From Tension to Truth: A Path Through Anxiety, Silence & Inner Storms

💌 Dear Friends of the California Grief Center,

In a world that so often asks us to hide our pain, we gather to feel, to listen—and to heal.

This week, we honor bold truth-tellers, quiet strength, and the courage it takes to keep showing up.

🔦 IN THIS ISSUE
🕊️ Honoring Susan Brownmiller
💔 Upcoming Events (Live & Virtual)
🌊 How We Help at the California Grief Center

🕊️ Susan Brownmiller: A Light in the Hard Places

Some people spend their lives avoiding uncomfortable truths.
Susan Brownmiller spent hers naming them—with clarity, courage, and fire.

This week, we mourn her passing. And we honor the legacy she leaves behind.
At the California Grief Center, we pause to grieve a voice that helped so many find their own.

With Against Our Will, Susan forever changed the way the world understands rape—not as isolated shame, but as systemic violence, rooted in power, control, and injustice. Her words gave shape to the unspeakable, and her writing became a lifeline to those who’d long been silenced.

She didn’t write to accuse—she wrote to reveal.
She didn’t fight to be right—she fought to bring light.

“Rape is a conscious process of intimidation.” — Susan Brownmiller

She was unflinching. She was human. She grew. She stayed in the fight—for truth, dignity, and justice.

To Susan—and to all who speak truth even when it’s hard—we say:
We see you. We thank you. We carry you forward. 🔥📚

Rest in power.

💔 Upcoming Events to Help You Heal

😮‍💨 Sunday, June 1

The Only Way Out: Releasing Anxiety with Catharsis Theater
A Transformational Workshop for Panic, Tension & Inner Chaos

📍 Blue Door Theater, Downtown Culver City
🕐 1:30–4:00 PM PT
💵 Sliding Scale (Green Bottle) | Adults 21+
☕ Light Refreshments Provided

“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.” — Søren Kierkegaard

This isn’t a lecture. It’s not about managing anxiety.
It’s about moving what’s stuck. Releasing fear, dread, and overthinking—together.

Catharsis Theater uses psychodrama techniques, one of the most powerful, trauma-informed healing tools in mental health history.

You’ll be guided through story, body, and emotion in a safe, supportive space. No acting required. Just come as you are.

✨ Facilitated by Brian Stefan, LCSW & Emma You, Grief Counselor + Death Doula

👉 Register Here – You Belong Here

🕯️ Saturday, May 31

HOPE Group: Healing Ourselves through the Present Experience
+ Spotlight on Suicide (SOS): A Gentle Gathering for Silent Pain

🕐 10:00–11:30 AM PT | 1:00–2:30 PM ET
💻 Zoom | Donation-Based | Open to All
✨ Facilitated by Dr. Jamie Gamboa & Brian Stefan, LCSW

Since 2020, HOPE Group has been a quiet harbor for sorrow.
This month, we sit with the ache of isolation—and the thoughts too often suffered in silence.

No pain too sharp. No hope too distant.

👉 Register Here

🌊 What We Do at the California Grief Center

Have you lost someone—or some part of yourself?
Are you caught in sorrow that won’t move?

Grief isn’t something to fix. It’s something to honor.
And healing begins with one real moment—shared.

Like the tide, grief moves in waves.
We don’t resist it. We walk with it.

At CGC, we offer:

• Individual support

• Group healing experiences

• Catharsis Theater: a powerful, experiential approach to release and renewal

🌀 Learn more at www.caligrief.com
💬 Schedule a free consultation or refer someone you love today.

With heart,
Brian Stefan, LCSW
Founder, California Grief Center

P.S. If this email touched you, consider forwarding it to someone who might need it too.

🕊️ “Facing the hurt—together.”