Registered Charity #118803667RR0001
INDIVIDUAL PEER SUPPORT SESSIONS
We want to ensure that every grieving child, teen, and adult has the opportunity to share their feelings, thoughts, and story in a safer, non-judgmental space. While group settings work for some, they may not be the right fit for everyone. For those who prefer a more private setting, we also offer individual peer support sessions where you can talk to someone one-on-one.
INDIVIDUAL PEER SUPPORT SESSIONS
("One-to-One's")
We offer free, one-to-one peer support sessions for individuals grieving the death of someone in their life. These sessions are not counselling, therapy, or crisis support but rather peer support, which is based on shared experiences and compassionate listening. Our trained grief peer supporters—who may be staff, students, or volunteers—provide a space to talk about loss and the emotions that come with it.
As part of this peer-based approach, Peer Supporters may also, where appropriate and helpful, share aspects of their own lived experience with grief to support connection, understanding, and a sense of not being alone in what you are going through. ​
​What to Expect - Adults (aged 18+):​
We offer up to 8 one-to-one sessions per person, per year, each lasting 30 minutes. Sessions are booked on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
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Adult sessions begin with a light structure. This means each session follows a guiding theme related to grief. These themes are informed by the most common experiences shared in grief support and are intended to help ensure participants are able to access a broad and holistic range of support within a limited number of sessions.
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While each session has a guiding theme, participation is always flexible. Peer Supporters support each person in a way that meets them where they are, and you are never required to speak directly to the topic if something else feels more relevant in the moment.
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The first and last sessions are structured and considered essential check-ins. These sessions help create a supported beginning to the service, and a thoughtful, contained ending. Regardless of session format, all participants receive a grief resource booklet to support reflection and coping between sessions.
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After completing their one-to-one sessions, adults are also welcome to continue their connection with our services by joining our ongoing adult grief support groups, which offer additional opportunities for peer connection and support.
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How Sessions Are Held:
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For individuals 13 years and older, sessions are held over the phone by default, with Zoom available upon request where resources allow.
Interested in one-to-one grief peer support?
If you are an adult grieving the death of someone in your life, we invite you to reach out when you feel ready. We can connect you with a trained grief peer supporter who understands loss through lived experience and can offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space to talk about what you’re going through.
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Whether your grief feels new, ongoing, or something you’ve been carrying for a long time, you are welcome here.
Interested in one-to-one grief peer support?
If you know a child or teen who may benefit from connecting with a grief Peer Supporter, we’re here to help.
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For youth aged 16 and 17, we ask that they complete their own intake directly, so we can ensure their preferences, needs, and consent are centred from the start.
​What to Expect - Children and Teens (ages 6-17):​
We offer up to 12 one-to-one sessions per person, per year, each lasting 30 minutes, scheduled on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
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These sessions are unstructured and open-conversation based, allowing children and teens to bring forward whatever feels most important to them in relation to their grief. This may include memories, emotions, questions, or day-to-day experiences of loss. Sessions are designed to be supportive and flexible, meeting each young person where they are in their grief.
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Our child and youth sessions are grounded in a peer-informed approach, where Peer Supporters may, when appropriate, gently self-disclose aspects of lived experience with loss to support connection, normalization, and reduced isolation.
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At this time, if a child or teen requires additional support after completing their 12 sessions, they are invited to join our waitlist for the next available set of sessions within the same year, as we currently do not offer ongoing group programming for children and youth.
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How Sessions Are Held:
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For individuals 13 years and older, sessions are held over the phone by default, with Zoom available upon request where resources allow.
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For individuals under 13 years of age, sessions are typically held over Zoom, with phone-based support available upon request.
If you are in crisis, require mental health support beyond grief, or need therapeutic grief counselling, we encourage you to seek professional services outside of our organization.
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For more detailed information, we recommend visiting our FAQ page.