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The Grief Wave: Through the Shadows, Toward the Light

Witnessing sorrow, reclaiming history, and gathering hope in community

Author

Brian Stefan
September 16, 2025

✨ Profiles & Ideas
⚡ Renée Garett, LCSW — A compassionate force transforming how we care for caregivers
🛡️ Grief 101: The Grief Police — How others try to control mourning and why that hurts
🕯️ Six Years of Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters — Daily love letters to America, documenting its unfolding history for future generations

📰 News & Reminders
🕊️ Shadows Over Sacred Ground — FBI says threats to Southern University and other HBCUs were a hoax but the fear was real
💔 When History’s Scars Are Hidden — Trump administration moves to strip national parks of slavery exhibits, including iconic photo of an enslaved man’s scarred back
🧠 Erasing the Early Warnings — RFK Jr.’s plan to end school mental health screenings worries child health advocates

🎉 Events & Gatherings
🔔 Sep 19 — Centering Through Change: Yin Yoga, Breath, Sound, and Community (Santa Monica)
🍂 Sep 21 — Caring for the Caregivers (FREE provider wellness event + dinner | LA)
🎉 Sep 27 — Jack Kornfield & Trudy Goodman’s 80th Celebration (Santa Monica | Virtual)
🌅 Sep 27 — September Mindfulness & Deep Suffering HOPE Group — Final Session (Donation-based | Virtual)
🗳️ Oct 28 — Protecting Democracy in a Time of Change — An event with Former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra on the 2025 redistricting battles, Prop. 50, and safeguarding rights for Californians (FREE | Westwood)

🌊 California Grief Center
Therapy, groups, Catharsis Theater, and support for every stage of grief.

💌 Dear friends of The Grief Wave,

Circular logo of the California Grief Center featuring a stylized ocean wave in shades of blue. The outer ring contains the words “California Grief Center” in bold white letters, separated by diamond-shaped dots.

Facing the hurt — together.

Seasons shift, and with them come quiet goodbyes — the fading of light, the closing of chapters, the soft echoes of what once was.

Grief follows these same tides, marking endings that also carry the seeds of beginnings.

This week’s stories trace grief’s wide reach: in truths being erased, in care systems under strain, in the resilience of communities, and in the art and gatherings that help us hold one another.

Even in its ache, grief binds us — to presence, to memory, and to the possibility of beginning again together.

✨ Profiles & Ideas

⚡ Renée Garett, LCSW: A compassionate force transforming how we care for caregivers

“Renée Garett, a woman with long light-brown hair, wearing a striped button-up shirt, resting her chin on her hand and smiling gently, with greenery in the background.”

Renée Garett, LCSW, a leading expert in the field, is now devoted to helping the helpers—restoring hope, honesty, and humanity to those who care for others.

Renée Garett, LCSW, is reshaping how we care for caregivers. After losing a dear friend and colleague to suicide, she stepped into one of the profession’s most hidden and unspoken territories: the despair that mental health providers themselves can carry. In a field where therapists are expected to be “the strong ones,” many quietly suffer behind a façade of resilience—fearing that admitting their pain could cost them their careers, their credibility, or their community.

Drawing on her many years of experience as a therapist, supervisor, lecturer, and researcher, Garett brings both compassion and authority to this urgent work. Through the emerging Provider Wellness Collective, she and her colleagues are mapping this overlooked landscape with an industry-wide survey and hosting in-person gatherings—beginning in Los Angeles—to create spaces where providers can be honest, supported, and seen.

These gatherings, and the online support sessions that will follow, go beyond talking about stress reduction or burnout prevention. They are about dismantling the stigma, institutional fears, and structural invisibility that have long kept clinicians isolated in their suffering.

In a profession where burnout is normalized and suicidality is erased, Garett’s vision is courageous and deeply needed: to build a culture where therapists, too, are allowed to be human—and where seeking help is not weakness, but the first step back toward hope.

Mental health providers of all levels and specialties are warmly invited to join this Sunday’s free Provider Wellness Collective gathering in Los Angeles.

🕊️ A nourishing dinner will be provided, generously sponsored by SimplePractice — see the RSVP link in the Events & Gatherings section below.

🛡️ Grief 101: The Grief Police

How others try to control mourning and why that hurts

“An older man in a suit jacket and collared shirt, shown in profile, looking serious and thoughtful against a dim indoor background.”

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, internationally recognized for his compassionate messages of hope and healing, and creator of the Mourner’s Bill of Rights

Grief is love’s shadow, and when it surfaces, the world grows uneasy. People rush to tidy sorrow with advice and timelines, mistaking pain for pathology.

