Grief & Loss


Thought For The Month March 2023 ~ “Spiritual Principles For Living”

By: Vince DiPasquale Let’s take some time to reflect this month on the most special word in the English language – spirituality. Each one of us, from the moment of our birth was sent on our personal spiritual journey. In my early years this word was taught to me in a negative way. Most of […]

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Holiday Group – Thursday Nights – Starting December 8, 2022 ***NEW***

Holiday Group The holidays can be a tough time for many.  Please join us in a 8 week group facilitated by Barbara Faracchio, MS, LPC, LCADC spanning from 12/8/2022 to 1/26/2023.  This group will be held as a process group, meaning the group will take the form of heavy sharing in regards to any struggles […]

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Recovery Dharma Wednesday’s at 6:30pm – 7:45pm ***NEW MEETING***

Please join Recovery Dharma on Wednesday’s at 6:30pm to 7:45pm. ***NEW MEETING*** Recovery Dharma is a peer-led movement and community unified by our trust in the potential of each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. We believe that the traditional Buddhist teachings, often referred to as the Dharma, offer […]

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2022 Educational Program “Loss of a Child – Part 2” with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

In continuance of the program series entitled “Loss of a Loved One“, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director resumed their discussions on the complex process of grieving highly personal losses. The topic discussed is the 2nd part of her two-part series entitled “Loss of a Child – Part 2. ” Here, Pat […]

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2022 Educational Program “Loss of a Loved One ~ Spouse, Partner, Significant Other” with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

In a continuance of the program series entitled “Loss of a Loved One“, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director continued their discussions on the complex process of grieving highly personal losses. The topic discussed is the“Loss of a ~ Spouse, Partner or Significant Other“.    You can find The Starting Point’s YouTube […]

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2022 Educational Program “Loss of a Parent, Grandparent or Sibling’“; with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

In this program, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director continued their discussions on the complex process of grieving. This particular topic is processing the loss of a Parent, Grandparent or Sibling. You can find The Starting Point’s YouTube channel here. Pat is a therapist who specializes in loss and grief, Pat Obst […]

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Announcing JUNE 2022 Podcast Schedule – 4 part series – “Loss of a Loved One” with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka

“Loss of a Loved One” … Life changes forever and you change forever. Your grief journey is shaped by the special relationship that you shared. In your Afterwards Journey, embracing your grief allows you to sit with it, listen to what it’s telling you, wrestle with the hard parts, learn about yourself, let go of […]

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2022 Educational Program “Doing Grief Well – “Tool Kit” Series; Part 1 with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

In the next part of the “Doing Grief Well” series, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director continued their discussions on the complex process of grieving. This particular topic is Pat’s ” ‘Tool Kit’ Series; Part 1.”    You can find The Starting Point’s YouTube channel here. Pat is a therapist who specializes […]

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2021 Educational Program “Loss Due to Divorce or Breakup of a Serious Relationship” with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

In the next part of the “Doing Grief Well” series, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director continued their discussions on the complex process of grieving. This particular topic is “Loss Due to Divorce or Breakup of a Serious Relationship.”    You can find The Starting Point’s YouTube channel here. Pat is a […]

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2021 Educational Program”Doing Grief Well Part 2: Grieving During the Holidays” with Pat Obst and Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

When we learn to grieve well, we can journey through grief, find healing, purpose, and move towards re-creating our lives after loss. In this program, Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW and Loretta Depka, Executive Director discussed the process of grieving during the holidays. It can be challenging; some people think it SUCKS (Sad; Uncomfortable; Challenging; Keeps […]

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2021 Educational Program “Doing Grief Well” with Practitioner Pat Obst and Executive Director Loretta Depka is Now On The Starting Point’s YouTube Channel

“When we learn to do grief well, we can journey through our grieving, find healing and move toward re-creating our lives after loss.” Executive Director Loretta Depka  was Joined by practitioner  Pat Obst, LCSW, MSW as they discussed grief, loss, and helpful methods for dealing with these life challenges. For more info regarding Pat Obst, […]

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2021 Podcast “Ambiguous Loss” with Pat Obst, MSW, LCSW is Now On The Starting Point’s Youtube Channel

Ambiguous loss is a kind of loss that occurs without closure or clear understanding, and can make the grieving process challenging. Sometimes it can be related to a person, sometimes it’s related to an experience. This past year has been unlike any other and many of us experienced a loss that felt different. Whether we […]

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2021 Podcast “Myths and Misconceptions about Grief” Now Available On The Starting Point YouTube Channel!

On Thursday, January 28, 2021, our Executive Director Loretta Depka joined Starting Point practitioner, Pat Obst, MSW, LCSW, to discuss Myths and Misconceptions about Grief. The recorded podcast is now available on The Starting Point’s new YouTube channel. You can jump directly to the podcast from here.  Over the past 20 years Pat has managed […]

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Grief as a Journey

By Patricia Obst, MSW, LCSW There are some journeys that we get excited about going on.  The journey of a cross country vacation, so invigorating and full of adventure; the journey through college toward the goal of a career; or the journey of a new relationship with a significant other filled with all of its […]

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Reflection on Prayer: On Gratitude and Humility …

Would like to share a prayer from my retreat prayer book. Reflection on Prayer ~ I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do great things; I was given illness that I might do better things. […]

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