Our meetings at Grief House Warsaw
At Grief House Warsaw we offer different types of meetings for people in grief: grief circles, psychoeducational meetings, workshops, grief walks and body-based sessions. They all have one thing in common – they are safe, calm spaces where no one will rush you, compare you to others or give you unsolicited advice.
On this page you will find descriptions of our meetings, so that you can more calmly decide what might be right for you.
What do all our meetings have in common?
Whatever the type of meeting, you can count on:
- clear guidelines – at the beginning of each meeting we explain the group rules, duration and plan,
- safety – a facilitator takes care of the flow of the meeting and of the group rules being respected,
- confidentiality – what participants share during the meeting stays within the group,
- voluntariness – you can speak as much as you want to; you can also remain silent,
- respect for different ways of grieving – we do not judge how long your grief lasts or what you believe in,
- small groups – so that everyone has space to speak, if and when they wish to,
- no obligation to “work on yourself” – the meetings are not therapy and are not intended to “change you.” Their purpose is to accompany you on your own path through grief.
Grief circles
Grief Circles
Grief circles are small-group meetings during which:
- you can talk about your loss,
- you can simply listen to others.
Each circle is led by a facilitator who takes care of safety, time and group rules. You do not need to know anyone in the group or have a “prepared story” to tell. You can say one sentence – or nothing at all.
For whom: for adults in grief after the death of someone close.
Languages: Polish, English or Ukrainian – depending on the specific meeting (see details in the event description in the calendar).
Psychoeducational meetings
These are meetings where we talk more about grief itself and less about individual stories.
We may talk, among other things, about:
- how grief can unfold and why it changes over time,
- what is “normal” in grief (spoiler: much more than people usually think),
- how to talk with loved ones about loss,
- what you may need as a grieving person – and how to ask for it.
Sometimes we include short workshop-style exercises.
For whom: for people in grief and for those who support someone in grief.
Languages: Polish, English or Ukrainian – depending on the specific meeting (see details in the event description in the calendar).
Grief Walks
Grief Walks are walks in nature. We meet for about two hours and walk together through parks and green corners of Warsaw.
Movement, fresh air and greenery can support us in grief – gently lifting the mood, reducing the feeling of isolation and helping us, even for a moment, to “come back to the body”. Walking side by side, instead of sitting opposite each other, makes it easier for many people to talk about difficult things.
For whom:
for adults in grief who feel it is easier for them to open up while moving and being in nature than in a room; for those who need gentle contact with nature and with a group, without the need to talk all the time.
Some walks are open to people in grief after different kinds of losses; others are dedicated to a specific experience – for example after the death of a companion animal.
Grief Soup (shared meals)
Grief Soup is a gathering of people after a similar loss, combined with a preparing a shared meal, and then eating it at a communal table.
Grief Soup grew out of memories of time spent together in the kitchen and at the table. During the meeting we chop, stir and season together. You can share the story of your loss, talk about a dish that reminds you of your person, or simply listen to others. At the end we eat the meal together and share what feels important, difficult or soothing for us.
For whom:
for adults after a specific loss (the type of loss will be indicated in each event description) who want to meet others in a similar situation and try a gentle form of connection – at the kitchen table, in a simple, everyday ritual.
Creative workshops and meetings
During the workshops we use simple creative forms – such as writing, working with images, symbols or memories – in order to:
- look at your grief from a slightly different perspective,
- find words for what is hard to express in everyday conversation,
- spend time with other people in a similar situation.
You do not need any “artistic talent” or prior experience. Everything we do is voluntary and focused on the process, not the result.
For whom: for people in grief who feel ready for a bit of gentle creative work in their own tempo.
Body-based sessions in grief
Grief lives not only in our thoughts and emotions, but also in the body: in tension, exhaustion, sleep difficulties and the feeling of being “frozen”.
During body-based sessions we:
- offer gentle breathing exercises,
- invite you to simple movements that help release tension,
- use basic grounding techniques that help you come back to the here and now.
You can do the exercises in your own tempo, with breaks whenever you need them. We do not do intense workouts or anything that would push you beyond your limits.
For whom: for people in grief who feel that their body is carrying a lot of tension and who want to try a gentle form of reconnecting with themselves.
Please note that meetings are not a substitute for psychological therapy or psychiatric help.
If we see that you may need more specialised support, we will gently name it and, if you wish, suggest where you might look for such help.
Meeting guidelines
All meetings at Grief House Warsaw follow a shared Meeting Gudielines.
The most important principles are:
- confidentiality – what is said in the group stays in the group,
- voluntariness – you can speak as much as you want to; you can also remain silent,
- speaking from your own experience – we talk about our own stories, we do not judge the experiences of others,
- respect for diversity – different worldviews, traditions, languages and ways of grieving are equally important here.
You can read our Meeting Guidelines in more detail. It is available as a PDF in Polish, English and Ukrainian. You can download it using the button below:
How to choose the right meeting for you?
If you are not sure where to start, you can ask yourself a few questions:
- Do I mainly want to listen to others and simply be in a group (grief circle)?
- Do I need to better understand what is happening to me (psychoeducational meeting)?
- Do I feel like doing something with what I carry inside – for example through writing or other creative work (workshop)?
- Do I feel that my body is constantly tense and that gentle body work could help (body-based sessions)?
- Do I feel that fresh air and contact with nature would do me good (Grief Walk)?
- Do I miss shared meals and being together around the table (Grief Soup)?
If it is still hard to choose – that is completely okay. You can write to us, briefly describe your situation and simply say: “I don’t know which meeting to start with” – we will do our best to suggest something.