In the Wake of California Fires, a Hospice Opens Its Arms to Help a Community Heal

A Los Angeles hospice organization announced Thursday it has extendedits expertise in grief counseling to help residents process the collective trauma of the recent destructive wildfires.

In the Arms of Grace Hospice, based in Los Feliz, will begin offering free weekly drop-in support groups for those affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires starting February 4.

The open-format sessions at St. Gregory Church in Pasadena will be led by Dr. Ani Karayan, PhD, a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in trauma-informed care.

“The fires have caused significant disruption in the lives of many in the community,” said Kevin Tutunjian, president of In the Arms of Grace Hospice. “We wanted to create a safe and supportive space that validates the complex and nuanced emotions this community is going through.”

Dr. Karayan, who maintains a private practice in Pasadena, integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness-based interventions while emphasizing culturally sensitive care for diverse populations.

Her extensive experience includes work at Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, and Children’s Hospital, along with training future clinicians through workshops, lectures, and supervision of graduate students.

The program aims to help residents manage trauma-induced stress, anxiety, and grief while building a community support network through guided emotional processing and access to resources.

The family-owned hospice, founded in 2011, serves Los Angeles and surrounding counties with a mission to provide end-of-life care that maintains patients’ dignity as in their prime.

St. Gregory Church, led by Archpriest Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan and home to the Hovsepian Day School, hosts the sessions at 2215 E. Colorado Boulevard from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Tuesdays.

Those interested can register at www.inthearmsofgrace.com/community or contact the hospice at 323-928-2992 or 323-741-8331, or via email at info@inthearmsofgrace.com.