The holidays can stir deep pain when you are grieving.
Awaken offers a gentle place to land, with weekly grief coaching and a compassionate community that understands what this season can feel like after a loss.
Online grief support group and weekly grief coaching for a more meaningful holiday season
✅No pressure
✅ No commitment
✅ Just space to breathe again
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive · Cancel anytime
You do not have to have it all figured out, especially this season.
Grief does not take a holiday. When the world is celebrating, you may feel the weight of your loss even more. When so much has changed, it can take time to know what you need. Awaken gives you space and guidance to explore what truly supports you.
Awaken meets you with compassionate guidance and a supportive community, so you have a place to rest, reflect, and breathe. This weekly grief coaching group offers practical tools, emotional support, and a space where you do not have to pretend you are okay.
Inside Awaken, you are supported by Heather Stang, an award-winning grief counselor and thanatologist with more than twenty years of experience helping people navigate loss with mindfulness and care.
People often join Awaken when they want gentle support, a place to feel understood, or simple practices that help them move through difficult moments. You are welcome exactly as you are.
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.
What you will learn inside the weekly grief coaching group
Even during the holidays, when grief can feel heavier and harder to navigate, you can learn simple skills that help you cope.
Awaken gives you tools you can use in real moments, along with the support of a community that understands loss. There is no pressure to be a certain way or move at a certain pace. You can take what helps and leave the rest.
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.
Warm and compassionate support from someone who gets it
For the past twenty years I have been helping people navigate life after loss. I have written three books on grief and mindfulness and was honored to receive the 2025 ADEC Clinical Practice Award.
My personal experience with loss is at the heart of everything I do. When I was seven years old, my uncle died by suicide. I watched my family struggle, and as a child I struggled too. Childhood grief and suicide loss often go unrecognized, and I carry that understanding into the way I support others today.
You will learn more about me when you join Awaken, just as I will learn more about you and your story. For now, know that I do this work in honor of my family and the little girl who had no idea what to do with her pain.
Awaken brings together everything I have learned about what truly supports people in grief. You will find the steady presence of people who understand and the tools that help you cope with the hardest moments. I hope you will join me inside Awaken.
Heather Stang
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.
A gentle roadmap for navigating grief, one moment at a time
Grief often moves in waves. Some days feel softer, and then a song, a date, or a memory can bring the ache right back. These waves do not mean you are going backwards. They are a sign that your heart still remembers. Inside Awaken, you are not meeting those waves empty-handed. You have a framework you can return to, again and again, to help you meet grief with more steadiness and care.
The Mindfulness & Grief System is the gentle roadmap we use inside this online grief support group and weekly grief coaching sessions. It does not tell you how you should feel. Instead, it gives you tools to notice what is happening, tend to your body and heart, and take one small step at a time.
Here is a simple overview of the eight steps:
Step 1: Conscious Relaxation
You learn how to calm your body and nervous system so the waves of grief feel a little less overpowering. These practices can help with anxiety, tension, and trouble sleeping.
Step 2: Mindful Awareness
You practice noticing your body, feelings, and thoughts as they arise, then gently bringing your attention back to the present moment. This can give you a break from replaying the past or worrying about the future.
Step 3: Compassion for All
You begin to soften harsh self-talk, guilt, and “shoulds.” You learn to speak to yourself with the same kindness you might offer a dear friend who is hurting.
Step 4: Skillful Courage
You learn how to approach painful memories and emotions in small, manageable steps, and how to pause when it is too much. Courage here is not about forcing yourself. It is about honoring your limits with wisdom.
Step 5: Getting Unstuck
You explore common grief loops, like rumination, avoidance, or decision paralysis, and experiment with small, doable actions. This helps you create gentle forward movement without pressure.
Step 6: Continuing Bonds
You discover ways to honor your ongoing connection with the person who died. This may include memories, rituals, or daily gestures that carry their love forward in a way that fits your life now.
Step 7: Allowing Transformation
You look at how loss has changed you. Not because the loss was a gift, but because grief reshapes our values, roles, and identity. You begin to name who you are becoming in the “after.”
Step 8: Meaning and Purpose
You bring the tools together into simple routines that support life after loss. You clarify what matters now and what helps you stay grounded when grief rises again.
You do not have to move through these steps in order, and you do not have to master any of them. Think of this system as a map you can return to whenever you need support.
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.
