In one word, each participant gains PERSPECTIVE. At each meeting, we aim to create a compassionate and safe environment where individuals can find solace and understanding learning from each other. Our grief support sessions are led by Certified Grief Counselor and author, Ms. Cheri A. Copie, RN, BSN, MS. Each two-hour+ session offers a space for emotional connection and practical coping tools. The group shares their challenges and experiences to depict a “normalcy” in the grief process. Everyone seeks to know if what they feel is “normal”. Topics covered include understanding grief, daily challenges with those around them, nuances for the reactions that they may feel from others who might not understand, theory and philosophies from current experts, physical symptoms seen from grief itself, strategies for growth and essentially, living forward with grief in your new normal.

At each meeting, we aim to create a compassionate and safe environment where individuals can find solace and understanding learning from each other. The meetings are highly interactive. GGR evolved to be an enriching community. Our grief support sessions are led by Certified Grief Counselor and author, Ms. Cheri A. Copie, RN, BSN, MS. and her team of trained grief coaches. Each two+ hour session offers a space for emotional connection and practical coping tools. Our participants always say that they are able to speak about their grief journey in ways that they are unable to share at home with their loved ones! To us, that is the highest compliment. Topics covered include Understanding Grief, The Grief Journey, and Living Forward with Grief in your new normal. Additionally, we encourage participants to explore related resources, testimonials, and expectations during session participation, with internal links provided for easy access.

We are not therapy. We are not a social club, however. Because friendships are forged, the participants will often plan more “social” outings between meetings which affords them a balance of interactive sharing and coveted community. In addition, the founder will personally email all current participants a Sunday message with upcoming reminders for the next meeting and an inspirational message for the group to discuss when together. The educational aspect of grief is delivered weekly via communications from the founder intentionally for individual processing for their own loss. Topics are selected from previous themes evolving from earlier meetings — which makes the subject matter timely and more meaningful.

When the founder was on her own grief journey, there were no forums like this which would have resonated for her journey. The resounding question was “is what I am feeling normal”? While there were counselors available, perhaps it’s the community that was missing. Perhaps it was a semi-remote messaging to process and apply. She went back to school, became a trained therapist, and decided to not let another individual grapple alone as she herself once felt.

In 2025, we used to meet as one group biweekly with limited attendance size, but because of the demand, we have now become able to offer weekly gatherings. While held typically on Wednesday evenings at a local library, it accommodates those who might be working or managing a busy family. Pre-registration is required to ensure appropriate facilities and group size & structure at the hosting library, ensuring each participant receives the attention and support they need.

You can join a session ANY time that you are ready. Once you are ready, register. There is no charge for our meetings as we have strong community donor supporters. We ask that you commit to attend three sessions before deciding if our program is for you. The reason is that the mix of those attending constantly changes (people decide their own cadence). If it is for you, and you need to take a break for a bit, that is allowed as well provided you communicate your needs to the group leadership for proper planning.

Our typical format is to have voluntary open sharing following a brief lecture on current grief practices and tips for those grieving. The amount of time you have to share is dependent on the size of the group for that evening so that all have “equal” sharing. The participant can always “pass” and simply listen.

The topics are provided by the current participants from previous meetings. Questions are always integrated to facilitate meaningful conversations . Then we use most of the time in group sharing (small and large) followed by identification of what each individual wants to work on for that following week. The information is predominantly led by trained leaders. If you’re interested and ready, please pre-register so we can reach out to you to confirm your availability for dates, times, and location.

Easy! Just fill out this confidential form LINK and we’ll take it from there. A member of the GGR team will personally reach out to you to confirm a successful registration. REGISTRATION LINK