Spotlight on The Healing Center of Seattle

After my husband died, a widower shared that the Healing Center of Seattle had been helpful to him and urged me to call them. At that time all meetings were conducted in person in “the little house in the alley” in the Ravenna neighborhood, so I regularly drove more than an hour through rush-hour traffic just so I could be among people who understood what it was really like to lose a spouse. Thus this local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization became one of the cornerstones that enabled me to rebuild my life.

The Healing Center was founded by a Seattle widow, Kath McCormack, more than twenty years ago. Since that time, the center has helped nearly eight thousand adults and children as they navigated their way through grief.

Some of the things I appreciated about the meetings I attended were: 1) the atmosphere of respect and caring; 2) the way the facilitator ensured equal time for everyone to speak and kept the discussion flowing smoothly; 3) the reminders not to compare losses or give advice; and 4) the feelings of relief and restoration I came away with—enough to keep me going for a little while longer.

Following Covid, a decision was made to move the Healing Center from Ravenna to a new location in Wedgewood. After conducting groups virtually for the past several years, the Healing Center is beginning to reintroduce certain in-person meetings while others remain virtual.

In addition to the director, Sonja Whitaker, the center is staffed by three program therapists, one children’s therapist, two administrative/program staff, and a number of volunteers.

Great care is taken to ensure that a grieving person receives support from the group that is best suited to their situation, based on age, type of loss, etc. The groups for widows include Early Loss (18 months or less), Transitions, Memory Keepers (age 60 and above), and Survivors of Suicide.

For widows with children, there are different groups based on age. The Healing Center understands that children process grief differently, so in addition to providing a safe environment for kids to talk about their loss, activities such as art projects, games, etc., allow children to feel less alone in their grief. The Healing Center is a member of the National Alliance for Grieving Children.

Like many nonprofits, the Healing Center relies on donations to keep the center open and to continue providing their vital services free of charge to our community. Its annual fundraiser, GATHER FOR GOOD: A NIGHT OF COMMUNITY FOR A CAUSE, will take place on OCTOBER 7TH at 6 p.m. at the Swedish Club. For more information about this important event or to learn more about grief support groups and schedules, click here or call 206.523.1206.

Copyright © 2023 S. Larkin/Seattle Widow Resources