Grief Support Group

Starting Over: after the loss

After the loss of a close person -parent, spouse, child, friend- your everyday life is utterly changed and the pain you feel is a deep grief which makes everything so difficult to cope with.

In our culture we rush to put a lid on emotions and the natural process that needs to happen to deal with loss and grief. But we can't skip emotional steps! Just burying the feelings will not help us deal with the loss, save the memories of our beloved person, live authentically, or move forward with real freedom. In a culture that often avoids talking about loss, grief support groups give you the opportunity to share your story openly and guilt-free.

We all need a support system to help us as we move through our grief journey. While family and friends are vital, they cannot always support us, either because they are struggling to deal with their own grief, or because they simply don’t “get” it.  That is where a grief support group can become a valuable resource.

There is a 4-module Grief Recovery Programme that will help you process one of the most difficult moments of your life.

This programme contains not only information of psychoeducational content, but also exercises and handouts so that you can heal and process on an emotional level as well. 
Below you can see the 4 modules of our programme: 

Module 1: Understanding Grief

Myths and Truths 
Models and Stages 
The Dual Process Model
Symptoms and Reactions
Typical responses 
Impact of Grief 
Different Types of Grief 
Mediators of Grief 
Complicated Grief 

Module 2: Dealing with the Loss

Secondary losses
Dealing with the feelings 
Dealing with the thoughts 
Understanding the physical sensations
​Handling holidays
​Going through the "year of first's" (first Christmas, first holidays, first birthday, etc)
​Dealing with the possessions of the loved one

Module 3: Tasks of Mourning

Tasks of Mourning
How we cope / attachment style 
​Failing to grieve
Strategies for coping with grief
Reconstructing the self

Module 4: Reconnecting & Finding New Meaning

Rituals 
Finding meaning 
Self-Care
​Forgiveness
Finding self-compassion and self-kindness 
Reconnection - finding social support
Helping children process death and grieve 

Will it help me if I also join the Support Group?

It is proved that people who have participated in our group for a few months have felt more in peace with the (painful) grieving process, less lonely, more connected with others and belonging to a group, and they have admitted that they can cope better with their daily life.

We form groups where people can come and share all these painful emotions and get support from peers who have gone through similar experience. Our counselor holds the scientific background and the warm personality to support us through such an overwhelming experience.

In our groups, you can find:

• Emotional support in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
• Understanding from others who have experienced a similar loss.
• The opportunity to begin the healing process through sharing your own story and hearing the stories of others.
• Coping skills to help you through the most difficult days of your grief journey.
• The opportunity to discover new “routines” and ideas to keep loved ones present in your hearts and in your memories.
• Increased understanding of how others react to loss and how to help them support you better.
• Permission to grieve and permission to live a happy productive life.

About our meetings

At our meetings we provide positive support in a NON-JUDGMENTAL setting where each member has a chance to discuss the evening's topic or any issue that is relevant to his/her situation.

Your therapist and facilitator, licenced psychologist Vassia Sarantopoulou, holds the scientific background and the warm personality to support you through such an overwhelming experience.

We have been running our Support Groups for more than 6 years and our members report positive results and an elevated degree of inner peace in their life after a couple of months! 

DO NOT FORGET: While death is the end of a relationship, it also provides the opportunity for re-evaluating life and your relationships.  

Bring only your concerns, questions, open minds and warm hearts!

Useful Information & Registration

There are two options, depending on your time availability and your budget: 

• Grief Recovery Programme (life time access)
• Grief Recovery Programme (life-time access) + Grief Support Group twice a month (for 6 months)  

Join the waiting list and we will inform you for both a month before they launch again. The Grief Support Group meets twice a month.

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