Sisterhood in grief:
getting through the holidays together
(This cohort is specific to partner loss)
Although loss is a universal experience,
when it happens to you, it is really lonely.
Losing a spouse means that there is grief in everything.
From the way we make coffee in the morning, taking out one cup rather than two, to the way we sleep at night, the grief is omnipresent.
Feeling isolated, alone, misunderstood and unseen in their grief is something that many widows struggle with.
When we lose a partner, it can feel like we are now a completely different human walking through a brand new world.
A feeling that only other widows can really understand.
To be able to sit with us inside of our experience of grief, one has to be willing to face their own fears, discomfort, losses and deep pain.
Unfortunately, very few humans have the capacity to hold that space for us.
Fortunately, that is what I specialize in.
Too many grievers feel they must navigate their immense pain alone. We live in a culture where death is denied, avoided or ignored and where grief is constantly minimized. I have yet to sit across a single grieving human who has not felt dismissed, judged or invalidated in some way inside of their experience of loss.
If that has led you to feeling unsafe about sharing, making sense of and processing the events and emotions surrounding your loss with friends, family or even with those in the healing profession, you are not alone.
How can you feel safe to be with and express the fullness of your grief when no one can hold it with you?
That is why I do the work that I do. Because there are too few spaces where grief can be held, witnessed, expressed and processed in a way that honours both YOU and your loved one on the other side.
There is so much healing that occurs from having a safe space for truth telling about what it’s really like to live with loss.
Being held, witnessed and fully seen by a community that “gets it” is a powerful experience and that’s the intention behind Sisterhood in Grief.
This will be the 9th cohort of the Sisterhood. This space has supported 93 women so far and the bonds formed have endured far beyond the 12 weeks of the program & the walls of the zoom room.
About me:
I’m Marie, a certified Grief Coach and Death Doula who walks the path of healing with women who have suffered a profound loss. I specialize in creating safe spaces for women to be seen, heard and witnessed in the fullness of their experience of loss.
My approach is based on the assumption that you are the expert of your own grief and my work focuses on guiding you back home to yourself so that you can find meaning in your life in the “after”.
Having lost my partner to cancer, my guidance and coaching comes from both education and personal experience which allow me to deeply understand the unique challenges of widowhood.
I am the founder of Empowered Through Grief, a coaching practice and community that provides a brave space for healing and post-traumatic growth for women grieving all types of loss.
My life’s work is to help normalize grief by engaging in difficult conversations surrounding death and dying. I believe that by getting acquainted with death, we learn so much about life itself.
In my work, I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of women through 1:1 coaching and group experiences. My work is trauma informed and respectful of your religious & spiritual beliefs.
In a culture that expects you to be back to “normal”, I know that there is no normal to get back to when we lose a partner.
It takes time to figure out how to cope with, and adapt to, the many transitions that loss bring.
You do not have to do this grief work alone. Connection in these difficult times is profoundly healing.
What is Sisterhood in Grief?
This year, the space is getting a new hybrid structure and an additional practitioner to help support you in the experience!
You will get an intimate 12 week group experience & an opportunity to go deeper with one private intensive (90 min individual session with the amazing Katherine Brito).
Sisterhood in grief is a brave space for truth telling, facilitated by me, where you will be witnessed and supported in your grief without judgement. If you have felt alone in your experience of grief and are yearning for a space to belong and make sense of the vastness of your grief landscape, consider joining us.
Over the years, I have witnessed the depth of the bonds that form in this space. Some friendships endure far beyond the program.
Over 12 weeks, sessions are thoughtfully curated to help you cope with the overwhelming nature of grief, cultivate hope & begin to nurture an ongoing bond with your loved one.
During these 12 weeks, you will also have the support of my colleague & grief coach Katherine Brito. Being a part of a grief group is incredibly supportive in so many ways. Connection is healing, empathy from people who deeply understand and relate is transformative AND there might be some weeks where you need more individual support. The program comes with one 90 min intensive with Katherine to allow you to go deeper on something that comes up for you during our time together.
This can be scheduled any time during our 12 weeks or up to 2 weeks after the ending of the program.
An added BONUS is that we get to spend the holiday season & walk into the new year, together.
Meet Katherine Brito:
Katherine is a grief coach and self-love advocate, supporting women through the heart-wrenching journey of partner loss.
As a widow who deeply cherishes the memory of her husband lost to cancer, she offers compassionate grief support as you recreate a life that honors your enduring love and connection.
As the founder of Grief Embraced With Love, her coaching is focused on guiding you back home to yourself and helping you find a path to live life alongside your grief, not away from it.
Join us for 12 weeks of community and belonging. Sisterhood in Grief offers hybrid support with a combination of group work & individual support.
Have a look inside the program:
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Weeks 1, 2 & 3
Building trust in the space and with each other. We begin slowly by sharing our experiences with grief and creating a realistic framework for what healing means to you. We make the distinction between trauma & grief so that you can better understand what you are experiencing & feel empowered in your healing.
