Pastoral and Community Care
Providing meaningful personal connection is an important part of Religious Life at Vanderbilt. Religious Life staff and affiliates are trained to provide spiritual and emotional support to individuals of all religious, spiritual, and secular viewpoints, and can make appropriate referrals for longer-term counseling support. Through GriefNet, a support group led by a certified grief support specialist, Religious Life provides supportive care to any member of the Vanderbilt community who is suffering loss. Finally, Religious Life also calls the community together for ritual moments that mark our shared life on campus.
Pastoral Care and Counseling
GriefNet
GriefNet is a support program for Vanderbilt community members who are experiencing death or other loss. Grief can come from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or any other loss. And grief can be experienced in the immediate aftermath of loss, a year later, or any time in between—there are no time limits on grief or GriefNet. The GriefNet support group will provide a safe, non‐judgmental atmosphere for exploration, nurture, and growth. Addressing grief is not about “getting over it” but rather will help one “grow with it” by integrating loss into living.
GriefNet is open to all students, faculty, and staff at Vanderbilt University. There is no charge to participate. Participants are never required to share or participate in any particular group activity but are merely 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 the Office of Religious Life, neither assumes participants are a part of any faith tradition nor will it advocate for any particular beliefs or practices.
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 Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life at 615-322-2457.
Spring 2022:
Mondays at 3:30 PM at CSRL (401 24th Ave. S. in the conference room or on zoom as per Covid protocols) or by appointment
Community Care and Gathering
Campus Office Hours