About GIERS

The Mourning After Bereavement Group

The Mourning After Grief Group Returns to In Person Meetings
Register by eMailing us your name & phone number before Thursday at 8PM to info@GIERS.org
You can attend the group on the following Friday dates in 2021 (unless otherwise noted).
January 8
February 5
March 5
April 2 
May 7
June 4
July 2
August 6
September 3
October 1
November 12
December 3

After 20 months of virtual Zoom meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions, in person gatherings of The Mourning After Bereavement Counseling Group will resume on Friday, November 12.  It will be held at Center Playhouse, 35 South Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

In order to resume meeting at Center Playhouse we will need to comply with Center Players’ mask and COVID-19 vaccination policy:

1.) Attendees will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with an FDA approved vaccine. “Fully vaccinated” means that they received their last shot of a 2 dose vaccine at least 14 day prior to the meeting or received their shot of a single dose vaccine at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

2.) If individuals are not vaccinated, they must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the scheduled meeting.

3.) Attendees must agree to a wear mask while inside Center Playhouse.

We normally meet the 1st Friday of each month, but the November 12th meeting will be held on the 2nd Friday due to the need for Bernice to attend the Athena Awards Luncheon held by The Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce on the 1st Friday of November.  She is a past recipient of this prestigious worldwide award for outstanding women community leaders.

There is no charge to attend The Mourning After.  Voluntary donations are encouraged.

We are looking forward to seeing participants of this group after a long physical separation.

Stay Safe and Well,

Bernice & Bob

About the GIERS: Bob Szita MS, LPC, TEP and Bernice Garfield Szita MS, LPC, TEP are Co-Directors of ActionArtz Training Institute and Founders and Co-Directors of Giers: Grief Information, Education & Recovery Services a 501c3 non-profit organization.  They are Licensed professional Counselors & International trainers in Psychodrama who use action methods for personal & professional development.  They are well known for their custom-designed training programs that stimulate learning in education, healthcare, government, & business settings. 

The Checkered Cloth: A Lesson About Loss

Our memories can serve to sensitize us throughout our lives to things we may not otherwise have empathy for. One memory from my childhood has come back to me many times as I have worked with children, parents and loss.

I could not have been more than five years old when this experience happened to me. It was summer and I, my parents and older sister, Audrey, went on a rare vacation to the Catskills in NY. We visited a farm that was turned into a hotel and as a city child everything was exciting and new to me! I loved all the green, the wild flowers, the fresh air and the farm animals. It was here that I fell in love with chickens, an affection I hold to this day! Continue reading on GIERS blog >

GIERS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides services to assist individuals, families and organizations recovering from a wide range of losses. We use a large variety of therapeutic modalities including psychodrama, creative arts, action techniques, education and counseling to help people develop coping skills and facilitate a successful transition toward healthy recovery. GIERS will also educate and train professionals and other community members to understand and aid people experiencing grief.

GIERS activities include:

  • Bereavement groups for adults, teens and children
  • Humanity Players education program
  • Recovery services for losses including loss of a loved one, physical or mental health, job, home, miscarriage, divorce, disenfranchised losses, such as from abortion, AIDS, suicide, and pet loss
  • Individual and family grief counseling for adults, teens and children
  • Community education programs addressing relevant issues of grief and loss
  • Training programs for community members interested in assisting others with grief issues
  • A “helpline” grief support referral service

As we obtain additional funding, we will add more innovative programming.

GIERS
10 East Main Street  Suite 5B
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
PH: 732-577-1076