The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center Offers Free Support for Anyone Affected by the Texas Hill Country Floods
NEWS RELEASE
HOUSTON, Texas (July 9, 2025) – The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center is offering several free mental and emotional virtual and “on the ground” support programs to help those affected by the Hill Country flooding disaster.
“Thousands of families have been adversely affected physically, mentally, and spiritually by the catastrophic flooding event that occurred in Central Texas in the early hours of July Fourth. There is presently and will continue to be a significant need for psychosocial and spiritual trauma response in Kerr County and across the State of Texas. As the first chaplaincy program at the Texas Medical Center, the Institute has been providing spiritual, mental,and emotional support services for healthcare professionals for more than 70 years. We are ready and able to help virtually and in person,” commented Stuart Nelson, president and chief executive officer of the Institute.
Free Programs
The Institute’s regular free virtual program offerings include the following:
Together After the Flood is an open, virtual support group for anyone affected by the recent flooding in central Texas. Held Thursdays, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT via Zoom, this space provides a compassionate community where individuals can share experiences, find solace, and learn practical mind-body skills to support their emotional and physical well-being. Each session blends gentle conversation with guided practices such as breathwork, mindfulness, and grounding exercises to help participants process stress, restore balance, and begin to rebuild from within.
The Mind/Body Skills Group for Togetherness meets every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. CT via Zoom. This weekly group serves as a supportive space to learn and practice mind-body skills in a group setting. Some of these skills include deep breathing, mindfulness, sharing, and journaling. Exploring a different practice each week, this group session enables participants to share and connect in the here and now. Please register here to gain access to the meetings.
The Weekly Grief Support Group meets on Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT via Zoom. This is a weekly virtual meeting to connect, give, and receive support in a welcoming group setting with others who are grieving. Register below for the Zoom link. After one-time registration, a reminder email will be sent weekly.
The Mid-Week Meditation Group meets on Wednesdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. CT via Zoom. During these sessions, participants explore contemplative practices drawn from many religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions while also building a community of like-minded individuals. Led by Greater Houston Healing Collaborative trained facilitators, these virtual gatherings provide individuals a chance to relax and relieve stress and anxiety in the middle of the week. Please register here to gain free access to the meetings.
Community Vigil
Recognizing that one of the surest balms in times of pain is community and togetherness, the Institute for Spirituality and Health and Rothko Chapel have co-organized a vigil to be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Rothko Chapel. The gathering will feature prayers and reflections from local clergy, music, and opportunities to connect. You can read more here.
On the Ground Support in Hill Country Disaster Zone
Institute leaders are mobilizing the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative to organize and deliver free local, in-person support and counseling for families, teachers, church congregations, first responders, and others who need help coping with the trauma of these flooding events.
The GHHC is a public health organization focused on promoting health and healing in the Greater Houston area through mind-body medicine and self-care skills. It brings people together to cultivate a culture of health and well-being by addressing the psycho-social needs of underserved communities. GHHC achieves this by teaching evidence-based self-care techniques and fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
“We are organizing trained counselors and facilitators with the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative (GHHC), and we are preparing to travel to the hard-hit communities of Hunt, Kerrville, and Ingram when emergency response officials authorize us to come. The GHHC was created in 2017 in the wake of Hurricane Harvey to provide an agile psychosocial response in the face of disaster-related trauma,” Nelson said.
Since then, the GHCC has expanded into a network of over 120 trained facilitators who have delivered mental and emotional support to over 60,000 adults and children during the COVID pandemic and in the aftermath of tragic events such as major floods and school shootings.
About the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
The Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith organization that has championed whole-person care since its founding in 1955. A founding member of the Texas Medical Center, the Institute has become a global leader at the intersection of spirituality, health, and community well-being. For seven decades, it has trained and empowered healthcare professionals, faith leaders, and community members to integrate spiritual care into health settings.
The Institute for Spirituality and Health's mission is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. It advances this mission through education, research, and direct service programs, guided by its four centers of excellence: the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals, the Center for Body, Spirit, and Mind, the Center for End-of-Life and Aging, and the Center for Faith and Public Health. For more information about the Institute, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/.
Media Contacts:
Laura Pennino, Senior PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 713-419-1776 mobile | lp@penninoandpartners.com
MaKlay Simon, PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 325-262-1862 mobile | maklay@penninoandpartners.com