S u p p o r t   G r o u p s

One of the first steps toward my children and my healing came through a support group we joined called Gary's Place For Kids.  It was the first place my children met other children who had lost a parent or other loved one, and the first moment they truly realized they were not alone.  And although I knew it on an intellectual level, once I sat down and heard the stories, successes and struggles of other newly widowed parents and other family members, I understood how similar our paths truly were and how much we could help each other just by sharing with each other.

Below we have provided links to traditional support groups, as well as online groups for you to make a connection with others who will understand.  

Support Group Tips

  • To find a support group in your area, check with your church, hospital, school counselor, and any other local resource that may provide this information.  Ask a friend or family member to research this for you. We've got links below for you to search as well.
  • Do an internet search for local support groups.  Please be careful with this however and try to find others who can recommend it or not.
  • If it is a group for children, attend the first meeting on your own before you bring your children so you can ensure it is right for your family.
  • If the first support group you try isn't for you, don't give up, try another that may fit your needs better.
  • Help your children feel comfortable by letting them know there will be other children there who have lost loved ones too.
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Find A GriefShare Support Group Near You

There are thousands of GriefShare grief recovery support groups meeting throughout the US, Canada, and in over 10 other countries.  Everyone we know who has taken the steps to learn with this group has benefitted tremendously and been able to help those around them as well.
find a Grief share group

Go To Camp!

Yes, there is a camp for you!  All ages, genders and relationship statuses are welcome here.  Camp Widow defines a widow as anyone who has outlived the person with whom they were planning to spend the rest of their life.  This is an amazing opportunity to connect with other widows who truly understand the journey you are on.

Join A New Group

​Widowed people created Soaring Spirits because they discovered that connecting with other widowed people made the challenges of surviving a spouse or partner a little easier to manage.
There is a widowed community at Soaring Spirits that offers widowed men and women understanding, friendship, inspiration, and encouragement as they learn to live without the person with whom they intended to spend the rest of their lives. 
If you are hurting and in pain and looking for hope, watch, read, and listen to stories of hope and recovery.  The Open to Hope website provides just this.  Developed by mother-daughter grief experts, the website is a well-travelled bridge that helps take you from loss to recovery.