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Grief and Loss
Grief is natural...
You've lost someone beloved to you.
Your grief is unique and personal.
Perhaps this loss was recent.
Perhaps it was years ago.
Sanctuary Counseling believes that you have the right to grieve in your own way and in your own time. We provide a safe and compassionate place - a sanctuary - for you to find support in this difficult time.
Sanctuary offers counseling for all ages on both an individual as well as a group basis. Our mission is not to help you "get over" the loss, but rather to find healthy ways of honoring and incorporating it into your life.
You are not alone.
We are here to accompany you on your journey. We offer compassionate support for those experiencing grief and loss stemming from many different life events:
Grief Support Groups
Sanctuary is proud to offer several support groups for those in our community who are grieving the death of a loved one. Please check our calendar for upcoming groups, and please contact us before planning to attend. WE REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL OUR GROUPS.
Adult Grief Support Group:
Meets Every Other Week
Grief can be such an isolating experience. Our culture is so uncomfortable with death and grief, and we often feel the pressure to "get over" and "let go" as quickly as possible. At Sanctuary, we believe that grief is natural and healthy, and that each person follows a unique path through that grief.
Coming together in a small, intimate group with others who are also grieving is a powerful experience.
We invite you to join us every other week for a time of sharing, remembering, support, and helpful information. Please contact us for additional information.
Please see our Adult Grief Support Flyer for additional information.
Children's Grief Support Group:
While we do not have a support group in place for children at this time, please contact us if you are interested. Given sufficient interest, we will begin groups as soon as possible.
In the interim, we strongly encourage you to visit: Peter's Place for information about excellent, free support groups for grieving children in our metro area.
Pet Loss support for Children and their Families:
Meets the Second Saturday of Each Month
When your child's pet dies, you may wonder what to say, what to do. You want to support your child, and yet you may have many questions - "What should we say?" "Should we get another pet?" "Is it 'normal' for my child to be this sad?" There are no simple answers, and there is no "right" way to grieve. Grief is natural. Still, it is healthy for children to honor their grief and to be supported with honesty and compassion.
The death of a beloved pet is likely to be your child's first experience of loss... Sanctuary Counseling is here to help facilitate your family's grieving process and to support you during this important and sensitive time.
Spend a morning with your child as our professional counselors (who also happen to have a background in education) lead families in a time of age-appropriate stories, creative activities, sharing, and education. This is a wonderful way to observe the death of your child's pet, and we are always happy to discuss your concerns and answer your questions at any time. Space is limited and PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Please see our Pet Loss Support for Children and their Families flyer for additional information.
Pet Loss Support for Adults:
Meets the Third Saturday of Each Month
Your pet has died. You've lost a companion, a friend, a family member. We understand your loss. We recognize the grief you are experiencing. Most adults feel profound sadness when a pet dies. You are not alone. Grief is natural. Still, in our hectic lives we may not pause to grieve our pets, to honor and reflect upojn the place they held in our lives. But studies show that to take this time is important for our wellbeing.
Pets are family, too. Often, we grieve their deaths similarly to those of our human loved ones. Sanctuary Counseling is here to support and validate your feelings during this time of sadness and grief.
Give yourself the gift of space to grieve and to experience sharing with others who understand your loss. Professional counselors facilitate this group with a time of stories, creative activities, sharing, and education. Space is limited and PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Please see our Pet Loss Support for Adults Flyer for additional information.
Sharing some of our thoughts...
The following essays and readings reflect some of our beliefs about grief and companioning the bereaved. We hope they will help you, and encourage you to reach out to us and to others in your life for support. We are here to provide comfort, hope, and healing to you during this painful time. You are not alone.
Please also refer to our "Links, Staff, Calendar" page for many additional resources as well as information about upcoming events and grief support groups. We look forward to hearing from you.
Eleven Tenets of Companioning the Bereaved, by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
The Importance of Rituals, by Heather Kramer Almquist, MA
My Grief Rights - for Children, by Dr. Alan Wolfelt