Frequently Asked Questions

Grief is a natural, multifaceted response to loss that touches our emotional, physical, and spiritual lives. Not all grief includes loss. It extends beyond death to include transitions or changes in relationships, identity, health, and our sense of the world. We recognize grief as an ongoing process—one that calls for tending, compassion, and connection, rather than quick fixes or tidy resolutions.

Grief is not something to be rushed or “solved.” We honor a pace that respects the body, the heart, and the stories that need to be witnessed with patience and presence. While support and compassionate witnessing can help ease the weight of grief, it is not a destination or endpoint. Healing emerges through full engagement with sorrow, through feeling, reflecting, and connecting with others. It is a lifelong practice, a cycle we return to again and again, and a way to cultivate deeper presence, understanding, and care for ourselves and those around us.

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.

Grievery gatherings are intimate online spaces where you’re welcomed exactly as you are. Each session is gently facilitated by a Grief Guide who offers grounding practices, somatic check-ins, and compassionate presence. You’re never required to share; you can speak, listen quietly, or simply be held by the collective space. Rather than trying to fix or move past grief, gatherings create a soft, supportive environment where your experience is honored, witnessed, and met with care.

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. Our gathering spaces are opened about 5 mins before the start of the scheduled session.

We offer multiple access levels to help keep our work reachable for a wide range of people. Gatherings begin at $5–$25. Deeper forms of support — including one-on-one sessions, workshops, and trainings — do cost more, but all are offered on a sliding scale so you can pay what you’re able.

Our commitment is to tend both the individual and the collective, ensuring that our offerings remain equitable, welcoming, and sustainable for the whole community, including our guides.

No. This work is intensive, relational, and energetically demanding, and holding space is far more than simply showing up for an hour together. Our rates reflect the skill, labor, and care involved, and we set them with accessibility and sustainability in mind.

In the past, we experimented with free offerings. What we learned was that many people registered with good intentions but weren’t able to attend, which created planning challenges and limited space for others who wanted to participate.

Yes, but pre-registration is required - meaning you'll want to reserve your spot and pay for your upcoming session ahead of time. You can register or sign up for any 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.

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 for playback.