How do I find a grief support group near me?

Call your local hospice (most offer free community grief groups — you don't need to have used their services). Search griefshare.org for a faith-based group at 10,000+ churches. Use Psychology Today's group finder for therapist-led groups. Call 211 for local resources.

Are grief support groups free?

Most in-person groups are free — especially those run by hospices, churches, and nonprofits. GriefShare charges $15-$30 for the workbook but the group itself is typically free. Online 1:1 counseling (like BetterHelp) costs $65-$100/week.

What happens at a grief support group?

Introductions, a topic or video, sharing (optional — you can pass), listening, and closing. Most meetings are 60-90 minutes. You can attend without speaking — just being present with others who understand is healing in itself.

How long do grief support groups last?

Varies. Some are 6-13 week programs (like GriefShare). Others are ongoing drop-in groups you can attend as long as needed. Some people attend for months; others attend for years. There's no 'right' duration.

Can I attend a grief group for a loss that happened years ago?

Yes. Grief doesn't have an expiration date. Many group members are grieving losses from years or even decades ago. An anniversary, a milestone, or simply becoming ready to process the grief can bring people back to support groups years later.

What's the difference between a grief group and grief counseling?

A group is peer support — you meet with others who've experienced loss, share stories, and heal in community. Counseling is 1:1 with a licensed professional — more private, more clinical, often more intensive. Many people benefit from BOTH.

Grief Support Groups Near Me

If You Need a Group THIS WEEK

🟢 Online — starts immediately:

BetterHelp — 1:1 grief counseling, match in 24-48 hours
GriefShare — free, faith-based, 600+ locations + virtual
The Dinner Party — free, peer-led, ages 20-40
Modern Loss — community articles + online events

🟢 In-person — usually free:

Your local hospice (even if the deceased wasn't in hospice care)
Your local funeral home (many offer free monthly groups)
Your faith community (church, temple, mosque)
Hospital bereavement programs

Most in-person groups are FREE. They're run by nonprofits, hospices, and faith communities. Online options range from free (GriefShare, The Dinner Party) to paid ($65-$100/week for professional counseling).

Option 1: Your Local Hospice (Free, Nationwide)

The Best-Kept Secret in Grief Support

Almost every hospice in America offers FREE grief support — and you do NOT need to have used their hospice services to attend.

Hospices receive federal funding that REQUIRES them to provide community grief support. These groups are run by licensed grief counselors and are typically:

FREE — no charge, no income requirement
OPEN — anyone in the community can attend, regardless of where the death occurred
ONGOING — most run 6-8 week programs or ongoing drop-in groups
VARIED — many offer specific groups (spousal loss, parent loss, child loss, pet loss)

How to find your local hospice grief program:

Google: "[your city] hospice grief support"
Call any hospice in your area — ask: "Do you offer community grief support groups? Do I need to have used your hospice services?"
Many hospices are part of national organizations that offer broader programs

Major hospice networks with grief programs:

VITAS Healthcare — grief support in 14 states
Amedisys Hospice — grief support nationwide
Kindred Hospice — grief programs at most locations
Local nonprofit hospices (often the best — more community-focused)

"The hospice nearest you probably runs a grief group next week. It's free. You don't need a referral. Just call. This is the most underused grief resource in America."

Option 2: GriefShare (Free, Faith-Based, Nationwide)

The Largest Grief Support Network in America

📖 GriefShare — griefshare.org

A 13-week video-based grief support program held at 10,000+ churches in 20+ countries. Free or low-cost (most churches charge $15-$30 for the workbook).

What to expect:

Weekly meetings (usually evenings)
A 30-40 minute video featuring grief experts and personal stories
Small group discussion (8-15 people)
A workbook with daily exercises between sessions
Ongoing support from the facilitators

Is it for you?

✅ If you're Christian or open to faith-based support
✅ If you want a structured program (13 weeks)
✅ If you prefer in-person community over online
❌ If you're not comfortable with Christian theological framing
❌ If you want professional therapy (GriefShare is peer-led, not clinical)

How to find a group: Go to griefshare.org → "Find a Group" → enter your ZIP code. Most U.S. ZIP codes have a group within 15 miles. Most groups run year-round.

"GriefShare is the largest grief support network in America. It's Christian-framed but welcomes anyone. If you're comfortable with prayer as part of the program, this is likely the most accessible free grief support in your town."

Option 3: Online Support (Meets This Week)

Grief Support You Can Access Tonight

Option 3A: BetterHelp — Licensed Grief Counselors

BetterHelp matches you with a licensed therapist specializing in grief — available via video, phone, or text. Match in 24-48 hours. Many therapists have same-week availability.

