History
The Center for Grief Recovery opened its doors on July1, 1985, as the Rothman-Cole Center for Sibling Loss, the first of its kind in the country and the creation of Dr. Jerry Rothman, PhD, and attorney Tom Cole, both of whom lost siblings early in life. Shepherded by Dr. Rothman until his death in 2002, the Center expanded its mission to include all types of loss and people of all ages. Settling in East Rogers Park in 1995, the Center not only developed the expertise to handle a wide variety of emotionally intense issues in addition to grief and loss, but also became a forerunner in the development of creative treatment and training methods for individuals, agencies, and psychotherapy professionals. The Center has continued to meet today's needs of the community under the capable direction of David Fireman, MSW, LCSW, and the Center's dedicated and talented team of five diverse and skilled therapists.
Specialties
Over the decades we have done as much as possible to increase understanding of the issues involved in bereavement and loss, working to sensitize both the lay and professional communities, while offering direct services to bereaved individuals. Our therapeutic services provide individual, family, and group experiences. A number of different formats have been developed and several pamphlets published. Additionally, we provide staff training, consultation, and presentations to institutions and groups. As the concept has grown, our mission broadened and we now serve those who have experienced any type of loss or emotionally intense situation. The Center's mission is to empower individuals to heal themselves and enrich their lives. We have worked with hundreds of people in individual and group sessions. Very few have been unable to utilize our methods. The majority have clearly stated that they feel unblocked, have a wider range of feelings and a richer emotional life, have increased c