On February 24th the world watched an emotional performance by Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette. Joannie scored a personal best and ended the days competition in third place. She did all of this only two days after her mother died of a sudden heart attack.
Children of all ages grieve and they all do it differently. Some children hyper-focus and become the perfect student. Others have difficulty concentrating, their grades slip, and have behavior problems. Ultimately, all children need help and support during this time and Denver has an invaluable resource to help, Judi's House.
At Judi's House, children and teens ages 3-24 have the opportunity to participate in peer-based support groups with children their own age who have had similar experiences relating to death loss. Children and their adult caregivers are taught healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with the death of a loved one. They are given the freedom to grieve in their own way and at their own pace, and ultimately learn that hope and healing are possible.
There is no cost to families participating in Judi's House services. Families who participate at Judi's House are welcome to make donations, but no family is ever charged a fee or turned away because they cannot contribute.
If you are interested in joining a group please contact Judi's house at 720-941-0331 or email them to set up a phone interview. They will talk to you about what you can expect when you go to Judi's House, schedule your family for an information session and send you a Family Application Packet. They are happy to answer any of your questions, discuss your concerns and help you determine if a support group at Judi's House is the right service for your family.
If you are not in need of their services but would like to help, Judi's House is always in need of volunteers and donations. It is through the support of the community that Judi's House continues to bring into focus a vision of community where no child has to be alone in their grief.
If you would rather have individual or family counseling check out Turning Point Family Therapy, or you can find another qualified grief counselor at Psychology Today's website.
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