Friends of California Grief Center,

We celebrate the women who have shaped the literary landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries, illuminating the human experience with depth, clarity, and unflinching honesty. From the fierce intellect of Virginia Woolf, whose modernist innovations redefined the novel, to the piercing social critique of Toni Morrison, whose storytelling unearthed the buried histories of race and identity, to the sharp, intimate voice of Joan Didion, whose essays dissected the dissonance of American life—these writers have not only chronicled the world but transformed it.

Their words have carved out space for truth, for complexity, for the full breadth of what it means to be human. Through fiction, memoir, and cultural analysis, they have challenged norms, shattered silences, and left behind a legacy that will continue to shape literature and thought for generations. May their contributions remind us that language is power, and that stories—when told with courage—can change everything.

Navigating Grief in 2025: A Catharsis Theater Experience (This Sunday → Free Monthly Gathering)

Every month, we open our doors to the public in downtown Culver City for a free Catharsis Theater event—not just to perform, but to gather, to grieve, to heal. Grief is ancient, older than words, older than history itself. Thirty thousand years ago, people sat in circles, told their stories, moved their bodies, and leaned on each other—because healing has never been a solitary act.

Catharsis Theater is not a performance to watch; it is an experience to step into. Rooted in the techniques of psychodrama, it blends the best of theater, psychology, and human connection to create a space where grief and loss can be expressed, witnessed, and—most importantly—moved through.

Whether you have lost a person, a home, a job, a dream, faith in democracy, a sense of safety, or something more difficult to name, this space is for you. Whatever you need from the experience, you are welcome here.

Register Here 

📆 Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Location: Downtown Culver City (RSVP for details)
🎭 Facilitator: Brian Stefan, LCSW – California Grief Center
💰 Cost: Free // Fire disaster fundraising via the Green Bottle payment system (optional)

Grief is not just an idea—it’s something we carry in our bodies. Traditional talk therapy is powerful, but sometimes words alone are not enough.

✔ A Safe, Supportive Space – Trauma-informed and led by trained facilitators
✔ Healing Beyond Words – Uses psychodrama techniques to bring grief into motion
✔ Witnessing & Connection – Because grief isolates, and connection heals
✔ No Pressure to Participate – Observe, share, or engage in whatever way feels right

💬 What People Are Saying

🗣️ "For the first time since losing my son, I didn’t feel alone in my grief. This experience changed how I see my own healing process."
🗣️ "Brian put everyone at ease and built trust in minutes. I was surprised by how willing we all were to be vulnerable."
🗣️ "It felt like three months of therapy in three hours!"

Come As You Are. Leave Lighter.

Upcoming Opportunities for Connection

💛 Mindfulness-Based Grief Relief (MBGR) Practice Group

Healing Ourselves through the Present Moment (HOPE)

📅 Next Virtual Session: Saturday, March 29 | 10:00 AM (PT) | 1.5 hours (Zoom)

🔗 Register Here

At the California Grief Center, we offer grief therapy and group experiences designed to support you through loss. Visit www.caligrief.com to learn more about our services and upcoming events.

With care and compassion,

Brian Stefan, LCSW

Founder, California Grief Center