Three gentle practices that support you inside Awaken
Grief does not live only in your thoughts. It lives in your body, your breath, and the rhythm of your days. Inside Awaken, you will learn three embodied practices you can return to whenever grief rises again. These tools help you feel a little more grounded, even on the hardest days.
Meditation
You will learn gentle guided meditations that calm your nervous system, soften self-criticism, and steady your attention. These practices give you a moment of grounding when grief feels overwhelming. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. You will practice slowly and with support, discovering what helps you feel more settled in your body and mind.
Movement
Grief can create tension, restlessness, or a sense of heaviness in the body. Mindful movement helps release some of what you carry so you can feel more at ease. This might include stretching, walking, or gentle yoga. You are always invited to honor your limits and move in ways that feel safe, supportive, and nurturing.
Self-Care
You will create small, realistic routines that support your body, mind, and spirit. These practices help you feel more grounded and give you something steady to return to when grief rises again. Self-care might be as simple as drinking water, taking mindful breaths, or stepping outside for a moment. You will learn what helps you feel cared for and resourced.
Here's how it works
When you join Awaken, you receive instant access to a gentle, well-held space with just the right amount of structure and support.
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.
FAQ: Holiday Grief Support, Grief Coaching, and the Awaken Group
What is grief coaching, and how can it help during the holidays?
Grief coaching offers gentle guidance, practical tools, and emotional support to help you cope with grief in everyday life. During the holiday season this support can be especially helpful because grief often feels heavier, memories are sharper, and expectations can become overwhelming. Grief coaching gives you a steady place to land along with simple practices you can use right away.
How is grief coaching different from therapy?
Grief coaching focuses on helping you cope with what you are facing now and building tools you can use in daily life. It supports your emotional wellbeing through practices that help you stay present, care for yourself, and move toward the future with intention. Grief coaching does not diagnose, analyze the past, or provide clinical treatment.
Therapy is the best fit when you need mental health support, diagnosis, or treatment for concerns such as depression, trauma, or anxiety. Awaken offers meaningful guidance and connection, but it is not a replacement for clinical therapy. If you ever need additional support, we can help you find resources that match your needs.
What happens inside the online grief support group each week?
You will join a small, supportive online grief support group led by Heather. Each week includes guided practices, space for sharing if you want, and tools to help you navigate the emotional challenges of the season. Some people join to talk, some join to listen, and some simply want a safe place to be. You are welcome in any way that feels right.
Is this program grief coaching or a grief support group?
It is both. Awaken blends gentle weekly grief coaching with the connection of an online grief support group. You will receive compassionate guidance from Heather and support from others who understand what grief feels like during this time of year. This combination helps you feel less alone while giving you practical skills for coping.
Can I join if the holidays already feel overwhelming?
Yes. Many people join in the middle of the season because the pressure feels too heavy. You do not need to be in a good place to begin. You can show up exactly as you are, even if the only thing you can do is listen.
What if I do not want to talk or share?
There is no pressure to speak. You can join the online grief support group and simply listen. Many people find comfort just being in a compassionate space where grief is understood and accepted.
Is this group helpful if my loss happened years ago?
Yes. Grief does not end on a schedule. Many people find that anniversaries, traditions, and holiday memories bring old feelings back to the surface. This group offers steady support whether your loss is recent or many years past.
Can I join if this is my first holiday without my loved one?
Absolutely. Awaken offers gentle guidance for people facing their first holiday season without someone they love. You will learn ways to honor your grief and care for yourself during this difficult time.
Do I need any experience with mindfulness to join?
No experience is needed. Heather guides every practice with clarity and kindness. You can follow along or simply be present. Everything is offered in a gentle, accessible way.
How do I know if grief coaching is right for me instead of therapy?
Grief coaching supports emotional wellbeing, coping skills, and everyday life after loss. It is not a replacement for therapy, but it is a helpful path if you want gentle guidance, community support, and practical tools. If you are unsure, you are welcome to join the free trial and see how the weekly grief coaching group feels for you.
What if the holidays make my grief feel unpredictable?
This is very common. The holiday season can bring sudden waves of emotion. Inside this online grief support group you can talk about those moments, learn grounding practices, and receive steady support from Heather and from others who understand the ups and downs of this time of year.
Grief coaching& suport for the holidays & beyond
No pressure. No commitment. Just space to breathe again.
After your trial: $49 per month all inclusive.
Cancel anytime.