Grief Support Groups

Grief Support Groups

Bereaved Parents USA (for parents, grandparents, and siblings)

The loss of a child is a loss like no other. Isolation, guilt, fear, and anger are just some of the emotions parents experience. This free support group allows for the feelings to be validated and understood by others experiencing the loss of a child. Parents and Grandparents are invited to join us. Click here to learn more.

WEEKDAY GROUP meets on the 2nd Tuesday evening of each month.
WEEKEND GROUP meets on the 4th Saturday morning of each month.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Family and Friends Grief Support Group

This virtual group supports anyone grieving the loss of a family member or friend. This group meets twice monthly to share and discuss the the challenges of the death of someone close to us such as a parent, grandparent, sibling or friends. The group will often use the writings such as Understanding Your Grief by Dr. Alan Wolfelt.

This group meets on 1st & 3rd Wednesday Evenings.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Long Term Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group

The “long term” survivors have moved forward in their grief journey but still seek support and understanding from fellow survivors. This is a chapter in their journey where they begin to search for meaning and purpose in their life and at the same time hold space and time for their grief.

This group meets on the last Thursday evening of each month.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Loss of Spouse or Partner Support Group

The loss of a spouse or partner is often one of the hardest losses we will encounter. Our lives turn upside down. You ask yourself, “How will I survive and feel all alone?” You are not alone. The Brian Dagle Foundation is offering two safe and private support groups for the loss of a spouse or partner with others who understand this loss. The groups are peer to peer support with a trained peer facilitator.

MORNING GROUP meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday morning.
EVENING GROUP meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Loss, Healing, and Hope Senior’s Support Group

This group will offer a safe and private space for you to learn from others and understand that there are others sharing this similar experience. The groups are peer to peer support with a trained peer facilitator from the Brian Dagle Foundation.

EAST LYME SENIOR CENTER GROUP meets on the 4th Tuesday morning.
GROTON SENIOR CENTER GROUP meets on the 4th Monday morning.

For more information and to register, please contact the Senior Center or email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Loss of a Spouse or Partner to Suicide Grief Support Group

The death of a partner or spouse to suicide presents unique challenges to those who grieve. Confusion, guilt, and the ever present “why” are common responses to this type of loss on top of the isolation that many experience due to social stigma. This peer support group will provide a safe space where members can explore their grief and share their stories with those who ‘get it’.  In addition, we will hold fast to hope – the expectation of good that is yet to be. 

This group meets on the 2nd Wednesday evening.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Loss to Overdose Support Group

*Registration is currently closed for this group. If interested in joining in the future, please let us know.

The death of a loved one to an accidental drug overdose presents unique challenges to those who grieve. Confusion, guilt, and the ever present “why” are common responses to this type of loss on top of the isolation that many experience due to social stigma. This therapeutic group will provide a safe space where members can explore their grief and share their stories with those who ‘get it’. In addition, we will hold fast to hope – the expectation of good that is yet to be.

This group meets on the 2nd & 4th Monday evenings.

For more information on this closed group and to be added to the list for the next opening, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Men’s Grief Support Group

For many reasons, men often will hold back from the honest feelings surrounding the grief and loss of  a loved one. We hope that his unique group will give any male the permission to openly talk about the reality of grief and loss they are experiencing. Telling your story, sharing your pain, is part of healing. It is our hope that this group will give men permission to say whatever they need, in a safe space, with others who understand.

This group meets on the 4th Tuesday evening.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

NAMI Support Group

NAMI Family Support Group is a support group for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Groups meet weekly, every other week or monthly, depending on location. Many support groups are virtual and attendance is open to everyone across the country.

This group meets on the 1st & 3rd Monday evenings.

For more information and to register, please email lbkaplan58@comcast.net or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Safe2Debrief First Responders Support Group

The First Responder community experiences emergencies, traumatic events and life altering issues through their normal course of duty. These events can impact a First Responder in many different ways as they return to work and to their personal lives. We hope that inclusion in a group of like-minded colleagues will help to set down the weights of these experiences in a safe, non-judgmental, and open forum. It is our mission to provide inspiration for each of us to continue working toward finding the best way to deal with the impact of these experiences. 

This group meets on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday evenings.

For more information and to register, please email bdziolkovski@gmail.com or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.

Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group

We are a group of survivors, together to offer support, comfort, and understanding. Our group provides an atmosphere of acceptance for exploring feelings that are often not understood by others. It offers a chance to share helpful resources, and to provide and receive support through the long grief process. The groups are facilitated by a peer trained through the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention Survivor of Suicide Loss facilitator training.

This group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday evening.

For more information and to register, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

Please check our calendar for details.


Private Grief Counseling Sessions

Brian’s Healing Hearts is honored to be a place to offer shelter for those in the storm of grief. We offer the model of Companioning the Griever by grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt and understand that grief is not an illness and should not be treated as one. We cannot fix the griever however we can companion them.

With that in mind, we listen to the individual who is grieving the loss of a loved one and validates their feelings of confusion, isolation, guilt, anger, or fear as she often tells them they are not going crazy but they are grieving.  When appropriate, we share our experience of loss and hope towards healing a broken heart.

For more information and to discuss whether private or group sessions are the best fit for you, please email Chelsea@BriansHealingHearts.org or call 860-451-8354.

All Support Groups are free. Donations are accepted.


Past Groups

Exploring Spirituality & Grief Support Group

The Grieving & Faith Group’s purpose is to gather together in a confidential, safe place to explore how our experiences of grief interact with our faith and beliefs, whatever those may be and however they may be expressed.  This group welcomes those of any faith, any denomination, any of those who have belief in a Higher Power than themselves, whether that Power is called God or any other name.

Whatever your spirituality, losses can really test your beliefs. One of the issues in grief is to reconnect, maybe even rebuild or redefine, a faith or a philosophy challenged by loss.

Please check our calendar for future events.

Managing Grief at the Holidays

Grief during the holidays can be especially challenging. Together we will navigate the uneven path to honor and remember the person we are missing this holiday season.

Please check our calendar for future events.

Understanding Your Grief

This program is open to anyone grieving the loss of someone in their life. It offers a compassionate guide to understand the multitude of feelings as we explore our own uniqueness with grief, often using Dr. Wolfelt’s Understanding Your Grief book and journal. It is our hope that you will begin to find healing after your loss.

Please check our calendar for future events.