‘Grief is grief’ support group offers help
Published 10:30 am Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Why a grief group for the holidays season?
When one thinks of the holidays, what arises is images of joy, community, festive events, family gatherings. Images most of us have experienced during this time of year. What all of us have also experienced is love and loss. There is no grief without joy and love.
Working as a therapist and living as a human what has hit me most about grief is that it holds all the emotions. What is important to acknowledge is that if we are willing to cross grief’s threshold it will bring us to ourselves and closer to those we have lost as well as deeper to the love we felt. Like a map and a compass, it will guide us to our authentic self.
This time of year, is the time where days get shorter, the light fades and we do our best to hide the dark. We put up colorful lights to offset the darkness. What can be hard about this time is that some of us are celebrating and some of us are feeling the loss of loved ones. In both it is a need for community.
One of the things that makes us human is that we need to gather, we need each other to learn, grow, process. What can be hard during this time is to find a place where we can be present with our honest heart when that emotion is the processing of grief.
Sobunfu Some’ was a teacher from the Dagara culture in Burkina Faso. Her name means“keeper of the rituals” and she was my teacher through the grief rituals she facilitated. In her culture it is crucial that no one should grieve alone. To be able to feel safe in one’s grief and to express it we need to do it together.
I say “Grief is Grief” and what I mean by that is grief can be the loss of a loved one, an acknowledgement of betrayals, the sadness around our climate crisis, a hope that never came … there is no hierarchy of grief. All grief should be welcomed and processed.
Through the gift of RJ’s Kids we are offering a place for this to be felt, a place where it is safe to feel the grief in our lives. A place to move through our grief into other territories of our heart and soul and begin the steps towards healing, a return to wholeness.
Sessions will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 and Dec. 11 and 18 at Women Hold the Key, 9822 SW Gorsuch Road. Registration is encouraged by calling Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232, but drop-ins are welcome.
Kenny Alton is a counselor at Vashon Youth and Family Services. He holds an MA in Systems Counseling from LIOS and a BA in Psychology and Spiritual Studies, and serves as the grief group facilitator.