The “grief police” patrol with comparisons, platitudes, and productivity slogans, hoping to contain what can’t be controlled. Yet grief is not disorder — it is devotion. It resists schedules, stages, and performance.

Our task is to defend its space — choosing truth over approval, presence over performance — so grief can become testimony, not something to hide.

🕯️ Six Years of Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters

Daily love letters to America, documenting its unfolding history for future generations

A person wearing a blue baseball cap and a light pink shirt stands in front of weathered wooden shingles, looking calmly at the camera.

American historian Heather Cox Richardson is a history professor and the most widely read paid author on Substack, with over 1.5 million newsletter subscribers.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson began Letters from an American with a single Facebook post in 2019.

Her early warnings about rising authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms sparked a flood of reader questions, launching her daily effort to explain the news in historical context.

Now the most widely read paid author on Substack, Richardson says she writes not just about politics, but about people — millions who have stood up for democracy despite exhaustion and division.

📰 News & Reminders

🕊️ Shadows Over Sacred Ground

FBI says threats to Southern University and other HBCUs were a hoax but the fear was real.

A brick sign reading “Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center” stands in front of a large modern campus building, with a fountain and three flagpoles flying the Louisiana state flag, the U.S. flag, and a Southern University flag under a partly cloudy sky.

Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, La. (Courtesy of Southern University and A&M College)

A WWNO report details how threats targeting Southern University and several other HBCUs prompted lockdowns, class cancellations, and waves of fear before the FBI confirmed there was no credible danger.

The scare exposed how easily learning environments can be disrupted and trust shaken — showing how fear can ripple through campuses and communities.

💔 When History’s Scars Are Hidden

Trump administration moves to strip national parks of slavery exhibits, including iconic photo of an enslaved man’s scarred back

Historic 1863 photograph of an African American man with severe raised scars crisscrossing his bare back from whippings during enslavement, seated in profile and looking over his shoulder against a plain backdrop.

“The Scourged Back” shows the scarred back of escaped slave Peter Gordon in Louisiana, 1863. (McPherson & Oliver/National Gallery of Art)

Officials have ordered the removal of signage and exhibits about slavery from several U.S. national parks, including the historic 1863 photograph “The Scourged Back.”

Critics warn the move represents unprecedented federal interference in public history, threatening to strip national sites of their role in telling the full story of the nation.

🧠 Erasing the Early Warnings

RFK Jr.’s plan to end school mental health screenings worries child health advocates

A man in a blue pinstripe suit and tie speaks while seated at a conference table, gesturing with one hand and holding glasses in the other, with papers, microphones, and a nameplate in front of him; a woman sits beside him listening attentively.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

RFK Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon argued that schools should eliminate mental health screenings and therapy, instead promoting wellness through families, fitness, and nutrition.

Experts counter that screenings are early detection tools — not diagnostic — and can connect struggling students to care before crises develop.

💛 Even in difficult headlines, community remains our refuge. The events below invite you back into connection, presence, and shared healing.

🎉 Events & Gatherings

🔔 Centering Through Change: An Evening of Yin Yoga, Guided Breath, Sound Meditation, and Community (Suicide Prevention Fundraiser)

Friday, September 19, 2025 | 6:30–8:00 PM | Santa Monica

Flyer for Hive Therapy & Wellness Boutique event titled Centering Through Change: An Evening of Yin Yoga, Guided Breath, Sound Meditation, Community. Facilitators: Lauren Rozells, AMFT; Frances Zumbro, AMFT; and Meg Reinis, LMFT. Event date: Friday, September 19, 6:30–8:00 pm at Santa Monica Yoga, 1640 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. Cost: $56 per person or $103 for two. Limited spots, Venmo to reserve. Portion of proceeds go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of Mark Grillo for Suicide Prevention Month. Attendees should dress comfortably and bring their own mat. Contact: hivewellnessboutique.com or 310-896-8063. Images include people doing yoga, a seated meditation pose with a candle, and white sound bowls.

Resting and healing in community.

This grounding and restorative gathering invites you to slow down and reconnect through Yin Yoga, guided breath, and sound meditation. Led by Lauren Rozells, AMFT, Frances Zumbro, AMFT, and Meg Reinis, LMFT, the evening centers on community, presence, and gentle transformation.

Whether settling into mindful postures or immersing in resonant sound, each moment becomes an act of self-care and shared healing.

All levels welcome. Please dress comfortably and bring your own mat.

