7-Week Kansas City Grief Support Group

Event Description:
This 7-week grief support group is designed for adults who are navigating grief during the holiday season, whether from a recent loss or a loss that feels more acute at this time of year. The group welcomes individuals who find that traditions, family gatherings, or seasonal reminders heighten feelings of sadness, loneliness, or disconnection.

Each weekly session builds upon the last, guiding participants through the natural, non-linear process of grief using Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning as a framework. We begin with introductions, co-creating group expectations, and developing an understanding of grief as a unique and personal journey.

In the following weeks, we move through the tasks of mourning by exploring what it means to accept the reality of the loss, experience the pain of grief, adjust to life without the deceased, and eventually reinvest in life while maintaining a meaningful connection to the person who has died.

As the group progresses, we also explore the impact of grief on personal identity, the role of memory and continuing bonds, and how to navigate social expectations and support systems.

In our final weeks together, we reflect on grief in the context of broader life changes and honor the process of healing by integrating the loss into the ongoing story of our lives.

This group emphasizes emotional safety, mutual support, and the understanding that healing does not mean forgetting—it means learning how to carry your grief with you in a meaningful and life-giving way.

Target Audience:

This group is designed for those who have:

• Lost a loved one and are facing their first holiday season without them; and

• Individuals who notice that grief intensifies around anniversaries or holidays even years later; and

• People seeking supportive community and coping strategies to manage emotional, social, and spiritual challenges unique to this time of year.

Dates & Times:

Week 1: Saturday, November 1st, 2025
Week 2: Saturday, November 8th , 2025
Week 3: Saturday, November 15th, 2025
Week 4: Saturday, November 22nd, 2025
Week 5: Saturday, December 6th, 2025
Week 6: Saturday, December 13th, 2025
Week 7: Saturday, December 20th, 2025

Location:

This group will be held via our HIPAA compliant telehealth platform.

Pricing:

$30 per adult for the entire 7 week series, due upon registration

Facilitator Information:

This group will be led by Jonathon Fancher, student therapist at Fortis.

---

Week 6: Coping with Social Pressures and Expectations

Session Focus:

Managing grief in a season that expects celebration.

Session Purpose:

This week helps participants address the tension between their personal grief and social messages of joy. The session emphasizes setting boundaries, communicating needs, and challenging cultural myths about how grief should look during the holidays.

Session Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will:

• Identify common social and cultural myths about grief.

• Explore personal boundaries for gatherings and commitments.

• Practice communicating needs to friends and family.

• Develop an individualized Holiday Coping Plan.