What to consider when adding a grief support group to your resource list

Grief support groups can be a crucial way families realize that they are not alone in their experience, but they can also be a massive letdown. For this reason, it's important to have several different options for grief support groups on your list. Here are some things to consider as you search for groups to add.

#1: Is the group specific to perinatal loss or broader?

Many grief support groups are filled with participants who have experienced the loss of a spouse or parent. Those groups might not be as helpful for people who have experienced perinatal loss; for example, there may be a lot of talk of memories you have of your person that families who lost a little one won't be able to relate to and may even find harmful. Not all families will prefer a perinatal loss-specific group, but be sure you know the composition of grief support groups regarding type of loss so you can communicate that information clearly with clients.

#2: Who can attend?

In addition to the type of loss someone has experienced, there are other aspects of a person's identity that can be the focal point of a group. For example, some groups may specifically serve loss siblings. Some may serve bereaved women or bereaved men. Some groups may welcome parents who experienced a stillbirth, or parents who lost a child to sepsis. Some groups may have a spiritual, religious, or cultural focus. Take note of these indications so you can help clients narrow down which groups may be a good fit.

#3: Is the group free or paid?

Photo by Papaioannou Kostas on Unsplash

Some loss support groups have a fee while others do not. Sharing this information with families can help them decide what opportunities are within their budget.

#4: What is the group's meeting schedule and modality?

Some groups meet weekly; some monthly. Some meet during typical work hours; some meet on nights or weekends. Some groups meet in person; some meet online. It's best to have a variety of options on your resource list so you have multiple chances to share a group that meets your client's needs.

#5: Who runs the group, and what is their goal?

A group might be run by a therapist experienced in perinatal loss support as a way to offset the time involved in providing 1:1 therapy to many people (this is often called a "therapy group"). A group may be run by a non-therapist who has training in perinatal loss support, such as a bereavement doula or a trained loss parent (this is often called a "community group"). Occasionally, groups may be run by researchers who are trying different interventions to see what might be useful for bereaved parents (this is often called a "study").

It can be helpful to have a sense of who runs the group (both in terms of their job and in terms of their training or preparation) and what the goal of the group is, to help clients narrow down the right fit.

Looking for a starting point?

Our Haven doulas provide a free community group that meets monthly (second Monday evening, 7pm central) via Zoom. This community group welcomes all bereaved parents who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. You can find more information and a registration link here.