Cost: $65-$100/week (some insurance accepted; financial assistance available)
Format: 1:1 therapy (not group)
Best for: People who want professional, confidential support on their own schedule

Find a Grief Counselor at BetterHelp →

Affiliate link · We may earn a commission

Option 3B: The Dinner Party — FREE (Ages 20-40)

thedinnerparty.org

Peer-led grief support specifically for people in their 20s-40s who've experienced a significant loss. Small groups (6-10 people) meet monthly — originally over dinner, now mostly virtual.

Cost: FREE
Format: Small peer groups, monthly meetings
Best for: Younger adults whose grief feels invisible to their peer group. "Nobody my age understands — but HERE everyone does."

How to join: Apply at thedinnerparty.org. They match you to a "table" (small group) based on location, age, and type of loss.

Option 3C: Modern Loss Community

modernloss.com

Online community + articles + events. Founded by writer Rebecca Soffer after losing both parents. Not a structured group — more of an ongoing resource hub with occasional live events.

Cost: FREE
Format: Online community, articles, podcasts, occasional events
Best for: People who want on-demand resources and a sense of community without committing to a regular meeting

Option 4: Specialized Groups by Type of Loss

💑 Lost a Spouse

Soaring Spirits International (soaringspirits.org) — widowed community, local chapters, national retreats
Modern Widows Club (modernwidowsclub.org) — support for widows of all ages
Local hospice spousal loss groups

👶 Lost a Child

The Compassionate Friends (compassionatefriends.org) — bereaved parents, 600+ chapters, virtual meetings
MISS Foundation (missfoundation.org) — child loss support, including pregnancy/infant loss
Bereaved Parents of the USA (bereavedparentsusa.org)

👩 Lost a Parent

The Dinner Party (for 20-40 age range)
Motherless Daughters (motherlessdaughtersbiz.com) — Mother's Day events, local chapters
Local hospice parent loss groups

🕊️ Lost Someone to Suicide

Alliance of Hope (allianceofhope.org) — suicide loss survivors
AFSP — local support groups (afsp.org/find-a-support-group)

💊 Lost Someone to Overdose / Substance Use

GRASP — Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (grasphelp.org)
Local support groups through SAMHSA (findtreatment.gov)

🐾 Lost a Pet

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (aplb.org) — chat rooms, phone support, counselor directory
Most veterinary schools run pet loss hotlines

Option 5: How to Search for Other Groups

Psychology Today's Group Therapy Finder — psychologytoday.com/us/groups — enter your ZIP code and filter by "Grief"
Your state's Department of Mental Health website — most states list free and low-cost support resources
Local library bulletin boards — many support groups post here
Your primary care doctor — ask for a grief counseling referral. Many insurance plans cover bereavement support
211 — dial 2-1-1 anywhere in the US. It's a social services helpline. Tell them you're looking for grief support
Your employer's EAP (Employee Assistance Program) — many employers offer free short-term counseling, including for grief

What to Expect at Your First Meeting

If You've Never Been to a Support Group

The first meeting is the hardest. Walking in, not knowing anyone, unsure what to say. Here's what usually happens:

Introductions — you say your first name and who you lost (if you want to). You can say as much or as little as you're comfortable with.
A topic or prompt — the facilitator introduces a theme (e.g., "the firsts" — first birthday, first holiday) or plays a video.
Sharing — people take turns sharing (you can pass — nobody is forced to speak).
Listening — most of the time, you just listen. Which is often what you need most.
Closing — sometimes a ritual (moment of silence, reading, prayer if it's a faith-based group).

What you don't have to do:

Share your story if you're not ready
Cry if you don't feel like crying
Give advice or comments on others' sharing
Have the "right" words

"You can sit through a whole meeting and say nothing. Just being in a room with other people who understand — that's healing in itself. Go. Say nothing. Listen. You can speak next week."

Signs It's Time to Seek Professional Support

When a Group Isn't Enough

Support groups are wonderful. But some grief needs professional, 1:1 therapy — not just peer support.

Consider individual therapy if:

☐ Your grief hasn't softened at all after 6+ months
☐ You're unable to function — can't work, can't care for yourself
☐ You're using alcohol, drugs, or other substances to cope
☐ You've withdrawn from everyone, including people who want to support you
☐ You're having thoughts of self-harm or suicide
☐ The loss involved trauma (suicide, homicide, accident, witnessed death)
☐ You're experiencing complicated grief (extreme, persistent symptoms after 12+ months)

If you're in crisis right now:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (24/7, free)
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
Veterans Crisis Line — 988 then press 1

How long does grief last? →

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