Transformative Grief Support and Healing Spaces in L.A.

January 13, 2026

While the rest of Los Angeles moves at its fast pace, your world may feel like it has come to a halt after the loss of a loved one. Everyday routines, familiar spaces, and even simple moments can feel different or empty without your loved one. Finding the right type of grief support for you can help you navigate this profound shift. Tools, guidance, and community can help you re-orient yourself in a life that now exists without your loved one. Below is a list of spaces to process your feelings, find connection, and gradually rebuild a sense of balance and meaning in a world that has undeniably changed.

Group & Peer Grief Support

Because grief can be deeply isolating, hearing others share feelings of anger, numbness, guilt, confusion, or hope can remind you that your own grieving process is normal. Regularly attending a group, where you can show up just as you are, allows you to be part of a small community of people who hold space for you and remember your story. With members at different stages of grief, you can gain hope from those further along in their journey, and in time, you can offer support to others in need as well.


Group & Peer Grief Support Resources in Los Angeles

 

Our House Non-Profit

From Our House “The Our House mission is to provide the community with grief support services, education, resources, and hope. Since 1993, OUR HOUSE has helped thousands of grieving children, teens, and adults as they embark upon their journeys to hope and healing.” 


Here are some of the grief groups offered by Our House:

Adult Groups  

Children and Teens

School-Based Programs 

New Hope Grief Support Community- Non-Profit 


From New Hope “Since 2003, New Hope Grief Support Community has been serving bereaved adults, children, and families in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Our mission is to help bereaved adults, children and families find hope and healing through connection and support. We understand that after someone dies it can bring feelings of isolation and loneliness and most people don’t know where to turn. New Hope offers community-based programs led by people who genuinely care and have experienced a death themselves. Our programs aim to break isolation, foster empathy and connection, and give grieving people an opportunity to share experiences and feelings in a safe environment free of judgment.”


The Dinner Party - Peer Led Groups and Training

The Dinner Party believes that your grief is your own, but that doesn't mean you have to go through it alone. Grief isn’t a problem that needs solving, but the loneliness that comes with it is. The Dinner Party connects young adult grievers, either in-person or virtually, to a caring and supportive community of peers who help each other navigate loss, life, and all the stuff in between. 


Prism Memorial - Events and Trainings

Prism Memorial provides grief-informed support through wellness events, workshops, and virtual community spaces. Rooted in the wisdom of the snail, Prism honors slowness, softness, and each person’s unique pace of healing.



Grief Support Groups led by Therapists 

Search for providers on Psychology Today and add filters for meeting type, age groups, and cost.

Mental Health Professionals for Grief Support

Personalized support can help you process complex emotions, explore the unique impact of your loss confusion in a safe and non-judgmental space. Over time, this individualized support can help you navigate grief more effectively, gain perspective, and find ways to integrate your loss into daily life while fostering emotional resilience.


Mental Health Resources for Grief in Los Angeles 


Kara Hoppe- Psychotherapist, Death Doula, Teacher

Kara offers psychotherapy with a relational, inclusive approach. Kara integrates Jungian psychology, Gestalt theory, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and somatic awareness of the body into her work.


LifeSource sponsors and hosts events with Kara, such as her recurring work shop, We Are Mortal. 


Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy - Grief Counseling

Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy is a collective of like-minded psychotherapists who are dedicated to the well-being of clients, sharing a soft place to land for all walks of life. They provide effective, soul-centered, integrative, depth psychotherapy. Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy has therapists who specialize in working with grief, and chronic and terminal illnesses. You can find them in Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles and online.


Mental Health Professionals Specializing in Grief

Search for licensed grief therapists via Psychology Today Search here. You can add filters such as insurance type, therapy type, age group, and faith to your search.

Mind–Body Practices for Grief Support

Grief is not just emotional - it’s physical. Gentle movement helps regulate your brain and body, increasing circulation and improving cognitive clarity. Movement reminds you that your body is still capable, still alive, and still supporting you.


Mind-Body Resources for Grief Support in Los Angeles


Grief Yoga at Studio DDLA 

Every Sunday- 6-8 pm

This weekly offering is a collaboration between Death Doula LA and LifeSource. Grief Yoga is a yin-style yoga class that targets areas of the body that store grief. This is a slow and subtle practice that provides a safe and supportive space for people to process their emotions and experiences. This practice aims for you to become aware of where you hold pain and struggle in your body and mind, and then use movement, breath, and sound to express and release those emotions. Hot teas, herbal tinctures, oracle cards, crystals, writing materials, flowers, and aromatherapy available at every class.



