Check Out Claire Towle’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Towle.

Hi Claire, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Taking Time: South Bay is a non-profit center for loss and life transitions serving ages 5 and over. The services include bereavement support groups, individual counseling, outreach, information and referrals after a death or significant life transition.
Taking Time was founded in 2022 by Claire Towle, LCSW, Certified Thanatologist and Patty Ellis, Certified Bereavement Educator. Both Claire and Patty have worked in the South Bay providing services for many years to those who are grieving a loss or adjusting to a life transition. With the help of friends, former colleagues and volunteers they recognized the need for additional bereavement services in the South Bay. They created a non-profit and began providing services to the community. In addition, they received a contract from allcove Beach Cities, a youth wellness program located in Redondo Beach, to provide bereavement services to their clients who are ages 12-25.
Taking Time provides support groups at their center and at a local church. Individual counseling is provided at the center. If there is a traumatic event in the community or at a school, The Taking Time team responds with crisis support, information and referrals. Taking Time has over 30 volunteers and several MSW Interns who are certified in bereavement.
Grief, after a loss, is a part of life. However, in our society, grief is often overlooked or rushed and can lead to longer term mental, physical and social problems if it is not addressed. The name of the program, Taking Time, was chosen because the founders want to encourage the bereaved to take time for their grief and to make a healthy adjustment to the loss. The logo, a sailboat, represents the journey after loss. Navigating f grief can be painful and difficult. It is important for the bereaved to know that they do not have to walk alone. Taking Time is here to help to companion them through their grief.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The development of a non-profit can be difficult. However, for Taking Time, the road has been manageable.

The positive aspects of creating the program were that Patty and Claire are very experienced, have extensive knowledge and education in the area of loss, have a strong support system of former volunteers and are well know for their work in the field of loss. They have both worked for non-profits in the past. The program was fortunate to receive support from individuals and community organizations in the South Bay.

1. One challenge is funding. There is always an ongoing need for financial support and grants. Taking Time has been fortunate to receive a grant for funding from allcove Beach Cities, a youth wellness program, P. V. Juniors, a local philanthropy, and generous individuals help to support of the program, but donations and grants are welcome.

2. Another challenge has been getting the word out and to increase awareness of the services and the need and benefits of support after loss. Taking Time received an award from Beach Cities Health District in August of 2025, which helped to increase awareness of the program. The program responded with support groups for children and families after the CA Wild Fires. This was a response to an important need and significant loss which also increase awareness.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Claire Towle, LCSW has had over 30 years of experience as a Clinical Social Worker combining direct clinical care, supervision, program development and management responsibilities. She is proficient in short-term therapy, crisis intervention, group work, and bereavement counseling. Claire has been certified in bereavement support group facilitation, trauma and Thanatology (the study of death and dying).
Claire specializes in issues related to loss and had a private psycho-therapy practice in the Redondo Beach from 1999 until 2010. In addition, she served as Associate Director of Bereavement Services for Providence TrinityCare Hospice and was also the Director of their community bereavement center, The Gathering Place, located in Redondo Beach, California. Her role as Director of The Gathering Place included the development and facilitation of services for children, teens, and adults experiencing the death of a significant person. Services at The Gathering Place included bereavement support (individual and group), resource linkages, referrals, and outreach to the local schools and community.
Claire has supervised MSW interns and staff. She taught MSW candidates in the UCLA graduate school of Public Policy and Social Welfare and supervised MSW’s and MFTs’ for licensing. Her career has also included volunteering for the USC Suzanne-Dworak Peck School of Social Work alumni services where she developed and facilitated “Social Work and Balance”, a self-care program for MSW alumni.
Claire is the co-founder and Director of Taking Time, a bereavement support program serving the South Bay of Los Angeles. Taking Time is contracted to provide bereavement services for allcove Beach Cities, a wellness program for youth ages 12-25 located in Redondo Beach, CA.
Claire is highly experienced, compassionate and caring. She is constantly learning and her clients have been her best teachers. Companioning others through life-challenges is a meaningful part of her life.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Compassion, caring, motivation, seeking/ finding meaning and purpose
A genuine interest in others, the ability to listen and learn from clients, strong people skills
Knowledge, training, skill, experience
Strong work ethic
High ethical standards
Work-life Balance
Passion for the work, belief in the importance of bereavement care
Personal and professional experiences with loss.

Pricing:

• Donations are requested for services for clients over the age of 26. Services are free to children, youth (12-25)and their parents.
• Support Group requested donation: $200 for an 8-week series
• Support group at local church (non denominational) $100 per 8-week series
• Individual counseling: Licensed professional $ 150 per session ( 50 minutes)
• Peer counseling: with Certified volunteer/intern $75. (50 minute session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.takingtime.org
• Email: [email protected], [email protected]
• Facebook: South Bay therapist