The phrase "happy holidays" can be heard everywhere in the weeks leading up to the new year, but for some people, this season is anything but merry. Jeri Culbertson, the owner of Naturally Gifted by Jeri in Elizabethtown, wants to help.

She will host a series of grief support groups in December. "Speak Your Peace: A Sanctuary of Solace for the Healing Heart" will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22, with the possible addition of Dec. 29 if there is enough interest. The sessions will be offered free of charge at Naturally Gifted by Jeri, 1 Market St., Suite 103. A freewill offering will be accepted to cover the cost of refreshments and supplies.

"I want people to know that it's OK to not be OK," Culbertson said. "I want to provide people with some tools to help them cope with grief, stress and other triggers that happen for some people during the holidays." She will guide participants through breathing exercises and meditation and provide a comforting presence.

"I can't fix everything, but just knowing someone is there to listen can help," she said. "Grief can be so isolating. People think, 'Nobody understands what I'm going through.' There are people out there who do understand, and I want to validate those feelings."

Culbertson knows firsthand what she's talking about. She lost several family members over the years in the weeks leading up to the holiday season. She's also an ordained Presbyterian deacon who often holds workshops and groups on a variety of topics, and she has attended grief support programs in the past.

"It's not an easy road to get through grief," she said. "It's very hard to find joy in this season when part of your heart is missing. I want to be that light for somebody in the darkness. I'm very thankful for the people who were the light for me."

She believes the need for a program like hers is more important than ever.

"This has been a really hard year for a lot of people," she said. "So many people are struggling, whether it's from loss of loved ones, loss of a job, loneliness. I hear it when people come into my shop. I want to build up this community and let people know I'm here. I can listen."

She said the sessions will provide validation and a sense of understanding for participants.

"I want people to know you are loved. You are supported," she shared. "If these five minutes right now are hard, maybe the next five minutes won't be as hard. I want to find ways to lift others up and help them see that there is light, there is hope they can hold on to."

Registration is not required for the sessions, and people can attend as many or as few as they like.

"It's very informal. Just show up," Culbertson said. "There is no judgment. If I can help, I want to help."

For more information on the program, call 717-449-0336.