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Weeks 4, 5 & 6
You will get to share your story of love & introduce your partner to the group. This is such a sweet & meaningful part of our time together. Our loved ones on the other side are as much a part of this experience as you and I!
(You will not be asked to share the details of your loss. These tender details are best held in 1:1 therapeutic spaces)
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Weeks 7 & 8
You will get to establish a solid self care plan for the holidays & we will prepare to face the New Year together. We will explore your needs vs the expectations of others and have conversations around the complexities of family/friendship dynamics after loss.
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Week 9 & 10
Exploring themes of spirituality & meaning: creating & maintaining a new bond with our loved one on the other side. Conversations around who we are now & how our loved one continues to shape us, inspire us & help us find a path forward.
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Week 11
Being intentional about the ending of our time together & processing secondary losses in grief.
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Week 12
Honouring one another in a closing ritual.
Sisterhood in Grief offers you:
12 live 75-90 minute group sessions on Tuesdays at 12PM EST & a 90 min individual grief support session with support coach, Katherine Brito
Weekly group sessions held on ZOOM.
A space to explore your grief with others.
Tools to help you integrate and navigate the loss.
A strong sense of community and belonging.
The opportunity to receive personalized individual support with a 90 min intensive offered by Katherine
Group text support
I invite all members to be a part of the group text on Instagram DMs
This space allows for support between sessions
Katherine and I are active in the group every week and you can ask us questions for deeper support
This might be right for you if:
You are open to sharing your story with other women and want to be supported by a community of like-minded souls as you dive deep in your understanding of grief and into your healing.
You are willing and able to speak openly about difficult topics surround grief and loss.
You are willing to extend support to your fellow sisters in grief with an open mind and heart.
You are ready to take a deep look at your grief and want to gather some tools that will support integration
You are looking for a space where you can cultivate hope
What People Are Saying About Working With Me:
“I just want to say thank you Marie. You’re such a skilled facilitator. The space, shaped by your expertise, experience and emotional intelligence is the perfect forum for sharing. The world is a better place because of your work.”
— Susie W.
“Wednesdays have become my favourite day of the week. This is the most important step I’ve taken in my healing.”
— Erin G.
“I had the chance to be part of Sisterhood in Grief and what I didn’t know was that this would become my favourite hour and a half of the week. It’s not only talking, sharing and realizing that I am not alone in my grief, this is about being part of an amazing group of women. One particular amazing woman, Marie, made it all happen. Marie’s approach to grief and coping with it is so benevolent. The sessions, the topics, the sharing and the safe space that she has created have shaped my grief into something different. I do not feel burdened by it or by my loneliness in it. I now KNOW that I am not alone and that is a victory”.
— Élodie F.
FAQ.
What is the schedule for the calls?
12 weekly 75-90 minute calls
Week 1: Tuesday November 12th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 2: Tuesday November 19th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 3: Tuesday November 26th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 4: Tuesday December 3rd at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 5: Tuesday December 10th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 6: Tuesday December 17th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 7: Tuesday December 31st at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 8: Tuesday January 7th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 9: Tuesday January 14th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 10: Tuesday January 21st at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 11: Tuesday January 28th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Week 12: Tuesday February 4th at 12PM EST (NYC time)
Will there be a recording of the calls if I can’t attend?
YES!
The call recordings will be on your private membership site along with any homework or PDFs.
FAQs
If I drop out during the program, will you refund me?
Unfortunately no. For the integrity of the program, of my business and of the Sisterhood itself, I can not offer refunds. When joining, you are making a commitment towards yourself and the group of women who have joined our space. Please make sure that you understand what the program is, have asked me your questions and are fully committed before enrolling. Space is limited and I can not fill your seat if you choose to leave.
Is this right for me if I want support for grief related depression/anxiety/trauma?
Sisterhood in Grief is a support group and a grief coaching experience that will give you a sense of community and tools to help you navigate grief.
This is NOT a replacement for traditional therapy or psychiatry.
Although this space is trauma informed and we will speak about trauma at times and touch upon it in the group conversations & workshop, we will NOT be processing trauma. Please consult a trauma therapist for support with acute or chronic trauma.
Underlying mental health issues may be exacerbated by your grief. Discussions around mental health diagnoses are beyond the scope of Sisterhood in Grief.
If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, please seek the help of a therapist. This is beyond the scope of the support Sisterhood in Grief can offer you.
If I want personalized support, may I have access to 1:1 coaching?
If you’d like to continue your healing work after completing the 12 weeks of the Sisterhood, you can continue to work with me in private 1:1 grief support.
Disclaimer:
Grief coaching is NOT a replacement for psychotherapy.
I expect all members to seek out the support that they need OUTSIDE of the Sisterhood for issues related to trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, mental health diagnoses and suicidal ideation.
I expect every member to be respectful of the purpose of this group and to seek additional support with the right mental health professionals for matters that are outside of the scope of the Sisterhood.
This ensures the safety of the space and of every single member including you!
