Grief support group, New Haven and online
A Room Where You Can Say Their Name.
A Community Healing Circle is a judgment-free gathering for adults who understand grief because they are living through it. During this two- to three-hour experience, participants are supported through guided conversation, remembrance, education, and connection. You may listen, share if you choose, and leave feeling less alone.
What it is
Not a Class. Not Therapy. A Circle.
Fifteen to twenty-five adults, one facilitator, and a promise that nobody in the room will tell you how you should be doing. Most of us have heard the clichés from people who meant well. You will not hear them here.
The research agrees with what the circle already knows. A 2019 systematic review of 32 studies in the journal Omega found consistent evidence that peer support helps bereaved people, reducing grief symptoms and increasing well-being, and that it is especially valuable for survivors of suicide loss.
What happens
What a Circle Looks Like
- Welcome. You arrive, you are greeted by name, and you find a seat. There is food and something warm to drink when funding permits.
- Grounding. Most circles open with a grounding exercise led by Jatorra Commodore of Raise Your Vibe, a few quiet minutes to settle into the room.
- Remembrance. Each person may light a tea light candle in remembrance of the person they are grieving. You may also simply watch.
- Guided conversation. Dr. Tracy opens a theme, sometimes with a reflection card or a journaling prompt, and the circle talks. Some people speak. Some listen. Both are participation.
- Grief education. A few minutes on what grief does to the body, the mind, and the calendar, so you stop wondering whether you are doing it wrong.
- Connection and next steps. Time to talk with the people beside you, resources to take home, and information about the next circle, workshop, or one-on-one support.
You Never Have to Share
Take part at your own comfort level. You are never required to say anything about your loss, and nothing you say in a circle is shared outside it by the facilitator.
The details
What to Know Before You Register
- Cost: No cost to participants when funding is available. Grants, donations, and sponsors help make circles possible.
- Who: Adults grieving the death of a loved one. Parents, siblings, spouses, caregivers, friends, every kind of loss.
- Length: Two to three hours.
- Size: About 15 to 25 people, depending on the venue.
- How often: One or two circles a month, announced on the Events page and on Facebook.
- Registration: Required. Registration stays open until the seats are filled. The form asks about accommodation needs and dietary restrictions so the room is ready for you.
- Where: Community venues in and around New Haven, Connecticut, and online when a circle is held virtually.
Next Healing Circle
Holiday Survival Healing Circle: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Mitchell Branch Library, New Haven
After a circle
Grief Is Not a Deadline, So the Door Stays Open
Participants often come back for the next circle, join a Navigating Grief workshop, or ask about one-on-one support. There is no set number of circles and no point at which you are expected to be finished.
Soaring on Angels’ Wings® is not a crisis service. If you are in a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.