Grief Support Groups

A Space for Healing, Understanding, and Connection

When someone dies, the entire family is affected. Children may not have the words to describe their grief, while parents often struggle to support their children while managing their own pain. The Youth Grief Support Group was created to offer a structured, caring space where both can find support.

Each month, children and teens gather in small, developmentally appropriate groups led by experienced Certified Child Life Specialists and Licensed Mental Health Professionals. While youth participate in creative and reflective activities, caregivers meet in their own group to share, connect, and learn strategies for supporting their children.

The goal of the group is not to move past grief, but to create a supportive environment where families can explore their experiences, express emotions, and find strength in community.

Who Can Join

The Family-Centered Grief Support Group is open to:

• Youth ages 6 to 17 who have experienced the death of a family member, friend, or someone meaningful in their lives.

• Caregivers and parents raising a grieving child who would like guidance and community support.

To create a meaningful connection, participants are grouped by age:

• Children ages 6 to 11 participate in play-based and creative activities that help them understand and express feelings of loss.

• Teens ages 12 to 17 join discussion-based sessions that encourage peer support, reflection, and resilience-building.

These separate groups allow children and teens to process grief in a way that feels natural and supported, while caregivers gain insight into nurturing healing at home.

Support for Caregivers

While youth are in their groups, caregivers meet in a dedicated Caregiver Support Group, facilitated by Licensed Mental Health Professionals who deeply understand the grief experience.

This group provides space to:

• Explore your own grief and emotions as a parent or caregiver

• Learn how to talk about loss in developmentally appropriate ways

• Understand children’s grief reactions at different ages

• Gain tools for supporting your family’s healing at home

• Connect with others who are walking a similar path

Grief can feel isolating, but you do not have to go through it alone. Many caregivers find relief in connecting with others who understand the unique challenges of parenting while grieving.

What to Expect

The Family-Centered Grief Support Group meets in person at the University of Vermont Medical Center from September through May. Sessions take place on the third Saturday of each month.

Schedule:

• Youth sessions: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

• Caregiver sessions: 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Each meeting combines creative expression, education, and group discussion. Activities may include art, storytelling, writing, and mindfulness practices, all designed to help participants express emotions safely and develop healthy coping skills.

The atmosphere is gentle and non-judgmental. Families are invited to participate at their own pace and to return as needed throughout the year.

Our Approach

Our facilitators use trauma-informed, family-centered, and developmentally sensitive approaches to guide both children and caregivers through the grief process.

We believe:

• Grief is a natural and necessary response to loss.

• Children grieve differently from adults, and their understanding of death evolves as they grow.

• Caregivers play a vital role in helping children heal, but they also need their own support.

• Healing happens in connection, not isolation.

Each session is designed to honor individual differences while fostering a sense of belonging and shared understanding.

Why Family-Centered Grief Support Matters

When families grieve together, they strengthen their capacity to communicate and support one another. For children, seeing caregivers express emotion in healthy ways teaches that grief is not something to hide but something that can be shared and integrated.

The Family-Centered Grief Support Group helps youth and families:

• Learn to recognize and name emotions

• Develop coping and self-soothing strategies

• Strengthen communication within the family

• Reduce isolation through connection and peer support

• Rebuild a sense of stability and hope

Grief never entirely disappears, but it can become more bearable when held within a supportive community.

Registration and Contact Information

Participation in the group is free, and families may attend as often as they wish.

For youth ages 6 to 11:

Contact Jess Rabidoux, CCLS

📧 jessica.rabidoux@uvmhealth.org

📞 802-847-4069

For youth ages 12 to 17:

Contact Ali Waltien, M.A.

📧 awaltien@gmail.com

📞 802-343-0901

You may also visit the UVM Medical Center Grief Support page to learn more or register for upcoming sessions.

You Are Not Alone

Grief is not something to fix or rush through. It is a journey that unfolds over time, and every person walks it differently. The Family-Centered Grief Support Group offers a place where families can come together to share, remember, and rebuild connection.

Whether you are a child, a teen, or a caregiver, this community welcomes you precisely as you are. Healing begins with being seen, heard, and understood.