Grief Support Groups in California
See all support groups in California
Bereavement Support Groups
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
"Being in the presence of others who are living through
loss
can be deeply comforting and supportive. Groups are educational and process orientated so that members can learn about the
grief
process while also finding a safe haven among fellow ..."
(On Hiatus) Post Abortion Therapy Group for Women
Marriage & Family Therapist
Verified
Verified
"Come and virtually meet other women in a supportive environment and experience the healing power of a group. The group's purpose is to provide women with a safe, non-judgmental, and politically neutral space to share, connect, and learn from others ..."
Perinatal Loss Group at Hoag
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW
Verified
Verified
"This group provides ongoing support to families suffering the trauma of miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn
death
, including losses occurring from difficult choices.
This group provides compassion and support to families who, after pregnancy
loss
, are ready to explore becoming pregnant ..."
Revolving Grief Groups, email to inquire
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, MFT
Verified
Verified
"
Grief
groups are offered at various time of the year, for all types of
loss
. I am starting 8-Week
Grief
Groups, which consist of eight weekly sessions exploring any type of
loss
, including traumatic
loss
, no matter how long ago. ..."
Pet loss and transformational grief
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CLC
Verified
Verified
"Alone in your
grief
? Surrounded by people who don't "get it" and expect you to "just get over it and move on"? Groups are powerful vehicles of support, healing, and transformation. For pet parents who need
grief
support in facing ..."
Supporting First/Birth Mothers Together
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, MFT
Verified
Verified
"This support group for birthmoms will be starting soon, with enough sign-ups. Participants will be asked to call for a short screening before attending the group. We will have a supportive environment for fellow birthmoms to provide peer support from ..."
Life after Trauma: The Transformational Journey
Psychologist, PsyD, SEP
Verified
Verified
"This ongoing, weekly group will empower anyone who has experienced a trauma or suffered a
loss
. Working together using a mix of talking and experiential activities, we will uncover your natural resilience: exploring how trauma and
grief
affect the mind ..."
Meaning-Making for Childfree Women in Mid-Life
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
"Do you crave a community where you can be understood and explore your unique perspectives on your life choices? Are you feeling insecure, anxious, or depressed and wish to reconnect to meaning and purpose in mid-life and beyond? Do you ..."
Waitlist for new clients
Adult Adoptee Art Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, ATR-P, MA, MFA
Verified
Verified
"Only for adult adoptees, the objective of this 6-week closed group is to build resilience exploring the adoptee experience through art. Sign up and learn more here: https://bit.ly/adoptee-ar tTherapy3 "
Loss & Loneliness In Person Group
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
"Beginning Saturday October 8 running for 8 consecutive Saturday mornings from 10-11:45, Janus Counseling Center, led by Susan Hicks, MA, LMFT and Jennifer Vogel, MA, LMFT, is hosting an in-person processing group. When
grief
,
loss
, or loneliness strike, gathering together ..."
Waitlist for new clients
Grief/Bereavement Group-TBD
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
"Everyone grieves differently and there is no one ‘right’ answer for how to cope when someone you love dies. But you don’t need to be alone in this process. No matter how long you’ve been grieving, we offer a safe ..."
Group Brainspotting
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MA, MSW, LCSW
Verified
Verified
"Experience the healing power of Group Brainspotting (G-BSP) as we process experiences and feelings that leave us reactive, overwhelmed, and stuck. Brainspotting uses your unconscious reflexes and eye positions to process unresolved traumas, issues, experiences, and messages held in the ..."
Waitlist for new clients
Early Pregnancy Loss Support
Psychologist, PsyD, RN
Verified
Verified
"From personal experience I know that losing a child early in pregnancy can feel isolating and confusing. I offer a small ongoing support group for those who have miscarried during their first trimester. Topics addressed: What happened?; How can I ..."
Beyond Loss Bereavement Ministry
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, APCC, CBF
Verified
Verified
"Adventist Health Glendale's Beyond
Loss
Bereavement
Ministry is dedicated to helping you find your courage during challenging times. Through a network of support groups,
grief
counseling and healing activities, our goal is to help guide you through the often confusing ..."
