Kath McCormack is the founder and former Executive Director of The Healing Center, a grief support organization for families in the Seattle area. Kath began envisioning The Healing Center in 1989 when her husband Rick died suddenly at the age of 33. Her children Ricky and Barbara were three and five at the time. Kath knew she needed a tremendous amount of support, and she pictured a place where she and her children could go and be comforted and nurtured; a place they could return again and again as they learned how to live their new life; a place where grief was welcomed and shared. She began to picture a big old house with a fireplace, a pot of tea, candles, warmth: a place where people could share comfort, friendship, laughter and tears. The Healing Center continues to offer solace to widowed men and women and their families. www.healingcenterseattle.org
Kath and her children moved to Seattle from the Bay Area in 1991 following Rick’s death. She was the Bereavement Coordinator with Group Health Hospice in Seattle from 1991 until 1999 when The Healing Center incorporated as a not for profit organization. Prior to moving to Seattle, she helped found Caritas Creek, a nonprofit outdoor education and summer camp program for children of diverse backgrounds, including inner-city and disabled youth. Caritas Creek continues to serve children in the Bay Area. www.caritascreek.org She also served as Associate Director and Director of Education for Clausen House, a non-profit facility for intellectually challenged adults in Oakland, California from 1975 until 1989. www.clausenhouse.org
Kath has a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Service and Public Affairs, and a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon. She is a licensed mental health counselor and has special education and adult education teaching credentials.
Kath retired as Executive Director of The Healing Center in 2010 and is now living in Sebastopol, California. She continues to consult with The Healing Center as well as a variety of organizations worldwide, including serving on the Advisory Board of Soaring Spirits International. www.soaringspirits.org
Kath’s business, Life Transitions, offers consulting services, retreats, workshops and counseling to individuals and groups. She specializes in working with widowed men and women and their families.
Contact Info: [email protected]
Foundation: www.thehealingcenterseattle.org
Website: www.kathmccormack.com