group

Perinatal Bereavement Support Group Post 9/11 Grief Counseling Psychiatric Treatment Center Recovery Programs Evidence-Based Addiction Recovery 12-Step Recovery Programs Alcoholics Anonymous DA (Drugs Anonymous) LifeRing Al-Anon Sleep Apnea Support

CH @ GH signifies a program sponsored by Community Health at Greenwich Hospital.

New!
Lupus Support Group
Learn new ways to cope with the daily struggle of this complicated illness. Share feelings, concerns and thoughts with people who understand. People with lupus, their families and caregivers are all welcome. Held monthly, guest speakers and open and topical discussions will be featured. Co-sponsored with the Lupus Foundation of America, Connecticut Chapter. The first meeting will be March 2, 6:30-8pm and on first Tuesdays thereafter.

For more information, contact Dani Nixon (203) 868-8288. FREE.

Home Hospice Care and Bereavement Programs
Greenwich Hospital’s Home Hospice Program allows patients who are in the last stages of life to receive care in the comfort of their home surrounded by loved ones. The goal is to enhance the quality of life of terminally ill patients and provide emotional support to their families. Home hospice continues after the death of a loved one, with personal bereavement visits and follow-up for family members.

For information, call (203) 863-3882.

Food Allergy Support Group
Support, discussions and information on food allergies is the format for this new group especially geared for parents of children with food allergies. Facilitated by a Greenwich Hospital healthcare professional, meetings will be held four times a year. Anyone interested in food allergies is welcome.

Wednesday, March 31
7-8pm
Noble Conference Center
Speaker: Roni Lang, LCSW

Learn about the impact of food allergies on the family’s emotional well-being.

To register, call (203) 863-4277 or (888) 305-9253. Or register online. FREE.

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological illness that impacts everyday living. This group offers patients and caregivers an opportunity to expand their understanding of the disease and share strategies for coping with its effects. Facilitated by a healthcare professional, it meets quarterly at Greenwich Hospital.

MS and Physical Therapy
Monday, March 15
6:30-7:30pm
Cos Cob Conference Room
Speaker: Janet Freedman, MD, Physiatrist

Rehabilitation is an important part of a comprehensive, high-quality healthcare regimen for people with MS. Learn how physical therapy programs can help manage overall fitness and energy levels, and address problems with accessibility and mobility.

For more information, call (203) 863-4444. FREE.

Chronic Pain Support Group
This 8-week program is a resource for learning and sharing skills to cope with changes brought about by persistent pain. Learn how to regain positive emotional energy, reduce pain and enhance the effects of prescribed medications. Facilitated by Joanne Mortimer, MS, BCIAC. Next session starts April 14. Attendance at the beginning of the session is recommended. See also Chronic Pain Education Forum in this web site. For more information, call (203) 863-4456. FREE.

Bereavement Counseling
Individuals and families who are grieving the death of a loved one often find comfort from counseling. Family and personal sessions are facilitated by Kathleen Conway, APRN, MSN, CS, at the Bendheim Cancer Center, 77 Lafayette Place. Call (203) 863-3704. FREE.

Grief and Loss Support Group
For anyone grieving from a loss - whether of a family member or friend. This group will help you develop coping skills and ways to move on with your life. Facilitated by bereavement counselor Paige Stetson, LPC, LMHC. Sundays, from 2-3:30pm at The Greenwich Center for Hope & Renewal, 237 Taconic Rd., Greenwich. For more information, call (203) 898-2512. FREE.

Parkinson's Support Group - CH @ GH
Weekly education, support therapy, exercise, social activities and caregiver support sessions. For people with Parkinson's, their families and caregivers.This program is facilitated by a healthcare professional. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center on Harding Rd., Tuesdays, 1:30-3pm. For more information call (203) 863-4444. FREE.

Tuesday, Feb. 16
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support Group.

Tuesday, Feb. 23
Learn and Share. Group discussion on managing Parkinson’s Disease.

Tuesday, March 2
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support

Tuesday, March 9
Learning and Sharing

Tuesday, March 16
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support

Tuesday, March 23
Parkinson’s and Depression
Speaker: Mark Frankel, MD, PhD

Tuesday, March 30
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support Group

Tuesday, April 6
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support

Tuesday, April 13
Learning and Sharing

Tuesday, April 20
Exercise with Miriam Shaw, RPT; Caregiver Support

Tuesday, April 27
Stages of Parkinson’s Disease
Speaker: David Eger, PhD

The Den for Grieving Kids
A nondenominational peer support center providing a safe, caring environment to help families cope with the loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent or close friend. Children ages 3 - 17 and their parents or adult caregivers are grouped according to age or type of loss. Initial appointment required. Bereavement groups are also offered by The Den in eight schools in Fairfield County – Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk. Staff are available for trauma response, for consultations, and for educational presentations regarding grief related matters. A program of Family Centers, Inc. in cooperation with Greenwich Hospital. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, twice a month from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Call (203) 869-4848. FREE.

