Peer Grief Support Groups

At The Grief Club of Minnesota, we offer multiple in-person group counseling sessions for grieving children, teens, young adults and adults, ensuring individuals are placed with peers of a similar age. Led by licensed counselors, these groups create a safe space to normalize feelings, share experiences, and foster hope and connection. Click below for more information.

Family Grief Support Group – Death of a Parent

The Family Grief Support Groups Series (offered a few times per year) are for families with kids ages 5 through 17 who have experienced the death of a parent. Children and teens will participate in age appropriate groups. Parents/caregivers will simultaneously participate in an adult group.

Family Grief Support Group FAQs

Family Grief Support Group – Death of a Sibling

The Family Grief Support Groups Series are for families with kids ages 5 through 17 who have experienced the death of a sibling. Children and teens will participate in age appropriate groups. Parents/caregivers will simultaneously participate in an adult group.

Family Grief Support Group FAQs

Young Adult Grief Support Group

This group is especially tailored for ages 18-25 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Group participants discuss the wide range of emotions and various life events experienced following the death of their loved one. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, and provide support for one another.

Young Widow Grief Support Group

This group is for adults who have experienced the death of a spouse/ partner and have children 25 and under. Group participants discuss the wide range of emotions and various life events experienced following the death. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, and provide support for one another.

Young Widower Grief Support Group for Men

This group is for men who have experienced the death of a spouse/ partner and have children 25 and under. Group participants discuss the wide range of emotions and various life events experienced following the death. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, and provide support for one another.

Young Widow/Widower Grief Support Group – Death by Suicide

This group is for adults who have experienced the death of a spouse/ partner by suicide and have children 25 and under. Group participants discuss the wide range of emotions and various life events experienced following the death. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, and provide support for one another.

School Year Support Group for Kids

The school-year grief support group at The Grief Club of Minnesota offers monthly gatherings that provide children and teens a safe, compassionate space to share, connect, and heal alongside peers who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Facilitated by professional grief counselors, each session includes meaningful activities and discussions designed to support emotional growth and foster a sense of community throughout the school year.

Death of a Child by Substance Use Disorder/Overdose Support Group

This group is for adults who have experienced the death of a child age 25 and under by substance use disorder/overdose. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, ask questions of the group as desired, and provide support for one another.

Death of a Child Grief Support Group

This group is for adults who have experienced the death of a child age 25 and under. Individuals will be invited to share their personal experiences with grief, ask questions of the group as desired, and provide support for one another.

The Junction: Teen Connection

The Junction is a series of gatherings for high school students (grades 9–12) where individual grief journeys intersect. Through structured, engaging activities—board games, crafts, and movies—teens connect with peers who understand their experiences. These events provide a safe, low-pressure space for teens to make connections, share moments of joy, and navigate their grief paths together

Donuts & Dialogue Teen Grief Support Group

This group is for teens in grades 9-12 who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling.

Family Grief Support Group Series (Death of a Parent) FAQs

Who can attend the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • Children and teens ages 5 through 17 who have experienced the death of a parent in their lives.
  • A separate group for adult caregivers is held at the same time.
How long is the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • 5 consecutive weeks
Is the Family Grief Support Group an "open" group or a "closed" group?
  • A "closed" group. This allows those attending to establish trust and comfort among a familiar group as they process their grief together. 
What do the kids do during the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • The group curriculum includes discussion themes and activities to help youth express themselves through art, games and conversation.
What do the adult caregivers do during the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • Caregivers learn how to support their grieving children, as well as receive grief support themselves.
How is the Family Grief Support Group Series structured?
  • Families arrive together and meet in the atrium at the start of each week.
  • Children and teens then go to their age-appropriate rooms for group activities, and discussion.
  • Adult caregivers go to their group room for education and discussion.
  • At the end of the night, all families come back together in the atrium to close the group for the week.
How many people are in each Family Grief Support Group?
  • Participants divide by age, so the size of each age group can range from four to 10.
Who runs the Family Grief Support Groups?
  • One of our wonderful licensed mental health counselor staff members facilitate each age group.
When is the right time to attend the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • There is no timeline for grief, and the choice is different for each family.
  • Some families choose to attend within the first few months after a death, while others wait a year of more.
  • Families may attend the Family Grief Support Group Series once
Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
  • Cara Mearns-Thompson, LICSW at cara@griefclubmn.org

Family Grief Support Group Series (Death of a Sibling) FAQs

Who can attend the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • Children and teens ages 5 through 17 who have experienced the death of a sibling in their lives.
  • A separate group for adult caregivers is held at the same time.
How long is the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • 5 consecutive weeks

Is the Family Grief Support Group an "open" group or a "closed" group?
  • A "closed" group. This allows those attending to establish trust and comfort among a familiar group as they process their grief together. 

What do the kids do during the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • The group curriculum includes discussion themes and activities to help youth express themselves through art, games and conversation.

What do the adult caregivers do during the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • Caregivers learn how to support their grieving children, as well as receive grief support themselves.

How is the Family Grief Support Group Series structured?
  • Families arrive together and meet in the atrium at the start of each week.
  • Children and teens then go to their age-appropriate rooms for group activities, and discussion.
  • Adult caregivers go to their group room for education and discussion.
  • At the end of the night, all families come back together in the atrium to close the group for the week.

How many people are in each Family Grief Support Group?
  • Participants divide by age, so the size of each age group can range from four to 10.

Who runs the Family Grief Support Groups?
  • One of our wonderful licensed mental health counselor staff members facilitate each age group.

When is the right time to attend the Family Grief Support Group Series?
  • There is no timeline for grief, and the choice is different for each family.
  • Some families choose to attend within the first few months after a death, while others wait a year of more.
  • Families may attend the Family Grief Support Group Series once

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
  • Cara Mearns-Thompson, LICSW at cara@griefclubmn.org