Tuesdays - FREE Anticipatory Grief Support Group
You are warmly invited to join
our free, weekly, drop-in, online support group, a safe place where tears and feelings are welcome without judgment.
This is a safe place designed to
help you navigate the complex, often unspoken emotions of grieving a loved one who is
still physically present.
What You Will Find
A Sanctuary for Your Feelings
In the midst of caregiving and uncertainty, it is easy to feel invisible. Here, we offer a space where your experience is the focus.
Validation for the "In-Between" We understand the unique pain
of mourning someone
who is still here.
Whether you feel deep sadness, relief, or guilt, you will find affirmation that these conflicting emotions are a normal response
to expected loss.
Permission to Speak Freely
This is your "safe place" away from the need to be strong for others. You are free to voice the thoughts you cannot share with family—your fears, your exhaustion, and your grief—without fear of judgment.
Companionship for the Journey
Grief can be isolating, but you do not have to walk this path alone.
Breaking the Silence
There is profound relief in nodding along with others who "get it."
We see ourselves in each other's stories.
Connecting with peers who are traveling a similar road reduces the isolation of caregiving and creates an immediate sense of belonging.
Tools for the Road Ahead
Beyond emotional support, we share practical wisdom for navigating the logistics of
end-of-life care.
From managing stress to
preparing for what comes next,
we help you emotionally live in
the present and plan for the
future so you feel less overwhelmed.
Date
Every Tuesday
Time
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm CT
Three-Part Series Anticipatory Grief: Before, During & After Expected Loss
We feel anticipatory grief before any significant life transition. It is a natural and normal response to an impending loss. Learn how to live and mourn fully before, during, and after expected loss.
You are warmly invited to join us for a supportive three-part webinar series exploring the complex, often unspoken journey of Anticipatory Grief.
This webinar series is designed to offer a safe place for those navigating the overwhelming and confusing emotions that naturally arise before a significant loss—whether it be a diagnosis, a changing relationship, or a life transition. Each session is 90 minutes, featuring 60 minutes of compassionate education followed by 30 minutes of open Q&A.
Anticipatory grief is a normal reaction to expected loss. It occurs when a loved one gets diagnosed, as pets grow older, or when we face the end of a career or relationship. It’s more than accepting a future death; it involves mourning small, daily losses—such as independence, shared dreams, security, and identity.
If you feel conflicted, guilty, or exhausted, know that you are not alone. These feelings are valid. This series will guide you through the three distinct phases of this journey, helping you build the skills to cope with grace and presence.
Part 1
BEFORE the Loss
How to Live and Actively Mourn
In our first conversation, we will distinguish between grief (what you feel) and mourning (what you do). We will gently dismantle common myths and identify the practical coping skills you already possess to navigate daily changes. The goal is to help you navigate the "looming" anxiety and the countless micro-losses occurring before the loss.
Date
Thursday | April 9, 2026
Time
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm CT
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Part 2
DURING the Loss
The Moment of Transition
Even when expected, the finality of loss—a death, a divorce decree, a bankruptcy—can be shocking.
The curtain falls, and the
"during" phase ends.
We will discuss why you might feel prepared yet overwhelmed, and how to plan ahead to ensure you have the specific support you need on the day the loss occurs.
Date
Thursday | May 14, 2026
Time
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm CT
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Part 3
AFTER the Loss
Healing and Integration
You will eventually find yourself in the "wilderness" of grief. Here, we explore why there is no right or wrong way to grieve and how telling your story softens the harshness of the experience.
You will be invited to create a personal grief plan based on the 6 Universal Needs of Mourning, supporting you as you move at your own pace toward reconciling and integrating the loss into your life.
Date
Thursday | June 11, 2026
Time
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm CT
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A Final Word
Trust Your Heart
"Trust your grief. Listen to it. Learn from it. Allow it to lead and teach you – at its own pace – what it needs." — Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Grief does not respond to logic;
it is a journey of the heart. You are living through extremely challenging circumstances, yet you are resilient.
By attending to your grief now, you are building the capacity to live through the time of loss with
grace, love, and compassion.
We look forward to walking
this path with you.
Collaborator
Monthly Webinar Expected Loss: Coping with Anticipatory Grief
Monthly Webinar Expected Loss: Coping with Anticipatory Grief
Grief doesn't always wait for a goodbye; often, our hearts begin to mourn the moment we sense a change on the horizon. Whether you are walking alongside a loved one facing illness or navigating your own concerns about an impending loss, this feeling—known as anticipatory grief—is a natural and confusing part of the human experience.
This compassionate webinar offers a safe space to explore these emotions. You will learn to befriend your grief, discovering gentle ways to express it while continuing to live fully in the present. Life is constantly changing, and while these changes can be difficult, you do not have to navigate them alone.
What We Will Explore Together
Defining the Journey
Understanding the unique nature
of anticipatory grief and validating your experience.
The Roots of Grief
Exploring the causes and triggers that bring these feelings
to the surface
Distinguishing the Path
How grieving before a loss differs from the grief after loss.
Grief vs. Mourning
Learning the vital difference between what we feel inside and how we express it outwardly.
Active Mourning
Practical, authentic ways to process your emotions before, during,
and after an expected loss.
Compassionate Companioning
How to care for, love, and walk with someone who is approaching
the end of life.
Note: This webinar is guided by the wisdom of "Expected Loss: Coping with Anticipatory Grief" by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., though purchasing
the book is not required to attend.
Date
Thursday | March 5, 2026
Time
10:30 am to 12:00 pm CT
Sponsor
AARP of Texas
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Future Dates
May 28, 2026
June 25, 2026
July 9, 2026
August 27, 2026
September 23, 2026
October 1, 2026
November 11, 2026
December 3, 2026
Being Heard Helps! Join Our Anticipatory Grief Support Group
We "Get it"
You Are Not Alone
Shared Learning
When you're in grief, you often feel like you're alone in your pain, but being in a group setting allows you to connect with others who truly "get it."
