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Counseling and Support Groups at Jefferson Hospital

At Jefferson Hospital, we offer a variety of programs and services to help you navigate the stresses of everyday life, as well as the challenges of life-threatening illness. Our Behavioral Services department provides counseling and supportive mental/emotional health services; Spiritual Care provides avenues of spiritual healing and connection.

In addition, studies have shown that when managing difficult health issues such as a diagnosis of cancer, kidney failure, or stroke, sharing experiences and information in a supportive group atmosphere can make a significant difference in overall healing and quality of life.

Counseling services

Jefferson Hospital Behavioral Health Care Services provides a full range of counseling services on an outpatient basis. We provide individual, marital, family, and group counseling. Our individual counseling services include many different options to meet your needs.

Research studies have shown that successful counseling provides an opportunity for the individual to learn new insights about themselves, clarification and better understanding of the problem or problems they bring to counseling, and helps to learn and develop new skills in dealing with both current and future problems.

We want to assure that our services meet these successful counseling objectives for you. Therefore, we develop counseling strategies to provide you with those the most appropriate counseling methods for you. These could include cognitive-behavioral therapy, insight orient counseling, counseling along with medication therapies, dialectical behavioral therapy, grief counseling, and a host of other types of therapies.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Behavioral Health Care Services at (412) 881-2255.

Spiritual care

Jefferson's Spiritual Care Department is an important component of our commitment to quality care for patients and their families.

Rev Paul C. Edwards, staff chaplain, is an ordained minister with the American Baptist Churches, USA. He is board-certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Located on the first floor of Jefferson Hospital, the Spiritual Care Department provides the services listed below.

  • Private Consultation
  • Spiritual care for patients, families, and staff
  • Counseling offered for ethical issues
  • Programs for the Hospital Community
  • Echement Family All Faiths Chapel is always open
  • Dial-A-Prayer available by calling extension 4848.
  • Weekly Catholic Mass televised live from the Chapel
  • Reflection and Meditation service held on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM until 10:15 AM
  • Holy Communion distributed to Roman Catholic patients throughout the week
  • Communion available to Protestant patients upon request
  • Faith communities notified of patients’ admission upon patient request
  • Patient Memorial Services held three times annually

Assistance is also available to clergy and religious leaders at the Spiritual Care Department Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Please call (412) 469-5855.

Kidney support group

The Western Pennsylvania Kidney Support Groups work to bring people in the region together who are on dialysis, are kidney transplant recipients, living donors, or their caregivers, to talk about the common experiences.

This group meets from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the James Bibro Pavilion on Jefferson’s main campus on the 2nd Saturday of each month. No registration is required.

Cancer support group

Co-sponsored by Jefferson Hospital and the Cancer Caring Center, the Cancer Support Group is a free support group that is open to patients and their loved ones to help them cope effectively with the emotional impact of the diagnosis of cancer.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM in the J-Café, located on the 2nd Floor of Jefferson Hospital.

To register for this free group, please call (412) 622-1212.

Stroke survivor support group

Jefferson Hospital offers a free Stroke Survivor Support Group for stroke survivors and their families every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the 3 East Patient Lounge of Jefferson Hospital.

Meetings include opportunities for socialization, education and both mental and physical exercise. Weekly meetings are held every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the 3 East Lounge.

For more information or to register, call (412) 469-5868.

Additional support groups

A number of additional support groups meet at Jefferson facilities. Call Community Programs, at (412) 469-7000, to determine if a support group that you are interested in meets at Jefferson.