Grief Support Groups & Counseling in Napa County
Free, Compassionate Support for Adults, Children, and Families
Grief can feel overwhelming, lonely, and hard to put into words. Whether your loss is recent or from years ago, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Community Health Napa Valley offers free, confidential grief support programs for anyone in Napa County, in English and Spanish. We are here to listen, support, and help you find the kind of care that feels right for you.
How We Can Support You
We offer a variety of grief support options so you can choose what feels most comfortable:
- Grief Support Groups for Adults
Connect with others who understand loss in a safe, guided setting. - One‑on‑One Grief Support
Private support by phone, video, or in person with a trained grief professional. - Support for Children & Families
Age‑appropriate grief support for children through our Tender Steps program. - Workshops & Memorial Services
Seasonal programs and community events that honor loved ones and support healing.
All services are free, and no referral or insurance is required.
Who Is This For?
Our grief support programs are open to anyone in the community who has experienced or is anticipating the loss of a loved one—including family members, friends, and caregivers.
- Adults and children welcome
- English & Spanish services available
- In‑person and virtual options offered
Take the First Step — We’re Here to Help
You don’t need to know what kind of support you need to reach out.
Call: 707‑258‑9080
Email: yessenia.mendez@providence.org
Or complete the form below, and a member of our caring Grief Support team will contact you within two business days.
Every conversation is confidential and guided by compassion.
Immediate Support
If you are in emotional distress or need urgent help, support is available 24/7:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
- Napa County Mental Health Crisis Line — 707‑253‑4711 (Bilingual)
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
You Are Not Alone
Grief is a natural response to loss—but it doesn’t have to be carried alone. We are honored to support individuals and families in Napa County with care, dignity, and understanding.
Talk to a Grief Support Specialist
Call 707-258-9080 or complete the following form. You will be contacted with care and confidentiality.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS & WORKSHOPS
For information or to register for any bereavement programs, please contact Yessenia Mendez at 707-732-8627 or Yessenia.Mendez@providence.org
FOR ADULTS
NEW - Encountering Grief with Mindfulness
This is a four-week meditative support group led by Barbara Dondero for individuals who have already engaged in grief counseling or support and are seeking a deeper, more contemplative path. Barbara, a graduate of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program, has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1989.
She has been involved in the leadership of Napa Valley Insight Meditation since its inception. She worked as an RN and NP for 34 years, including seven years as a hospice nurse and believes in the transformative power of mindfulness and loving kindness practices to heal ourselves, our relationships, and our communities.
Participants are invited to meet grief as it is in the present moment through gentle mindfulness practices, guided reflection, and shared inquiry. Rather than focusing on coping strategies or problem solving, the emphasis is on cultivating awareness, compassion, and steadiness as grief continues to unfold over time.
DATE/TIME
Wednesdays
October 14 - November 4
4:00 – 5 :00 p.m.
LOCATION
Providence Community Health Napa Valley
Front Conference Room,
414 South Jefferson St. Napa
COST
This is a free community service
REGISTRATION
Contact Yessenia Mendez
707‑258‑9080
yessenia.mendez@providence.org
Learning to Live with Loss - September-October 2026
PROGRAM
Week 1:
Getting Acquainted with, and Understanding Grief
Week 2:
Navigating Grief with The Help of Some Theories
Week 3:
Coping with Grief
Week 4:
The Concept of Continuing Bonds and Sharing Your Person
Week 5:
The Task of Grief
Week 6:
Tools for Grief and Preparing for Closure
Week 7:
Coping with Holidays and Special Days
Week 8:
The Other Side of Grief
Grief is an unchartered journey. This 8-week, in person group combines education about grief with support from members and includes tools to facilitate the grieving process.
Date/Time
Wednesdays, September 9 - October 28
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
(8 Sessions)
Location
Puertas Abiertas
305 Soscol Ave Napa CA 94559
Cost
This is a free community service, however
pre-registration is required.
Registration
Contact Yessenia at 707.258.9080 or email
yessenia.mendez@providence.org
PLEASE NOTE
In this series, each class builds on the content of the previous class, so for the best outcome, we strongly recommend attending all eight classes.
FOR CHILDREN
Tender Steps Grief Support Workshop for Children
Held in partnership with COPE Family Center, this free program assists children—and by extension their loved ones—navigate grief. Tender Steps is free to all and geared to children aged approximately 5-10 years. The session is open to both English and Spanish speakers, children may attend any or all sessions and it does not matter when the child’s loss occurred. This session’s theme will be “Holding onto Memories,” and children will create a paper jar filled with positive memories of their loved one that they have written or drawn that they can look back when feeling down.
