A six-week grief support group for those healing the loss of a loved one began Monday, Feb. 1 and runs every other week through April 11 at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, 1117 Spring St., Friday Harbor. Meeting time is 2 to 3:15 p.m., and cost is free.

The group will be facilitated by Andrea Zikakis, a PeaceHealth spiritual care chaplain, and Gary Waters, MSW, Ed.S., a behavioral health consultant at PeaceHealth Peace Island with public and private practice in educational psychology, clinical social work, family therapy and chemical dependency treatment.

Together they will create for participants a safe place to grieve loss and process life. Because this is not a drop-in group, participants will be asked to attend each of the following meetings, if able:

Feb. 15 – Consider and discuss characteristics of grief.

Feb. 29 – Consider the journey through grief.

March 14 – Offer assistance through self-created rituals and group conversations.

March 28 – Companioning loneliness in bereavement.

April 11 – Honoring grief; continuing life.

For more info, or to express your interest in attending, call Zikakis at 360-788-6300 ext. 2456.