Perinatal Bereavement Support Group
For families who have suffered a perinatal loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. Second Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9:30pm at Greenwich Hospital. For more information call (203) 863-3417. FREE.

Parish Nurse Partnership - CH @ GH
Churches and synagogues interested in promoting health and wellness in partnership with Greenwich Hospital's Parish Nurse Program are invited to call (203) 863-3881 to learn about free nursing services to their parishioners or congregations. The Parish Nurse Program provides a nurse to check parishioners' blood pressure and assist in referrals for medical services or support groups.

Post 9/11 Grief Counseling
Counseling for people experiencing after effects of September 11th such as depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress is available free of charge through Greenwich Hospital's Outpatient Psychiatric Center. The Center is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. Call (203) 863-3316. Hospital psychologists also are offering crisis and grief counseling services. Call the Emergency Department at (203) 863-3637 or Psychology Section Chief Jerome Brodlie, PhD, at (203) 869-2823.

Psychiatric Treatment Center
Greenwich Hospital offers a variety of programs for adults, adolescents and children who suffer from emotional distress and other behavioral health issues. These include our Adult Treatment Program, which addresses the entire spectrum of psychiatric disorders to enable optimal functioning; and Child and Adolescent Programs to help with sleep and appetite disturbances, anxiety and mood disorders, learning disabilities, family transitions and major psychiatric illnesses. We also treat aftereffects of psychological and physical trauma. For more information call (203) 863-3316.

Lyme Disease Support Group
This monthly group offers information and assistance with issues concerning tickborne diseases as well as guidance for coping with the challenges and complications of Lyme disease. Share feelings and concerns with others suffering from Lyme's effects. Meets First Thursdays at Greenwich Town Hall, 7 - 8:30pm. Facilitator: Mindy Beth Lipson, PsyD. Sponsored by the Greenwich Department of Health, Greenwich Hospital and Time for Lyme, Inc. Call (203) 622-7849 for more information. FREE.

Sleep Apnea Support
For patients with sleep apnea who may be having problems with their CPAP therapy or are just looking for more information. Educational lectures, case discussions, vendor presentations and roundtable talks. Meets monthly at Greenwich Hospital, third Mondays, at 7:30-9pm. Run by the Greenwich Hospital Sleep Laboratory. For more information, call (203) 863-3167. FREE.

Recovery Programs

Greenwich Hospital Evidence-Based Addiction Recovery Program
A variety of treatment options are available for persons seeking high-quality alcohol and substance abuse treatment, including Matrix, a new intensive outpatient program. Matrix is based on state-of-the-art treatment modalities that show documented evidence of a higher rate of treatment completion, and a significantly higher incidence of longer-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This and other programs focus on initial stabilization, early recovery skills, continuing care, family education, and individual, couples, and family counseling. Program counselors are graduate-trained and licensed in substance abuse, social work, and marriage and family therapy. Call (203) 863-HOPE (4673).

12-Step Recovery Programs
The Greenwich Hospital Recovery Program and other substance abuse professionals acknowledge, appreciate and believe in the use of the 12-Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other self-help groups based on AA principles. AA is the single most available and most used lifeline for people recovering from alcoholism or other forms of substance abuse. The quality of recovery is compromised without it.

Alcoholics Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope to solve their common problem and to help others to recover from alcoholism. Open meetings: Sundays at 3:30pm, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside; Mondays at 8pm, St. Michael's Church, Greenwich; Tuesdays at 7pm, First Congregational Church, Old Greenwich; Thursdays at Noon, First Lutheran Church, Greenwich; Fridays at 8:30pm, Christ Church, Greenwich. For more meetings and information, call (203) 869-5221, or go on-line to www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.

DA (Drugs Anonymous)
Drugs Anonymous is a 12-step group for men and women addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Open meetings with a group leader are on Saturdays, 6:30–7:30pm, in the back of the Greenwich Hospital Cafeteria. For more information, call (203) 863-4673. No registration necessary. FREE.

LifeRing
Life Ring is a nonsectarian network of support groups offering positive reinforcement to those who want to abstain from alcohol and addictive drugs. Users are welcome as long as they are clean and sober at the time of the meeting. Friends and loved ones are encouraged to attend as well. Open meetings: Sundays, 4-5pm, Cafeteria Conference Room. For more information, call Mona H., (917) 539-9927. No registration necessary. FREE.

Al-Anon
A 12-Step Program for families and friends of people addicted to alcohol. Learn to love with detachment and avoid enabling behavior. Sundays, 10am, Tully Center; Mondays, 8pm, Christ Church, Greenwich; Mondays & Tuesdays, Noon, St. Mark's, New Canaan; Thursdays, 8:15pm, Greenwich Hospital, Cos Cob Room (beginners); Thursdays, 11:30am, St. Catherine of Siena Church, Riverside; Saturdays, 10am, St. Cecilia's, Stamford. Call toll free (888) 825-2666. FREE.

Several support groups for caregivers are offered through Greenwich Hospital. See Healthy Aging and Oncology Programs.