What We Offer: Peer-Based Grief Support
HeartLight Center provides peer-based grief support groups. Programs are therapeutic in nature, but are not a substitute for therapy services.
Group Formats: Open & Closed Support Group
OPEN – Open Support Groups are drop-in style. You may come to as many groups as you like throughout the month, at any time in your grief journey. Some groups are all-inclusive (not restricted to a particular type of loss) and others are specific to a type of loss or relationship (such as suicide loss, or loss of a child). Participants in each group vary from meeting to meeting, with group sizes ranging from 3-20 people. These groups are usually held on a monthly basis. There is a suggested donation for open support group attendance.
CLOSED – Closed Support Groups have a set number of weekly meetings (often 4 or 6 consecutive weeks) and a pre-defined curriculum to guide group discussions and topics for each week. No one new will join the group after the first meeting. Each meeting lasts approximately 90 minutes for each date in the series. Group sizes typically range from 3-10 people. Costs vary for closed groups.
Donations
HeartLight Center is a donation-based nonprofit organization and welcomes contributions for group attendance. If you find any group or program useful to you and you are able to contribute, we accept donations 1) by credit card or PayPal through our website, 2) with checks mailed to HeartLight Center, or 3) by cash or check when attending in-person groups.
What to Expect at a HeartLight Center Program:
Arrival and Getting Settled
Upon arrival in-person, attendees are asked to check in with the group facilitator and fill out a name tag. If joining online, attendees are asked to have their name visible in the Zoom window. We start and conclude all programs on time. If you will be arriving more than 10 minutes late, please let us know; however, we are not always able to accommodate late-comers to the group. Facilitators use their discretion in each situation.
Orientation/Introduction/Check-In
All programs begin with the group facilitator providing a brief orientation and outlining housekeeping details. Then, attendees are invited to participate in a check-in which typically includes sharing your name, who you are grieving, (if online, sharing where you are joining from), and what you hope to gain from the meeting. Facilitators may have specific questions or prompts for check-in. We strongly recommend that all attendees participate in the introduction to help create the communal environment which is the hallmark of group meetings.
Focused Discussion
Next, facilitators open the group to discussion. This may relate to a specific topic, a reading, quote, or reflection; or simply an invitation for participants to share their stories in more detail. You are invited to share about the person or people you are remembering, your grief experiences, and your thoughts or questions. Or you may simply listen. Everyone’s experiences are unique, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and we are here to hold a safe space for everyone in attendance.
Check-Outs
Groups conclude with a brief check-out for attendees to share final thoughts, comments, or take-aways from their experience. Your facilitator may email participants a recap of resources that were discussed during the meeting.
Guidelines for Creating a Safe Group Space:
Peer Support
HeartLight Center provides peer-based grief support. Our groups and programs are not a substitute for professional therapy. If you are interested in talking to a mental health professional, HeartLight Center can send you a referral list per request.
Privacy and Confidentiality
We welcome you to share about your experiences in group, however we keep the stories of other attendees private. All participants agree to never disclose personal information about others in attendance, or the stories shared during group, to maintain privacy and safety for all attendees.
Online groups and programs are not recorded, without prior consent. During online groups, please:
- Find a private place where no one else can see or hear what is being shared during the meeting.
- Leave your camera on. If your device does not have a camera, please notify your facilitator.
- Keep your microphone muted when you are not talking to avoid disruptive background noises.
Respect and Nonjudgment
In HeartLight Center groups we encourage attendees to not compare grief, to not give advice or tell people what they “should” or “shouldn’t” do. A useful phrase in group is: “Something that helped me is…”
Voluntary Participation
You are invited to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable. If the facilitator or another participant asks you a question during group, you are allowed to “pass” or decline to answer.
Sharing and Listening
There may be instances when a participant shares for an extended length of time, in which case the facilitator may pause the participant in order to allow sharing from the rest of the group. We ask you to be mindful when considering sharing detailed or graphic information as this can be activating to others. We encourage everyone to be intentional, respectful, and to actively listen to one another during meetings.
Moments of Silence
Periods of silence are common during meetings, and we welcome them. Silence can offer opportunities to gather thoughts, to reflect, or to process shared experiences. If, during a quiet moment, something comes up that you would like to share, you are invited to break the silence. Facilitators will also guide conversations through any moments of silence that occur.
Safety and Wellbeing
The safety and wellbeing of every participant is important to HeartLight Center. If a facilitator has any concerns about your sources of support and/or safety during the group session, they may follow up with you afterwards, or have HeartLight Center staff reach out to ensure you have support and a safe environment.
For in-person groups, if you have symptoms of illness, we request that you to join a virtual program and revisit in person when your symptoms have subsided.
Substance-Free Zone
Please do not consume alcohol or other substances during meetings, whether in-person or online. You are welcome to bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to in-person groups.
Contact Information
HeartLight Center does not share contact information unless permission is granted. Participants who wish to exchange contact information with one another are welcome to do so as they see fit.
Non-Discrimination
HeartLight Center treats all group attendees with respect, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status or political affiliation.
Observers and Participants
We ask anyone who attends group be in a space where they are participating as a griever, rather than an educational opportunity. Our highest priority is the sanctity of groups. If you want to learn about grief support groups by observing and not participating, we invite you to attend trainings or to watch our Open Support Group videos as groups are not a learning or observational environment.
Resources and Additional Support
You are welcome to attend any and all HeartLight Center programs that are helpful for you. If you are unable to meet cost requirements for a program that you feel would be helpful for your healing, please contact us to discuss financial arrangements.
If you have any questions about programs or need additional resources, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 720-748-9908.
In instances when someone may need a higher level of care than what HeartLight Center can provide, staff will be in touch to provide resources that are a more appropriate fit.
HeartLight Center does not provide emergency services. If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 9-8-8. This support is available 24/7.