Perinatal Loss/Grief Group
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
"In this group we create a place to bring the deep sadness and love that comes with
loss
of an infant. Through telling your story, and listening to others, we create a safe place to feel the broad range of ..."
Sibling Loss Group
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT, ATR-BC
Verified
Verified
"The
death
of a sibling, either in childhood or adulthood, is a very particular kind of
loss
that can involve a myriad of complex emotions. In this supportive psychotherapy group, we will explore the impact of losing a sibling with ..."
Healing and Change
Drug & Alcohol Counselor, LAADC, ICADC, MSCP, LMHC
Verified
Verified
"I would like to start trauma,
grief
, anger management, recovery focused groups and for the elderly population going through the last and best part of your life. The life cycle changes with this population and I think that knowing your ..."
What's Your Story - "New You" Moving Forward
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, SH, CHT
Verified
Verified
"Rewriting the stories you have aligned with that are negatively affecting your views of yourself, others, and the world in which you live. This Group is created to help people who are dealing with life challenges including but not limited ..."
Living With Loss: A Place to Grieve, Heal, Connect
PsyD
Verified
Verified
"
Loss
is a painful part of the human experience. You may feel the impact in various ways: difficulty healing; feeling isolated; or feeling stuck and unable to move on. You may also have difficulty engaging with or finding comfort in ..."
See more therapy options for
Grief Support Groups
How long does therapy take for grief?
There is no exact timeline for grief counseling. Some people may start to feel better after just a few sessions, while others may take months or longer to feel relief. Some specific approaches, including some types of CBT, may involve a set number of sessions, or therapy may be open-ended until the patient determines they are ready to wrap up. Just as there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there is no right or wrong way to seek therapy for grief.
When should you seek therapy for grief?
Many people mistakenly believe that their grief needs to be debilitating or all-encompassing to warrant therapy. This is not the case. While people who experience severe, prolonged grief—particularly those who are considering self-harm or engaging in unhealthy substance use—are especially likely to benefit from therapy, so too are people whose grief is less intense but still interfering with well-being or daily functioning. In practice, almost anyone struggling to process a loss could benefit from grief counseling.
Can grief be managed without therapy?
Oftentimes, yes. Grief is a near-universal part of being human, and many find that their grief, while profound, does not stop them from participating in day-to-day life and steadily eases over time without outside help. For others, however, the harsh pain of early grief persists for months or years or leaves them unable to function. This group is especially likely to benefit from seeing a therapist, who can guide them through their grief and help them reconnect with the world.
What happens if grief is left untreated?
Because grief does not in itself necessitate therapy, untreated grief will often resolve on its own. However, for some people—particularly those who would qualify for a diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder—untreated grief can be a source of seemingly endless pain or lead them to withdraw from the world. In such cases, treatment can be indispensable, as it can help an individual adapt to the loss and start living again.
What is the difference between Group Therapy and a Support Group?
California Support Groups and Group Therapy both offer a safe place to explore important issues. It is important, however, to understand the difference between the two.
Group therapy in California is led by a therapist, group psychotherapist, or group counselor, and is generally structured around an issue. The therapist guides the group through a program as the group works together to better understand thoughts and feelings. Experienced therapists lead psychotherapy groups for various ages, such as adults, and specific issues including anger management, anxiety, and coping skills.
Support groups in California are usually facilitated by a therapist or counselor, but can also be led by members with lived experiences. Generally, a support group is less structured than a therapy group. Support groups bring together members to provide support and strength to each other, often around a common challenge such as addiction or grief.
Most therapy groups will meet for a fixed length of time with a consistent group of members, while many support groups meet for an indefinite period of time with members coming and going.
Group therapy in California is led by a therapist, group psychotherapist, or group counselor, and is generally structured around an issue. The therapist guides the group through a program as the group works together to better understand thoughts and feelings. Experienced therapists lead psychotherapy groups for various ages, such as adults, and specific issues including anger management, anxiety, and coping skills.
Support groups in California are usually facilitated by a therapist or counselor, but can also be led by members with lived experiences. Generally, a support group is less structured than a therapy group. Support groups bring together members to provide support and strength to each other, often around a common challenge such as addiction or grief.
Most therapy groups will meet for a fixed length of time with a consistent group of members, while many support groups meet for an indefinite period of time with members coming and going.