The Need for Grief Support Groups

It’s inevitable. We know that someone we love will die, and we will be faced with coping with life after loss. Usually, the closer you are to the person that died, the more intense the grief will be. The adjustment to living without that loved one can be difficult, but there is help for making that adjustment.

For many widowed individuals, the family unit is scattered or no longer exists, and there may be no one to share those feelings of sadness, anger, or guilt. Even with  intact family groups, you may hear  “I really can’t talk about it right now”, when talking “about it” is what you want and need to do.

This is where a grief support group comes in. The emphasis is on “support”. There is no advice or suggestions, such as “ It’s been a year, don’t you think you should move on with your life?”  The most important thing a grief support group can do is listen. That listening is done by people who have also lost a loved one and needed someone to share their grief.

Two Types of Grief Support Groups

This Grief Support Group is an ongoing “open format” type of group which is open to every adult who has experienced the loss of a loved one. It gives everyone who wishes to the opportunity to share their feelings. Meetings are led by individuals (facilitators), who have grieved and may still be grieving the loss of a loved one. We do not advise or counsel, we just listen and share our grief experiences. Our group meets every Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Another type of group is called “time-limited”, and usually runs for a certain length of time with a planned program and a limited number of participants. This is usually led by trained counselors.

If you don’t know where to turn, talk to your minister,  or come sit-in on one of our meetings at the

                      First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. No appointment needed.

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Grief Poetry