Hospice & Palliative CareCenter

On the last early release day, the Psychological Services Department had the opportunity to visit the Hospice & Palliative CareCenter in Forsyth County.  We learned about opportunities for students and families in our area who may need additional support during difficult times.  Katie Cyre, MS, MT-BC, Complementary Therapies Program Manager & Music Therapist facilitated this visit for us and was kind enough to write the following guest blog for us:


If you and your family have experienced the death of a loved one, you know how important it is to have ongoing support. The losses of those closest to us impact us in profound ways, both individually and within our family systems. We know, too, that losses are revisited as children move through new developmental stages, and even into adulthood as life’s big events unfold. The original loss is re-worked over many years through the new lens of experience and the changes that growing-up brings about. It is important that people who are grieving (no matter the age) find safe spaces in which to express the many feelings that accompany grief, to deepen their own practices for self-care and healthy coping, and to connect with highly supportive people in their lives.

Grief Counseling

Hospice & Palliative CareCenter (HPCC) offers programs that can help families as they cope with grief. Individual counseling is available for children (beginning around age 6), teens, and adults. Play therapy and art therapy interventions may be introduced, allowing young people to express their feelings and work through their experiences non-verbally. For children younger than 6, parents and guardians may seek counsel and education from HPCC’s grief counselors as they learn to support youngsters who are not quite ready for counseling. Adults may also wish to participate in counseling group sessions, which take place throughout the year.

Many grief counseling clients have no prior affiliation with HPCC. Grief counseling is open to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a person close to them. Community donations make it possible for HPCC to offer grief counseling at no charge.

Teen Bereavement Group

In addition to individual counseling, HPCC offers a creative arts therapies group for bereaved teens. The group - which is called journey – meets monthly during the school year, September through May. HPCC’s staff art therapist and music therapist co-facilitate interventions that blend together experiential processes. Some teens participate for a short time, and others revisit the group over the course of several years. The teens who attend talk about the importance of meeting other teens who can understand the impact of loss and grief. They become less isolated as they work towards coping with the loss in meaningful and healthy ways.

Camp Carousel : Monday July 17 – Friday, July 21, 2017

Children and teens (rising 1st – 12th graders) and adults are invited to register for HPCC’s annual grief retreat. This year’s theme is “Road Trip,” which explores the ups & downs, and twists & turns that all journeys – even the grief journey – can bring. Camp Carousel builds in support, expression, and coping skills through small-group sharing, the expertise of creative arts therapists, and animal-assisted and equine therapy experiences. These experiences foster connection and deepen the healing process. Groups are led by specially trained volunteers, some of whom are counselors within our local school systems. Each camp experience is matched to the ages and needs of campers, and take-home materials provide extra support for families. Children’s groups meet for morning sessions. Teen and Adult groups alternate evening sessions throughout the week. Camp Carousel is $25 per participant, and scholarships are available. HPCC is grateful to Wake Forest Baptist Health for its faithful support of Camp Carousel, and to the many volunteers who make camp possible!



Information on individual counseling referrals, group & workshop schedules, Camp Carousel registration, and more can be found on the Grief Counseling page at www.HospiceCareCenter.org. You may also call (336) 768-3972 with inquiries.