Frequently Asked Questions

At times, grief can feel isolating, creating walls where there were once doors. However, by immersing ourselves in supportive groups or communities, these barriers slowly crumble. There, we discover a mirror to our own experiences, a testament to our shared humanity. Our hope is that through our grief gatherings, you'll be able to better equip yourself with the tools to navigate the evolving terrains of self in the face of loss. 

At The Grievery, we uniquely combine somatic practices with grief work to offer a holistic approach to grieving, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of loss. This creates a stronger container where you can safely dip into and out of grief without feeling overwhelmed by the need to unpack everything at once. Our gatherings always include somatic check-ins to help you ground and process emotions in a supportive environment.

Somatic practice focuses on the connection between the body and mind, recognizing that emotions, including grief, are often stored in the body. It involves body-based practices like gentle breathwork, gentle movement, and mindfulness to help individuals process emotions and release tension.

In grief, somatic practices can provide a way to reconnect with your body, calm the nervous system, and create a sense of grounding. By tuning into physical sensations, these practices can support emotional healing and resilience, offering tools to navigate the experience of loss.

Our gatherings are an informal opportunity to meet others who are experiencing grief and bereavement. We provide an online space for folks to share stories of love and loss, in a no-pressure environment. It’s that simple.

From as few as two to as many as 20 people per weekly session will gather online (via Zoom) to share, listen and reflect on experiences with grief. Some might choose not to speak but only to listen and be present in the moment; others might participate in a group sharing for the first time. Our attendees may change from week to week, but the heart of our gathering remains unwavering: to provide a nurturing space for every emotion, every memory, that emerges. 

We do have a few guiding principles. You can read more about them here.

No. Our sessions are not a replacement for any other forms of therapy or support you have in place. In fact, we encourage you to think about The Grievery as a valuable supplement or extension of your overall support network. Please note, we do not provide medical or psychotherapeutic advice or treatment. Participation in our gatherings does not replace the care provided by a qualified healthcare professional.

In the event of a mental health emergency, 988 is the United States National Hotline for support calls or texts. The 988 line is free and confidential. It is readily available to assist you. If you are outside of the United States and are experiencing a mental health crisis, please visit Call A Hotline - List of Worldwide Suicide Hotlines for assistance in your area or country.

The Grievery is a secular community. Although many religions support those going through grief, we intentionally want to hold space for people to grieve outside formal devotional settings. 

We use Zoom. A link will be sent to your email immediately upon registration. That link will work about 10 mins before the start of the scheduled session.

Yes, but pre-registration is required - meaning you'll want to reserve your spot and pay for your pass to attend an upcoming session ahead of time. You can register or sign up for a gathering up to 30 mins before the session start time. 

In an attempt to create a shared online experience where people can feel seen and as part of something larger, we encourage all participants to please keep their video on. Of course, that is always optional.

We use a third-party platform called PunchPass to help process payments, handle the registration for a gathering and send out reminders. 

It's to keep you updated about future offerings. We may offer new dates, times and different types of gatherings as we grow with our community (you). So, in an effort to keep you informed, please do join our mailing list. Note: we do not share personal information, including your email address with any other businesses or affiliates.

We understand that schedules and circumstances change. Please try to cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your registered session. Any cancellations within a 24 hour window will mean forfeiting your paid sign-up fee (non-refundable). Otherwise a credit will be applied to your account. Please note, we do not record any sessions.