Our Mission: Empowering grievers, professional healers, caregivers, and grieving communities to heal in mind, body, and spirit: That’s what Doing Grief is all about.
We aim to address the grief that sits at the center of today’s mental health crisis. As one young journalist puts it, “Grief is the national state of consciousness.”
We help grievers to foster a sense of direction by providing a compass of the grieving process that points the way to hope, healing, meaning and a cherished sense of belonging.
The compass of the grieving process we provide in our grief education programs is the Model of Adaptive Grieving Dynamics, created by our Director, Shea Darian, published in the academic journal, Illness, Crisis, and Loss (May, 2014). From the grief research literature, Shea synthesizes four types of grieving responses that are universal to all grievers, but experienced and expressed uniquely by each of us. The model is unpacked in Shea’s book, Doing Grief in Real Life (2022) to provide readers with a new way to think about and engage in the grieving process, so that grieving and healing become one and the same.
Why we do what we do?
Today, we are grieving in global proportions. Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we in the U.S. are experiencing the greatest mental health crisis in our history. Grief is a major contributor, not only among young people (as is often reported) but among old people, too, and every age between. No one is exempt from grief-striking loss, whether it’s caused by death, broken relationships, ecological anxiety, illness, injury, addiction, domestic abuse, violence, trauma, homelessness, natural disasters, aging, or any loss that causes grief.
How our approach is different…
Unlike traditional grief support programs that focus solely on talking cures through grief counseling and attending support groups after a loss occurs, Doing Grief offers programs and services with a more lasting impact. We teach adaptive grieving as a lifeskill that a person can develop and rely upon over the course of a lifetime.
Our Programs & Services
Mourning Light Grief Education programs inform and inspire grievers to learn adaptive grieving skills to heal grief-related pain in ways that are most effective for them. Professional healers and caregivers learn how to support grievers to engage in their natural approaches to healing grief-related suffering and identify needs for balance in the grieving process.
Healing Circle Small Groups are facilitated by certified Spritual Director, Shea Darian. In these confidential encounters, 4-6 participants explore personal grief and healing by engaging in a contemplative conversation with others. More than a support group, Healing Circles are an opportunity to share personal stories of grief and loss, and reflect on the healing wisdom and insights that are revealed in each one’s personal journey with grief and loss. Read more here.
Healing Circle Facilitation Training is offered for qualified applicants on a periodic basis. Read more here.
Seasonal programs are offered at select onsite locations of Doing Grief Community Healing Project in the Phoenix metro area. Learn more about the Healing Project here.
Meet Our Director, Shea Darian
“There are no fancy devices to transform the substance of your grief. There is only you and your willingness to change how you see yourself.” – Shea
“Shea’s work and the work of Doing Grief speaks to the heart and soul of who we are as humans. The compass that Doing Grief offers us for navigating the change and loss that we will all experience is nothing short of life-changing. Shea’s voice and the work of Doing Grief will embrace all who are touched by it. I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors of Doing Grief because I know that the work of Doing Grief will be a gift to all who have the good fortune to experience its wisdom and compassion.” – Dr. David Boninger, Board of Directors
Meet Our Circle of Advisors
(click link for bios)
Doing Grief in the News
Grief is inclusive of everyone. So are we. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you lost, we’re building a community where you can belong, hope, and heal your suffering.