Grief Support Groups
Special Events
Printable Location Calendar
Access all of the Tennessee and Virtual programs in one place.
HeartLight Center kindly requests that you register for in-person groups prior to attendance. Online registration will close 24-hours prior to group.
Please contact us at [email protected] with questions or for more information.
Join an Open Drop-In Grief Support Group
What is a Drop-In Support Group at HeartLight Center?
Anyone who has experienced a death-loss, and is at least of 18 years of age, is invited to attend an open support group at HeartLight Center. Open support groups allow participants to attend as often or as little as needed when fits best in your schedule. Often there is not a set agenda in the open and ongoing group meetings. There is a suggested donation of $15 for our drop-in groups.
*If you are a student or professional wanting to “observe” a group, please contact our Program Director prior to submitting a registration at [email protected]
General Grief Group:
Open support for all grief
This ongoing support group is open to anyone who has experienced a death, open to all types of losses and timelines.
Meets in-person on the first Wednesday monthly at 4pm at the Hampton Hall at Smith Professional Building
Loss of a Spouse/Partner
An ongoing peer support and educational group for people who have experienced the death of a spouse, partner or significant other.
Meets in-person on the third Wednesday monthly at 4pm at the Hampton Hall at Smith Professional Building
Special Guest Speaker:
Join us for special presentations for grievers, and those who support them.
Throwing Out the Rules: Why Most Grief Advice is Wrong by Dr. Jason Troyer – Tennessee – Sept 16 2025
A Program for Bereaved Individuals and Those Who Support Them
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, a set of stages, or tidy rules—and yet so much of the advice given to the bereaved is rigid, outdated, or just plain wrong. this candid & compassionate session challenges common grief myths and offers a more honest, and human approach to healing. attendees will leave with validation for their unique experience and practical ideas for coping that actually honor their loss.
location: Smith Life Event Center, Maryville Tennessee
date: Tues. September 16, 2025
time: 7:00-8:30pm ET
A Shared Calling, a Shared Burden: Avoiding Burnout & Seamlessly Caring for Families by Dr. Jason Troyer – Tennessee – Sept 17 2025
A Program for Clergy, Hospice Professionals & Volunteers, Therapists & other End-Of-Life Professionals
This seminar unites clergy, hospice staff, therapists, & other end-of-life professionals to foster better collaboration & mutual support. We’ll explore the emotional impact of this work, learn to recognize signs of burnout, & discuss strategies to stay resilient. Through improved communication & coordination, we’ll ensure that families experience care that is seamless, compassionate, and complete. A certificate of completion will be provided.
location: Smith Life Event Center, Maryville, Tennessee
date: September 17, 2025
time: 9:00-11:00am ET
Meet Mekenzie!
HeartLight Center is honored to offer in person and virtual programs in Tennessee. Mekenzie Russell is the Community Liaison for you. With a strong background in counseling and grief education, MeKenzie brings empathy and understanding to her work. She is passionate about building bridges between resources and those who need them, promoting a stronger, more supportive community. Additionally, MeKenzie is a Certified Grief Educator, trained by David Kessler.
You can connect with her directly by email at [email protected].
Volunteer Opportunities:
HeartLight Center is honored to offer in person programs in Tennessee. Our programming is able to expand with the help of our community and volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities or internship experiences available with HeartLight Center in Tennessee, please reach out to [email protected]!
Not Seeing What Programming You Are Looking For?
As we continue to grow our programming, we want to hear about what you are looking for. If you have a specific request, any questions or would like more information, please contact us, or fill out the form below.
Programming Interest Form - Tennessee
Grief Resources
Our professional support network can connect you to the resources that will meet your needs.