Counseling helps people cope and overcome obstacles posed by emotional disorders, which includes helping people to process grief. Grief has the power to cloud our thoughts, creating a sense of guilt and confusion about how we should or should not act or feel creating feel. A therapist can help us process through these thoughts with much more clarity—lighting a path through the darkness to prevent us from plummeting even deeper into despair and possibly depression.

Tom’s Story
A business leader and management consultant, Tom DeFazio is an active member of his community. He has served on the Sewickley Borough Council and on Samaritan’s board of directors for several terms. In 2017, Tom lost Jeanne, his wife of 46 years. A self-employed
illustrator, Jeanne had served on Samaritan’s board. We remember her warmly, as she inspired us with her sunny, caring nature and devotion to excellence in everything she did.

Tom said, “Jeanne and I did everything together. I needed to talk with someone who could help me through this extremely difficult time.
“At the time she passed, I owned a convertible and would not put the top down because to me, it looked as if I was ‘having fun.’ This thought led to some of the things that my Samaritan counselor and I discussed:

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• It’s okay to cry, but it’s also okay to laugh.

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• It’s okay to keep traditions, but it’s also okay to start new ones.

 

• It’s okay to say ‘no’ when asked to do something, but saying ‘yes’ is okay too.

 

• However, it’s not okay to just sit in your living room with the shades pulled. It’s okay to do things.

“I have shared this advice with friends who have lost a spouse.”

Tom suffered a traumatic loss, but his counselor illuminated the path on his journey to healing. We are humbled by Tom’s wisdom, courage, and willingness to help others see their way more clearly through the darkness of grief.

When you donate to Samaritan, you not only help provide counseling to people in financial need, but you also ensure that all people are able to receive the specialized care that they seek. You help us keep our doors open in multiple locations and support essential business needs like insurance and technology.

Your Year-End Holiday Gift to Samaritan will light someone’s pathway to healing and “let them know that it's “okay.” Please give your tax-deductible gift today. Thank you, and have a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year!

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