Grief Services

At TRU Community Care, we consider it a privilege to help those who are grieving regain their balance and resume healthy living. Whether you are looking for personal guidance or walking alongside someone who is, contact us to see how we can help. Extensive resources for people of all ages and stages in the grief process are available to everyone in the community and are free of charge. In addition to the wide variety of age and loss-specific grief support groups TRU offers, our experienced grief counselors are available for phone consultations or referrals, can suggest articles and other materials pertinent to your circumstances, and provide on-site support in traumatic situations. Families whose loved one received TRU’s services have the additional benefit of 13-months of one-on-one or family grief counseling. Please call us anytime for support at (303) 604-5300.

Newly Bereaved Support Program

Support, information, and networking for people who have experienced a recent death loss. The group is recommended for people who are between 1-4 months out from the loss. Sessions run for four consecutive weeks and begin each month.

Eight Week Bereavement Support Program

Support, information, and networking for people who have experienced a death loss. The group is recommended for people who are at least 6 months out from the loss. Evening and daytime groups are held throughout the year. Sessions run for eight consecutive weeks.

Bereaved Parents Support Group (ongoing)

Support meeting with program and sharing for bereaved parents only, held the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm

First Year Spouse/Partner Grief Support Group (ongoing)

For spouses or partners whose loved one’s death has occurred within the past 12 months, held the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Spouse/Partner Loss Grief Support Group (ongoing)

For anyone who has experienced the death of a spouse or partner, held the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Widowed Senior Grief Support Group (ongoing)

For senior men and women who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner, held the 4th Wednesday of every month from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Yoga After Loss Support Group

A support group for those who wish to explore grief through the practice of yoga, using breath-work, poses and meditation. This group is offered periodically and will meet in Lafayette as an ongoing group. Offering a body of yoga techniques, this group will provide the opportunity to consciously connect with and experience your grief in a safe and supportive setting. As your practice unfolds, you may experience the gifts of increased strength, flexibility, and awareness. No yoga experience needed.

Writing Through Grief Support Group

This group is offered periodically and will meet for six or eight consecutive weeks. Loss and writing are both very personal experiences. This class provides the opportunity to blend the two in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Through the use of weekly prompts, members will reflect on the provided writings as a group followed by time for their own individual written responses. Journaling is encouraged. No writing experience is needed. Writings will not be critiqued. Expressing grief through the written word is the intention of the class as members’ journey through loss using this creative form.

Hiking Group (May - October)

Support, exercise and a safe place for quiet reflection for anyone who has suffered a death loss, held on Wednesdays, May – October from 9:00 - 11:00 am (weather permitting)

Sudden Loss Grief Support Group

The sudden, unexpected loss of someone we love is shocking and difficult to comprehend, often for a very long time. This ongoing group, meeting the 4th Monday of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., offers a safe, supportive space in which to navigate the specific challenges and conflicting emotions that accompany sudden loss. The compassion and understanding of others sharing similar experiences is one of the most valuable ways to recognize and honor your journey.

Dementia Grief Support Group: After the Losses

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. Support for those who have lost a loved one to dementia. This group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Substance Use Loss Group

This group offers an environment to share the pain and suffering of addiction and the drug-related death of your loved one with others who understand and can identify with your experience. This is safe place to remember, honor, and share the loss of your loved one as you walk the journey of grief. This group meets the 2nd Thursday of each month (online) from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Creative Expression Grief Support Group

Creative activities offer the opportunity to engage in building meaning from the loss of a loved one. Art-making activities help facilitate understanding and the expression of deep emotions that can otherwise be difficult to access. Each session will consist of time spent creating art and time for each member to process the meaning of their creation in a safe and supportive environment. There is no experience or “skill” necessary to participate in the group. Minimum art supplies suggested: one writing tool (such as pen or pencil) and blank paper. This group will meet Tuesdays, July 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Grieving the loss of someone we love is one of the most profound experiences of life. Our whole being – body, mind, and spirit – responds to the stress of loss. Moving through the complex emotions and reactions that surface during this painful but normal human process takes time. The duration and intensity of grief depend on many factors that are subject to change and cannot be prescribed. Although no one can make grief disappear, tapping into support systems, identifying internal resources, recognizing common responses to bereavement, and intentionally tending to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs can make living with loss a bit less painful.

TRU Youth and Family Grief Support

Family Grief Group

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. This 6-week group is for kids ages 6 -18 and their parents or caregivers. Our Family Grief Group is a place for kids and teens to come together for peer support, remembering special people who have died and exploring grief through art, play and games. At the same time, it is an opportunity for their parents or caregivers to receive support and education about coping with family grief. The Family Grief Group meets on Thursdays from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in Lafayette. Topics we cover include: - What is grief? - How do we feel grief? - What helps? - Changes that have happened - How to say goodbye - Telling our stories Registration is required for participation in this group. To register, or for additional information, please call TRU Community Care Grief Services at 303.604.5300.

Healing with Horses Group

This four-week group is for kids and teens ages 7 -18. We combine equine-assisted activities with peer support to share stories, memories and have fun. We learn various ways to care for horses and to develop skills in a safe environment. We talk about grief, ways to remember your special person, and how to take care of yourself through your grief journey. Healing with Horses meets on June 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in Boulder. The cost is $50 per child. Scholarships are available. To register, or for additional information, please call TRU Community Care Grief Services at 303.604.5330.

A child old enough to love is old enough to grieve. – Dr. Alan Wolfelt

TRU Community Care offers grief support to Children and Teens through Healing Circles. We provide grief education, consultation, and peer support throughout the year as well as individual short-term counseling for children and teens who have lost a loved one through a TRU Community Care program. Grief is unique and may vary in duration. Kids have different needs from adults and process loss through play, activity, and sometimes acting out. They might get a tummy ache or a headache rather than express their grief. Sometimes they might grieve in short bursts or regress a little in behaviors. Teens may appear to be fine and yet need extra support as they are creating their identities without turning to negative coping strategies while grieving. We empower and encourage kids in a safe and nurturing environment.

All of our services and programs are open to the community and require pre-registration. Our therapeutic playroom, highly trained volunteers, and close collaborations with community allow us to provide services for all different ages and grief styles.

Click the links below to download our required forms:

Parent Agreement Form

Child & Teen Intake Form

Healing Circles Child & Teen Emergency Information

Healing Circles Safety Rules

Grief Support Resources

We are thinking of you during your journey through grief. We reach out to our TRU family members by phone and with periodic mailings during the 13 months following the death of a loved one. These quarterly Grief Services Newsletters are available to you, your friends and your community at any time.