Since 1975, the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing has helped people in the Washington metropolitan area rebuild a sense of safety and hope after experiencing the death of a loved one, life-threatening illness, violence, or other trauma. Nationally recognized for our expertise in grief, trauma, and mental health, we provide an array of holistic services for children, teens, adults, families, and our local communities.
Through our office location and community-based service sites across the area, and with a focus on the needs of those historically excluded from services, the Wendt Center is a unique and critical resource for thousands of children, adults, and families each year. We accept many public and private insurances and continuously seek grant funding and donations to help make therapy affordable to all those who need it.
Individual and Group Therapy are available in our accessible office location and via telehealth through our Counseling Program, the Wendt Center’s longest-standing program.
We offer a robust set of community-based services, including Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC (an annual summer camp for grieving children—the first of its kind in the region) and our school- and family-based Resilient Scholars Project.
Our Crisis Recovery services include emotional support sessions, training, and coaching, offering a stabilizing presence when a school, organization, or community experiences a loss or tragedy. The Center is the go-to mental health resource for crisis recovery and has provided on-the-ground support in the aftermath of September 11th, the D.C. sniper attacks, the Navy Yard shooting, and other tragedies.
We work to build grief- and trauma-informed environments through our Training initiative, with a focus on making continued learning accessible for allied professionals (such as school staff, social service providers, and first responders) as well as to other mental health professionals locally and nationally.
Volunteers make our work possible through critical program, client, and administrative support.
Our Mission
We help children, youth and adults rebuild their emotional lives after loss, illness, violence and trauma.
The Wendt Center is a not-for-profit organization that receives grant support and donations to support program delivery and help make mental health care accessible regardless of ability to pay. The Center is recognized by the Catalogue of Philanthropy as one of the best charities in the Washington, D.C. region.
Our Values
We believe that healing from life’s worst moments is possible.
We express kindness to all. Caring and compassion are at the heart of all we do.
We practice collaboration and teamwork, recognizing that none of us can do it alone.
We strive to be lifelong learners, and actively seek opportunities to expand our personal and professional knowledge.
