Staff
- Christina Dhir, Director, Older Adult & Grief Services
Christina D. Dhir is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a Masters of Social Work and a Masters of Science in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Dhir's background has been in providing clinical services to children, families and older adults. Ms. Dhir enjoys working with individuals in all realms of their lives in order to improve quality of life and overall functioning.
- Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Long
Dr. Cynthia L. Long facilitates grief groups for LFSVA Grief Service in Waynesboro and the Shenandoah Valley. Dr. Long is a Lutheran pastor and serves as Chaplain at Western State Hospital. She received a Doctorate of Ministry from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dr. Long is a certified Grief Counselor with the American Academy of Grief Counseling. She is the author of Death is No Stranger: Helping Children Grieve.
- Dr. William E. Austin, Jr.
Dr. William E. Austin, Jr. facilitates grief groups for LFSVA Grief Services in the Virginia Beach area. Dr. Austin is a retired pastor who served at Virginia Beach Christian Church before his retirement. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor/Pastoral Counselor and also is a member of the State appointed Human Rights Commission which advocates for patients and medical and health facilities. Dr. Austin has a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. He has written several books and regularly writes a column in “The Shopper” which is in one of the Tidewater area newspapers.
- Deena Hall Cress
Deena Hall Cress facilitates grief groups for LFSVA Grief Services in Southwest Virginia (Wytheville). Mrs. Cress is a Medical Social Worker for the Hospice of Southwest Virginia in Wytheville - a position she has held for 15 years. She also worked part-time at LFSVA for several years as an Intensive Case Manager. Mrs. Cress has a Masters of Social Work from Radford University and is certified as a Crisis Counselor and a Perinatal Loss Counselor.
- Rhoda C. Janosik
Rhoda C. Janosik facilitates grief groups for LFSVA Grief Services in the Blacksburg/ New River Valley area. Mrs. Janosik is a Counselor at Radford University's Student Assault and Substance Abuse Services. She has also worked for Radford University Counseling Services, Carilion Behavioral Inpatient and Outpatient services, and is the owner of Preparing Caregivers, L.L.C. Mrs. Janosik is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a Masters of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also serves as a member of the Community Disaster Response Team, which responds to human-made and natural disasters.
