Grief Tending Videos

Support for Grief in Groups, Using Embodiment, Creativity and Ritual

Here are short animated videos, that show a bit more about finding support with grief through Grief Tending. The grief support we offer is different because it happens in community, and uses embodiment, creativity and ritual.

A Different Kind of Support to Counselling

We facilitate a guided journey to support grief. A group of strangers comes together to find support with whatever they are feeling. It is different from an ongoing bereavement group. Because people might come to one session. People often return, or choose a longer Grief Tending retreat if they want to explore more.

Support With All Kinds of Grief

Bereavement can be devastating. It is common for people to seek support after they have lost someone close to them. But we often need support with grief that overwhelms us for many other reasons. Many bereavement services don’t offer support for distress that comes for the infinite other reasons we may be feeling grief-stricken. Hearts are broken by loss, separation, abuse, change, and crushed dreams. The grief you need support with may have its roots in the past, in the present or in the future.

Embodied Grief Support

Grief Tending recognises that we feel grief through the body. Talking may be helpful, but it is often necessary to release the emotions that are held in our muscles, physical sensations and the memories in our cells. We use different exercises and practices to include the body in the events we offer. This can be particularly helpful if you have chronic health conditions, or physical needs which you need to take care of during a grief support session.

Creativity in Grief Support

You may already use creative ways to support grief, such as journalling, crafting, drawing, dancing or making memory boxes. We include creative ways of working with grief to access the parts of us that might not easily find words. You don’t need to be ‘good at’ anything creative to participate. It can also be helpful to discover what works for you. But many people use Grief Tending in addition to talking therapies.

Ritual as Support With Grief

Simple elements of ritual, such as lighting a candle, pouring water and sounding a bell can be helpful. We create a separation between ordinary life and time to tend our grief by using ritual. We use ritual in Grief Tending to make a threshold and create a supportive atmosphere. This is non-denominational and optional.

We offer Grief Tending Events online and in London for support with grief.

Grief Tending Videos

Because grief support groups are confidential spaces, it can be hard to explain what they are like, and so these videos are designed to show how Grief Tending works. We also recognise that people take in information differently, and we want to include diverse participants.

What Is Grief Tending?

A supportive Grief Tending group uses exercises and practices that are designed for grief support. In groups we work in an embodied way using creativity and ritual.  Often it will include a grief circle to create a temporary community. Grief is a small word that includes many different emotions – like anxiety, depression, confusion, hopelessness and feeling numb. However, everyone’s experience of grief is different.

What Happens in a Grief Tending Workshop?

A workshop, ceremony, or grief circle is a space to express feelings. First we use embodied exercises to help people to connect with themselves, in order to feel the support of the group and more at ease. Then, there will be a chance to evoke and express emotions. Finally, it will include time to rest and integrate too. We work in a gentle way, and invite people to participate in ways that meet their needs.

Is Grief Tending For Me?

People need support for many different reasons. Are you looking for grief support because someone has died, or for pet grief, or because you’ve lost your job? Perhaps because you are ill, are involuntarily childless or stressed by something you’ve seen at work? You may feel in need of support because you are trying to recover from an adverse childhood experience, or are worried about the state of the world. People may experience grief for a mix of, or unknown reasons.

Why Tend Grief Together?

A grief support group can be really helpful. How does it work? By sharing our experiences with others, being witnessed and part of a group can really make a difference in our grieving process. Moreover, it can be difficult to find places where we feel able to bring our difficult emotions, or challenging life experiences, but a Grief Tending Circle can welcome and hold us.

Does My Grief Count?

Everybody’s experiences are different, and so is the shape and size of their grief. People may find support in Grief Tending events for all kinds of reasons. Grief is a natural response to lots of different losses, absences, and life events. All reasons to grieve are valid. The grief that people experience may not be equal, but everyone is equally welcome in the spaces we hold.

Where Does Grief Tending Come From?

A grief circle is one part of Grief Tending, in addition to different elements of grief support like song, ritual, writing, visualisation and movement. These are some of the people who influence the way we work: Sobonfu Somé, Francis Weller, Martin Prechtel, Joanna Macy, Malidoma Somé, Peter Levine, Stephen Porges, Carolyn Spring, Maeve Gavin, Sophy Banks and Jeremy Thres. With thanks to the people who are developing this field of grief support and trauma recovery.

Grief Tending Support Groups

For support with all kinds of grief, you can find Grief Tending events coming up here.
Grief support groups happen online, in person and sometimes on specific themes. We also offer bespoke events if you are part of a community that would benefit from a Grief Tending session.