Reserve your spot today by pre-registering (Venmo @megreinis31)

🍂 Caring for the Caregivers: A New Season Beyond Burnout and Despair (FREE + Dinner) - Sponsored by SimplePractice

Sunday, September 21, 2025 | 4:00–7:00 PM | Los Angeles

“A forest pathway covered in fallen leaves, surrounded by tall trees with bright orange autumn foliage.”

Like autumn leaves, we gather together—each carrying our own weight, each offering color to the forest. This season reminds us: resilience grows in community.

The Provider Wellness Survey Project is a working group dedicated to strengthening the resilience and wellbeing of those who care for others. Mental health professionals are often exposed to high levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, and secondary trauma—this space is designed to help us come together, connect, and find support without judgment.

This is our first community meeting, and we are excited to invite you to join the conversation and share in a supportive circle.

Who Can Attend:
This gathering is open to clinicians of all levels and disciplines, including:

  • Student Interns (MSW, MFT, PCC, etc.)

  • Associate Therapists (ACSW, APCC, AMFT)

  • Licensed Therapists (LCSW, LPCC, LMFT)

  • Psychological Assistants

  • Psychology Interns/Externs

  • Psychologists (PhD/PsyD)

  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

  • Psychiatrists

  • Counselors of all backgrounds

  • And other professionals working in mental health care

What to Expect:
Not a lecture, but a conversation.
Not isolation, but community.
Not just surviving, but building new seasons of strength.

Together, we’ll reflect, connect, and renew as we move from summer into fall.

Free and dinner will be served!

🎉 A Joyful Celebration: Honoring the 80th Birthdays of Jack Kornfield & Trudy Goodman

Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT

Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman smiling closely together on a sunny day, with Trudy wearing a large blue sunhat and Jack in a light purple shirt.

Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman—beloved teachers, partners, and pioneers in mindfulness—sharing a joyful moment ahead of their 80th birthday celebration.

Guided presence, shared stories, and gratitude for two beloved mindfulness teachers. Proceeds support InsightLA’s mission of access, equity, and care.

📅 Saturday, September 27 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT | Santa Monica + Live Online

🌅 Hope Group: September Mindfulness & Deep Suffering Gathering — Final Session

Virtual (Zoom) | Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 11:00–12:30 PM PT

"Logo for HOPE Group, with the word HOPE in large colorful letters (brown H, gold O, green P, teal E). Below it reads: 'Healing Ourselves through the Present Experience.' A green leafy branch decorates the bottom."

HOPE for all

Since 2020, HOPE has been a steady refuge in turbulent times—a place to pause, breathe, and remember we are not alone.

As we close this chapter, we turn gently upstream, carrying forward the spirit of presence into a new gathering devoted to grief, loss, change, and transition. Starting in October, we will meet this new age of grief with mindful awareness, heartful practice, and a compassionate online community.

All are welcome to join our regular Mindfulness-Based Grief Relief (MBGR) series beginning in October.

💛 Donation-based & open to all.

🗳️ Protecting Democracy in a Time of Change (FREE)

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 5:00–7:30 PM | Westwood

“A man wearing glasses, a light blue dress shirt, and a red patterned tie stands outdoors in a sunlit garden, smiling gently while resting a dark jacket over his shoulder.”

Former California Attorney General and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerr

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will speak at UCLA Luskin on October 28 about safeguarding democracy during the pivotal 2025 redistricting battles.

He will discuss California’s Prop. 50 vote on new district boundaries and compare it with similar efforts in Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Becerra will also address protecting immigrant rights and expanding access to quality health care. The lecture will be followed by an expert panel moderated by UCLA Voting Rights Project faculty director Matt Barreto.

🌊 Get Help from the California Grief Center

“Smiling bald man, Brian Stefan, with a beard wearing a suit jacket and open-collar shirt, pictured against a light blue background.”

Brian Stefan, LCSW
Founder & Clinical Director
California Grief Center

You do not have to grieve alone. Whether you have lost someone, lost your way, or carry unspoken sorrow, there is a place for you here.

What We Offer:

  • Grief Therapy (in-person and virtual)

  • Catharsis Theater (monthly gatherings)

  • Virtual Support Groups (confidential and facilitated)

Our Philosophy: We do not treat grief as a problem. We treat it as a passage.
Consultations are always free.

💛 With care,
Brian Stefan, LCSW
Founder & Clinical Director
California Grief Center

✅ P.S. Know someone quietly grieving?
👉 Forward this letter. You never know who needs it.
💌 To get these in your inbox, sign up for The Grief Wave Newsletter.

“Logo of the California Grief Center featuring a stylized ocean wave in light and dark blue, encircled by a blue ring with the words ‘California Grief Center’ in white capital letters.”

Facing the hurt — together.