They understand the depth of your loss because they're experiencing it, too. This shared experience can be profoundly comforting and validating.
Shared Learning
You Are Not Alone
Shared Learning
In a group, you can hear how others are coping, what strategies they're using, and what has helped them find moments of peace.
It's a space where you can give and receive support, which can be incredibly healing.
You might find that someone else's story resonates with you or that you have advice that could help someone else.
This exchange can foster a sense of purpose and connection.
No Judgement
You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone
Our grief support group is a safe space to express your emotions without judgment—tears are welcome!
It's a place where you can be honest about your feelings. Whether you are feeling sad, anxious, angry, guilty, or even relieved, know that you're not going to be judged or misunderstood.
This can be a crucial part of the healing process, w
Our grief support group is a safe space to express your emotions without judgment—tears are welcome!
It's a place where you can be honest about your feelings. Whether you are feeling sad, anxious, angry, guilty, or even relieved, know that you're not going to be judged or misunderstood.
This can be a crucial part of the healing process, which allows you to process your emotions within a supportive environment.
You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone
Being part of a group can help reduce feelings of isolation.
Grief can be incredibly isolating, but knowing that you're not alone in your journey can be a powerful antidote to loneliness.
It can remind you that while your grief is unique, you are not alone as you experience it.
A Guide to Coping with Impending Loss
This booklet was written by Elanor Haley, M.S., and Lista Williams, MA, LCSW-C, co-founders of www.WhatsYourGrief.com. This is how they describe it...
A common myth about grief is that it always follows a death. Most people don't realize that once a death is anticipated, even if it's just a possibility, it is natural to begin to grieve.
In this 12 page booklet, we outline important concepts to know as a person navigates the complicated and overwhelming experience of anticipatory grief.
Topics discussed in this resource include:
- General truths about grief
- Understanding anticipatory grief
- Grieving during a loved one's illness
- Caregiver burnout
- Coping during a loved one's illness
- Coping after a death
The Anticipatory Grief Collaborative
Education & Support for Those Coping with Expected Loss
Our Anticipatory Grief Journey
Kinsloe Kelley Colwell
Kinsloe Kelley Colwell
Kinsloe Kelley Colwell
Licensed Marriage
and Family Therapist
July 26, 1956 to
February 12, 2019
Garrick C Colwell
Kinsloe Kelley Colwell
Kinsloe Kelley Colwell
End-of-Life Planning
Advance Care Planning
After Death Care
and Grief Educator
Peer Support
Donation Based One-on-One Support
Sometimes, a little extra support is just what you need when preparing your end-of-life documents or after a loss when navigating your way through the wilderness of grief.
Whether you’re looking for a one-time check-in or ongoing support, call or text 512-787-3402 to schedule a conversation.
Your first conversation is FREE! If you'd like to continue the conversation, each call is offered on a donation basis. You pay what you can; you decide what amount to donate after each conversation.
Anticipatory Grief Resources
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
We don't only experience grief
after a loss - we often experience
it before. If someone we love is seriously ill, or if we are concerned about upcoming hardships of
any kind we naturally begin to grieve right now. This process of anticipatory grief is normal, but
it can also be confusing and painful.
This compassionate guide will help you understand and befriend your grief and find effective ways to express it as you live your daily life.
Life is change, and change is hard. This book will help see you through.
Hi! My name is Samantha, but my Daddy calls me his "Little Sammy."
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
Sammy's Story details the journey of a 7-year-old girl whose life changes when her father is diagnosed with cancer.
Sammy beautifully teaches the reader that even though her father may die, their love and memories will live on forever.
In this journey of the heart, children and adults are reminded that illness and death can never overshadow the light of love.
A guide to coping with impending loss
We don't only experience grief after a loss- we often experience it before.
A Child's Story of Anticipatory Grief
A common myth about grief is that it always follows a death. Most people don't realize that once a death is anticipated, even if it's
just a possibility, it is natural that
we begin grieving.
In this 12 page booklet, we outline important concepts to know as a person navigates the complicated and overwhelming experience of anticipatory grief.
Topics discussed in this resource include:
General truths about grief
Understanding anticipatory grief
Grieving during a loved one's illness
Caregiver burnout
Coping during a loved one's illness
Coping after a death
A Child's Story of Anticipatory Grief
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
A Child's Story of Anticipatory Grief
Cinnamon Roll Sunday is a bibliotherapy resource - a story intended to be read aloud by an adult to one or more children (ages 4-10) as a therapeutic adjunctive
to support healthy coping with
their loved one's serious illness
and possible death.
It provides a context for children to orient to anticipatory grief and can act as a catalyst for the child to be able to share his or her experience. This story may also be helpful after the death of a loved one from a long illness.
Parents reading this story may also benefit by having communication about difficult topics such as illness and death modeled for them.
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
Dr. Therese Rando is joined by 17 contributing authors to present the most comprehensive resource available on the perspectives, issues, interventions, and changing views associated with anticipatory mourning.
Insurance
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
Theory and Practice in Working with the Dying, Their Loved Ones, and Their Caregivers
Anticipatory grief is a type of grief that occurs before a significant loss or death takes place. It is a natural response to the impending loss of a loved one or a significant life change. This form of grief allows individuals to start processing their feelings and emotions before the actual loss occurs, and it can help prepare them for the inevitable.
Embracing Today: Live Empowered Now! is a workbook designed
to help you navigate anticipatory grief.
It is a simple and easy-to-follow workbook that is the perfect companion to use as journal prompts on your own or in
sessions with your therapist
or grief counselor.
Sponsors & Friends
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