A 4-Week Grief Circle with Dr. Fiona Benson

Workshop Details

Pathways Through Grief is a four-week series. Registration includes all four sessions.

Tuesdays | 1:00–3:00 PM

• September 15, 2026

• September 22, 2026

• September 29, 2026

• October 6, 2026

Registration is for the complete four-week series. Individual sessions are not available for drop-in registration.

Within community, and with informed guidance, find a strengthened capacity to navigate your unique experience of loss and grief.

Grief can leave us feeling unseen, unheard, isolated or unsure of who we are and where we go from here.

Pathways Through Grief is a thoughtfully facilitated, evidence-based 4-week grief circle offering a caring and supportive space where grief can be witnessed, stories can be honoured, and meaningful connections can be made.

Led by Dr. Fiona Benson, this small-group series is an opportunity to gently explore your own experience of grief alongside others who understand that grief does not follow a simple or predictable path.

Rather than trying to "fix" grief or move past it, participants will be encouraged to better understand their experience, develop tools for navigating difficult moments, and discover ways of moving forward while continuing to honor what has been lost.

During Our Time Together, We Will Explore:

• The many forms grief can take

• Making space for difficult feelings without judgement

• Loss and the changing shape of identity

• Navigating triggers and the rollercoaster of grief

• The role of memory, meaning and continuing bonds

• Practicing self-compassion while honoring your own grief story, at your own pace

What You May Gain From This Workshop

Through the four weeks, participants may develop:

• A deeper understanding of their unique grief experience

• Tools for navigating triggers and waves of grief

• Greater insight into self-compassion, emotional steadiness, identity and relationships

• A stronger sense of agency while navigating life after loss

• A renewed sense of capacity, connection and hope

Do I Belong in a Grief Circle?

One of the questions people often ask when considering a grief circle is, “Does my grief deserve the time, attention and support I think I need?”

The answer is yes.

A grief circle is a space for anyone carrying loss of any kind. There is no hierarchy of grief here — your experience matters.

You may be mourning the death of someone you love, the loss of a relationship, a cherished pet, a change in health, an estrangement, a significant life transition, or a life that simply didn’t unfold as you had hoped.

Grief takes many forms — some visible, some invisible — and all are welcome.

In this circle, you are invited to bring your story exactly as it is, without comparison and without judgement.

Who Is This Grief Circle For?

This series is for adults who may be:

• Grieving a loss connected to a loved one, relationship, health, identity or significant life transition

• Carrying a recent loss or grief from years past

• Seeking a compassionate and supportive place to share and reflect

• Looking for connection, understanding and gentle guidance

• Open to sharing, reflecting and listening within a small community

• Comfortable participating in a respectful and confidential group environment

There is no "right" way to grieve, and you do not need to be at any particular stage in your grief to participate.

Please note: This workshop is designed as a supportive, community-based experience. It is not intended to replace individual therapy or intensive therapeutic support and may not be the best fit for someone currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis.

Space will be limited to help create a comfortable, supportive and connected small-group experience.

We welcome you to join this compassionate grief circle and experience the understanding, support and strength that can come through sharing within community.

About Dr. Fiona Benson

Dr. Fiona Benson brings both personal experience and decades of professional scholarship to her work with grief and loss.

During her more than 25 years as a professor at McGill University, Fiona worked with the Faculties of Education, Medicine and Social Work, undertaking in-depth study in palliative care and the complex areas of loss, death, dying and bereavement.

Her own encounters with grief have also deeply influenced her work and strengthened her commitment to helping others navigate their individual grief journeys.

Fiona is deeply invested in the fields of grief work, mental health and balanced wellbeing and considers grief work both sacred and a privilege.