Grieve & Breathe Workshop with Amber Deylon

Bi-Monthly

Amber co-hosts Grieve & Breathe, a workshop at Light + Space studio in Ojai. Amber supports those experience all forms of grief, death of a loved one, people living with chronic illness, survivors of suicide, and those navigating BIPOC and queer grief, compound grief, and pet loss, among others. 

Grief Support for Pet Loss 

Losing a pet can be absolutely devastating and feel every bit as painful as losing a close friend or family member. This is because pets are family, period. You love them with all your heart, so it only makes sense that you would grieve their death just the same. 


Pet Loss Resources in Los Angeles


The Morning Pug- Grief Group

The Morning Pug, run by Melinda Ramos, meets every other month at Studio DDLA for those navigating pet loss.  After experiencing two profound losses just months apart, Ramos found comfort in art - and now brings this comfort to others. Most meetings are centered around an art project, such as creating a locket or collaging. 

Organizations & Blogs We love 

Death Doula LA 

Through events, workshops, mentorships and training, Jill Schock of Death Doula L.A. has been serving the community as a non-denominational Chaplin and death doula for 16 years. 


The End Well Project 

End Well is a non-profit providing online self- guided resources and an annual gathering in Los Angeles. They're on a mission to transform how we think about, talk about, and plan for the end of life. 


Their resources cover everything from guidance on navigating the dying process, support for grief and mental health, talking to aging parents about death, supporting a grieving child, starting end-of-life planning, or providing care to a dying loved one. 


(A)Wake Studios

Kaitlyn Pietras is a queer Los Angeles based grief worker and visual artist whose practice centers grief witnessing, ritual, and care at times of loss. Through her project (a)Wake, she creates spaces for individuals and communities navigating death, life transitions, and unwitnessed grief. Drawing on a background in immersive performance design, her work attends closely to emotional, spiritual, and somatic experience. Kaitlyn offers funeral celebrancy, grief witnessing, and communal gatherings rooted in presence, listening, and meaning making. Her writings on grief extend this practice, exploring how ritual and art can support collective healing.


Talk Death Daily 

Talk Death is a thoughtful online platform dedicated to fostering open, compassionate, and constructive conversations about death, dying, grief, and bereavement. As a growing hub in the death-positive movement, it offers accessible resources that help individuals navigate grief, explore cultural and historical perspectives on death, and make informed decisions around end-of-life planning.


The Ash Rose Foundation

A 30-day guided journey of reflection and healing through art. Participants receive a custom ash portrait created with the cremation ashes of their loved one, along with a structured journaling program designed to support their emotional process.

Honoring Grief Through Nature & Green Death Care

As a green funeral home, we see every day how profoundly people are comforted by nature during times of loss. There’s often a deep sense of peace in knowing that a loved one has returned to a natural state, becoming part of the earth again, supporting new life, and continuing the cycle in a meaningful way. 


LifeSource works with Better Place Forests to plant trees. Instead of a tombstone, a Memorial Tree is planted to return ashes to the earth. 


LifeSource’s Green Funeral Care Services 


Terramation

The process of transforming human remains into nutrient-rich soil through controlled natural decomposition, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.


Aquamation

A water-based alternative to cremation that uses minimal energy, leaving behind a small amount of remains that can be easily returned to nature.


Flame Cremation

A time-honored option made more sustainable with the choice of biodegradable urns, the cleanest burning cremation technology in California, and a facility is fully powered by renewable energy.


Burial at Sea 

A simple, serene farewell where your body is respectfully laid to rest in the ocean, in alignment with maritime traditions & environmental care.


Natural Burial 

A timeless and earth-connected option, where the body is gently laid to rest without embalming, returning naturally to the earth.

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Green Burial and Natural Burial: Are There Differences?