Class 4/6
Mending My Heart
Thursday, September 24
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Cope Family Center, 707 Randolph St., Napa
FOR ALL
Saint Francis Day Animal Remembrance Service
We invite members of the community to join us to celebrate the memory of beloved pets. Ceremony will include a guided meditation, prayerful reflection, music and the opportunity to share about the gifts our pet gave us.
Monday, October 5, 3 - 4 p.m.
Providence Community Health Napa Valley, 414 South Jefferson St., Napa
COUNSELING AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES Napa County (and beyond)
Crisis Lines
If you are in a crisis or distress at any time, services are available day and night.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800.TALK (8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org (live chat available)
Professionals are on standby to offer counseling and assistance
for all life crises.
Crisis text line: text “HOME” to 741741
Mental Health Crisis Hotline
707.253.4711
Confidential support and information. Bilingual.
Veterans Crisis Line/Military Crisis Line
800.273.8255 (Press 1)
www.veteranscrisisline.net (live chat available)
Connects with veterans, their family and friends in crisis.
Friendship Line for Older and Disabled Adults
800.971.0016
24-hour toll-free hotline for older and disabled adults. Trained staff and volunteers respond to calls from individuals who are either in crisis or just need a friendly voice to talk to.
COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER
Aldea Children and Family Services
707.253.0123
Individual, family, and group therapy, in Spanish and English.
Eligibility: Self-referral okay. Open to youth up to 18 years old.
Mentis
707.255.0966 ext.132
Professional psychotherapy to individuals of all ages, in Spanish and English.
Eligibility: Napa County Residents.
Fees: Various insurances, plus sliding scale, based on client income
Ole Health
707.254.1770
Professional, bilingual therapy
LGBTQ Connection
707.251.9432
Bilingual counseling and support.
Kaiser Permanente
707.258.2500
Professional therapists available.
Eligibility: Kaiser members only
Fees: Based on member’s insurance coverage.
PRIVATE THERAPISTS
Therapists are experienced in grief counseling.
Nicole Bendayan MFT
707.338.1681
Penni Cremen, MFT
707.483.9321
Annette Henke, LCSW
707.927.1574
Angie Ito, LCS
707.322.1651
Joanie Seidel, MFT
707.253.7513
Sharon Marks, LCSW
707.224.2027
Loss of a Child
Compassionate Friends of Napa Valley
707.258.1623
www.compassionatefriends.org
Call about local monthly peer support meetings
SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
800.821.6819
Survivors of Loss Due to Suicide
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention “Healing Conversations”
Peer support for Survivors of loss due to suicide.
Visit: www.afsp.org, and follow the steps under “get help”.
| Denise Bleuel, LCSW 707.226.9838 No fee phone support | James Warnock, MDiv 707.226.9838 No fee phone support |
ONLINE RESOURCES
www.grief.com
David Kessler – offers online support groups and many resources on death and grief, as well as a list of approved grief counselors, by state.
www.centerforloss.com
Dr. Alan Wolfelt – Not currently offering support groups, although he has many resources for reading and self-help, along with a list of approved grief counselors, listed by state.
www.complicatedgrief.columbia.edu
The Center for Complicated Grief – offers resources, support and workshops to assist the grieving process.
www.griefshare.org
Offers support groups, sharing and a journal for recording your feelings. If you go to the website and enter your zip code, you will be provided with a list of griefshare groups in your proximity.
www.webhealing.com
Has a wide array of grief resources and provides links to other websites dealing with specific types of loss.
www.MentalHealthMatch.com
Links those wanting counseling to the appropriate type of counselor on its site.
SOCIAL GROUPS
Widowed Person’s Association of California, Napa Chapter.
707.254.0467 (Contact: Karen)
Meet every 2nd Friday at the Elks Lodge for lunch
Zoom meetings every Thursday at 12:45
$60 membership fee
Men’s Group
707.258.1800 (Contact: Rocky)
Fridays, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Napa Senior Center
Gents and a Cuppa Joe
707.963.8555 x 103 (Contact: Caroll Cotton)
Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Rianda House
Senior Centers
Senior Centers offer a variety of activities, from art to sport, through socialization and exercise classes. They offer non-threatening ways to meet other people and form new interactions, as well as to learn something new, which is excellent for brain health! All are open to all members of the public – you do not have to be a resident of that area.
Napa Senior Center
707.255.1800
1500 Jefferson St., Napa 94559
www.cityofnapa.org
Rianda House
707.963.8555 x 103
1475 Main St., St. Helena, CA 94574
www.riandahouse.org
Parks and Recreation, Yountville
707.944.9712
6516 Washington St., Yountville, 94599
https://www.townofyountville.com/departments-services/parks-recreation-519