Pastoral Care and Counseling

Grief Net is a support program for students experiencing death or other loss. Grief Net is also available for staff and faculty.

Whether reeling from the death of a loved one in recent weeks or struggling a year or more after a significant loss the Grief Net Support Network will provide a safe, non‐judgmental atmosphere for exploration, nurture, and for growth. The group experience is not about “getting over it” but rather will help participants integrate loss into life.

Participants are never required to share or participate in any particular group activity but are invited to share when it feels right. Finally, while members will be encouraged to leverage any personal religious or spiritual resources to assist with their grief process, we want to make it clear that this support network, although sponsored by CSRL, neither assumes participants are a part of any faith tradition nor will it advocate for any particular beliefs or practices.

Who can attend?

Grief Net is open to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students currently enrolled at Vanderbilt University. There is no charge to participate. Grief Net is also available to staff and faculty at no charge.

You may have suffered a recent loss or are still dealing with the effects of a death from long ago. There are no time limits on grief or for GriefNet.

Please email gretchen.person@vanderbilt.edu for more information on meeting times or to sign up.

If you need to speak with someone regarding your grief, please contact the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life at 615-322-2457.

Center for Spiritual and Religious Life
401 24th Ave South (behind Branscomb dorms)

OUCRL Grief Groups are facilitated by a Certified Grief Support Specialist and Certified Grief Educator

Fall Semester 2024: Monday 5 PM- 5:50 PM in the CSRL Conference Room (second-floor)

September 16, 23, 30

October 7, 14, 21, 28

November 4, 11, 18

December 2

Spring Semester 2024: Monday 5 PM- 5:50 PM in the CSRL Conference Room (second-floor)

January 6, 13, 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 3, 17, 24, 31
April 7, 14

Please email gretchen.person@vanderbilt.edu with questions or to sign up.

One-on-one grief appointments are also available at CSRL at times that work for you.

Grief Net: Suicide Survivors’ Group

This group will meet in the fall and spring semesters of 2024-2025 at the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life (401 24th Ave. S.). You are also welcome to join in the Grief Net support group on Mondays at 5 PM at CSRL at 401 24^th Ave. S. in the second-floor conference room. This is a safe, non-judgmental, confidential and gentle space. No religious/spiritual beliefs/practices assumed, required or advocated. Your loss may have been that of an immediate family member, friend, classmate or an acquaintance; it may have been recent or years ago. Questions? Email gretchen.person@vanderbilt.edu. Harold Ivan Smith states, “I believe that the hardest psychological and spiritual work humans do is surviving a suicide.” You are not alone. Come and meet people who love you and are here for you.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If faith is a resource for you, these campus prayer spaces may be helpful:

Prayer Spaces
- All Faith Chapel, 411 21st Ave. S. (below Benton Chapel, next to Main Library)
- Benton Chapel, 411 21st Ave. S. (next to the Main Library)
- The Commons Center, Room 215, 8 AM – Noon (near the corner of 18th and Horton)
- Hillel Center, 2421 Vanderbilt Pl
- The Prayer Space (“Annex” at 401 24th Ave. S., behind OUCRL)
- Rohr Chabad House, 11 23rd Avenue North
- Sarratt Center, Room 110, 8 AM – 5 PM
- St. Augustine’s Chapel, 200 24th Ave. S.
- Stevenson Center, Room 6721, 8 AM – 5 PM