Grief Support Resources in the East Bay, Including Free Resources

If you are experiencing grief in the East Bay–whether from the loss of a person, a pet, or any other kind of loss–you are not alone.

There are a variety of community organizations throughout the Bay Area that offer grief support and counseling. Many of these are non profits and offer services for free. Some have remote services or Zoom support groups, making them accessible even if you’re busy working or caring for others during the day. In short, no matter who you are, there are ways to get help.

This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully provides a place to start.

I’ve used many of these resources while experiencing grief myself and found them very helpful. Remember that there are always other options, too, like private counseling. Your GP is a great place to start, too.

But if you find yourself grieving, take a look at some of these community resources.

Grief Resources in the East Bay

1. Hospice East Bay: Offers various grief support groups and classes, including:
   • General Loss
   • Understanding Grief
   • The Bridge for Children & Teens
   • Parent Loss
   • Spouse & Partner Loss
   • Mindfulness, Meditation & Meaning
   • Next Steps
   • Hiking Thru Grief
   • Teens Grieving a Suicide​¹​.
2. By the Bay Health: Provides grief counseling services, community education, support group calendar, and other resources. Grief counseling is available online via Zoom or Phone for California residents​²​.
3. Crisis Support Services of Alameda County: Offers individual and group counseling for people who have lost a loved one. They also list other resources in the community, including:
   • Circle of Care – East Bay Agency for Children: Support Groups for Families with Children, some services available in Spanish (Phone: 510-531-7551 x3109)
   • Sutter Care at Home: Support Groups and Bereavement Programs (Phone: 510-450-8728)
   • Hope Hospice: Grief Support Groups (Phone: 925-829-8770 or 1-800-HOSPICE)
   • Eden Information and Referral (Eden I & R) (Phone: 888-886-9660)​³​.
4. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Hospice: Provides support through the grieving process via bereavement coordinators who offer support from the time hospice care begins. They connect individuals with support groups and local resources, provide mailings with information on coping with loss, and in some cases, offer short term one-on-one counseling, regular follow-up phone calls, and connection to trained volunteers. Kaiser Permanente also provides a list of resources such as online virtual support groups, a calendar of events, and mail support with information on the different stages of mourning and self-care​⁴​.
5. Hope Hospice: Provides Zoom grief support groups, as well as full-day sessions.

Crisis Support

If you are in crisis, don’t wait to get help. Call 911, or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.