November 4, 2026
If you’re learning about green burial and natural burial, you may wonder if there are any differences between these terms. In most contexts, they mean the same thing: returning the body to the earth using biodegradable materials, without conventional embalming or a burial vault. Both allow for a simple return to nature, allowing the body to become part of the living landscape once again. The language can become confusing because “Green Burial” is sometimes used broadly to describe other options such as terramation (aka human composting) and aquamation (aka water cremation) . When discussing eco-friendly options that do not involve burying a body, “Green Funerals” or “Green Death Care” are more accurate terms. What is Natural Burial Natural burial is the practice of allowing the body to decompose naturally in the earth. With minimal intervention, the body’s nutrients return to the earth through the work of naturally occurring decomposition. Though practices vary by cemetery, you’ll generally see natural and green burial outlined as: Avoiding conventional embalming or toxic preservation fluids. Forgoing vaults or concrete liners. Using caskets or shrouds made of renewable, natural, & biodegradable materials. Choosing simple natural markers that complement the landscape. The surrounding landscape may look different from a conventional cemetery, too. In some natural burial grounds, native grasses, wildflowers, and trees take the place of meticulously manicured lawns. A natural burial can take place in: An uncertified natural burial ground or cemetery. A Green Burial Council-certified cemetery. A hybrid cemetery- a conventional cemetery that allows natural burial in dedicated sections. Private property burial may also be an option in some locations, depending on state and local requirements. In California, in limited rural areas, a small private or family cemetery can be established through strict licensing and approvals. You can learn more about establishing a private cemetery here. Is Green Burial Different from Natural Burial? In most cases, no. Both terms describe a full-body burial that allows for natural decomposition in the earth. The use of the term “natural” emphasizes the process of returning to the earth with limited intervention, while “green” emphasizes environmental considerations. The priorities go hand in hand: simpler burial materials and fewer interventions allow for a more eco-friendly and direct return to the earth. The key distinction here is the word burial. Aquamation, Cremation, and Terramation are not forms of burial, but dispositions that reduce the body with an alkaline solution, fire, or natural decomposition. They transform the body in a controlled environment before returning the resulting remains to the earth. Cremation and aquamation produce remains from bones, commonly called “ashes”, while terramation produces “soil” or compost (you’ll also hear the term reduced remains- we cover this in this post about terramation terminology here ). Families may choose to bury or scatter these remains, but this is a separate step. With natural and green burial, the body’s transformation takes place within the earth. Green Burial and Green Death Care You’ll see that “green burial” is occasionally used interchangeably with “green death care”. However, green death care is an umbrella term for environmentally conscious funeral options, and green and natural burial fall underneath this umbrella. Aquamation and terramation are separate processes that can also fall within green death care. Think of green death care as a broad spectrum- caring for someone after death while considering the resources used, materials left behind, and the impact on the environment. Green death care can encompass both disposition choices and individual practices, including: Natural or green burial. Aquamation (water cremation). Terramation (human composting). Full-body burial at sea using appropriate biodegradable materials. Choosing simpler, biodegradable funeral products. Avoiding conventional embalming or choosing less toxic body-care options when preparation is desired. Reducing the environmental impact of conventional services through changes in materials, transportation, or energy use. Supporting carbon-offset projects. What Does Green Burial Certification Mean? The Green Burial Council has different certification standards for cemeteries, funeral homes and products. Certification provides a framework for evaluating specific practices and helping families understand what a provider offers. For cemetery certification, cemeteries undergo an evaluation and are scored based on outlined criteria. It is important to note that the Green Burial Council does not conduct compliance checks after initial certification. Certification can help families find providers and compare their practices. However, Green Burial Council certification is voluntary and not required to arrange a natural burial. An uncertified cemetery may still allow a burial that follows natural burial practices. See a beautiful example of a Los Angeles’ family’s experience of natural burial here . LifeSource had the honor of guiding this family in preparing a natural burial for their loved one, Maria. LifeSource had the honor of guiding this family in preparing a natural burial for their loved one, Maria. Her wishes were inspired by the simplicity of Jewish burial traditions and the meaning she found in returning directly to the earth. Her story illustrates how natural burial can reflect both personal beliefs and a connection to nature.  Considering Green or Natural Burial in Southern California? Whether you are planning ahead or caring for someone who has died, LifeSource can help you explore a return to the earth that reflects your values. Our team can explain natural burial arrangements, discuss available cemetery options, and help you understand each step. Exploring other paths? LifeSource offers the following dispositions: Terramation Aquamation Flame Cremation Burial at Sea Natural Burial (covered here)