Finding people who understand can ease the weight of loss. Mountain View hosts free grief support groups right here at our main office, open to families across Tacoma, Lakewood and Pierce County.
If you are looking into grief support groups in Tacoma, you are taking a kind and courageous step for yourself. A grief support group is simply a small circle of people who have each lost someone, meeting to share and listen. Being with others who understand can make grief feel less isolating, and different groups exist for different losses, including the loss of a spouse, a parent or a fellow service member. There is no pressure to speak, everyone grieves differently, and joining is a normal, healthy step. Mountain View hosts free groups at our main office, so support is close to home.
Attending your first grief support group can feel like a big step. Knowing what to expect can help ease the uncertainty and make it easier to decide whether a group feels right for you.
Most people arrive nervous and leave a little lighter. Grief support groups are designed to be welcoming, with people who listen with compassion, not judgment. There is no pressure to share until you are ready.
You will likely meet people from across Tacoma, Lakewood and Pierce County who have experienced loss. Some may be grieving recently, others further along. Many find comfort in being with others who truly understand.
Sessions tend to follow a simple, comfortable rhythm: a welcome, open time to share or simply listen, and a close. Some people speak every meeting and some never do. Both are welcome, and showing up is enough.
Mountain View is committed to supporting families long after the funeral service ends. Our groups meet at our main office on Steilacoom Boulevard, and they are open to anyone in Tacoma, Lakewood and Pierce County. No matter where you are in your grief journey, reaching out is a meaningful first step, and we are here to help you find support close to home.
Join us at our next meeting. Drop-ins are welcome, and there is nothing you have to do or say before you are ready. Questions? Call or text Geoff at (253) 283-4981.
To support grieving families across the Tacoma area, Mountain View Funeral Home offers bereavement groups at our main office. Whether we served your family or not, you are welcome. All of our groups are free of charge, drop-ins are welcome, and every kind of loss is supported.
Grief Support Group
All losses. Drop-ins welcome.
Meet Geoff Piper
Our groups are led by Geoff Piper, our Grief Consultant. Geoff has spent 40 years supporting bereaved people as a pastor, hospice bereavement counselor, funeral home bereavement director and private practice grief counselor. He is also a Certified Grief Recovery® Specialist.
Grief Recovery Method® Program
A few times each year, Geoff leads the Grief Recovery Method® Program, a seven-session experience for people who want a more structured path through loss. It is free of charge, except for the purchase of The Grief Recovery Handbook by John W. James and Russell Friedman. Contact Geoff for the next start date.
Individual Grief Consultation
We also offer one individual grief consultation at no charge, by appointment.
Email griefhelpforyou@gmail.com for group schedules, program dates or to make an appointment.
There is no single right grief support group, only the one that fits where you are. Our group at Mountain View welcomes all losses, so you do not need to find a group that matches your specific loss to get started. Other groups focus on the loss of a spouse or partner, a parent, a child, or a sudden loss, while others serve specific communities. For many families in the Tacoma and Lakewood area, especially those connected to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a bereavement support group in Pierce County that brings together others with similar experiences can offer an added sense of understanding. You do not have to find the perfect group the first time. Taking the first step toward connecting with others is often the most important one.
If grief feels unmanageable or begins to seriously affect daily life over time, speaking with a doctor or a licensed mental health professional is a wise and caring step. Help is available, and reaching for it is a sign of strength.
A group is one path among several. If meeting in person does not feel right yet, a no-charge individual grief consultation with Geoff, faith communities and guided aftercare can each help. Grief does not end when the service does, and neither does our care. The Mountain View team walks beside Tacoma and Lakewood families well after the day itself, helping connect them with the resources that fit.
A grief support group is a gathering of people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Members come together to share, listen and encourage one another, and everyone participates in the way that feels most comfortable.
You do not have to carry this alone. When you are ready, our team is here to help you find support close to home.
We’re here for you during this difficult time.
(253) 243-0105