Online Grief Support Groups for Young Adults
Every Two Daughters Foundation peer grief support group meets online. Groups are free, for young adults aged 18 to 39 who have lost a parent, and meet by video once a month for an hour, guided by a facilitator. They are organized by region so members share a time zone and can occasionally meet in person. Stay for as long as it helps.
Our support groups at a glance
- Who it's for
- Young adults aged 18 to 39 who have lost a parent or parental figure
- Cost
- Free, always
- Format
- Online, once a month for an hour, with occasional in-person activities
- Where
- Northern California, Oregon, and the Washington, D.C. area
- How to join
- Send a short request using the form on our support page
Join a Regional Grief Support Group
Choose the region closest to your time zone and send us a short request below. Siblings grieving the same parent are welcome to attend together.
Northern California
Serving Sacramento, the Bay Area, and other communities across Northern California.
Facilitator: Shannon Bell
Join this groupNorthern California group details →
Oregon
Serving Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, and other communities throughout Oregon.
Facilitator: Courtney Papen
Join this groupOregon group details →
Washington, D.C.
Serving the D.C. metropolitan area. Available to participants throughout the Northeast.
Facilitator: Gillian Sawyer
Join this groupWashington, D.C. group details →Not near any of these? Tell us where you are and we will help you find a group.
Request to Join a Group
Tell us a little about yourself and which group you're interested in. We'll reply by email with next steps and details for the next meeting.
What happens in an online grief support group?
Each meeting is a small, confidential conversation guided by a facilitator who keeps the space safe and welcoming. Members talk about what grief looks like for them right now, whether that is the first months after a loss or a wave of grief years later around a birthday, a holiday, or a milestone a parent is missing from. There is no curriculum to keep up with and no pressure to share.
Is your parent currently ill?
If you are a young adult (18–39) whose parent is receiving care for a serious illness, join the waitlist for our virtual peer support group and we'll reach out.
Find Grief Support Near You
Looking for something in person? The map shows hospices, bereavement centers, and peer groups across the U.S., color-coded by organization type. Teal pins are Two Daughters Foundation groups.
An interactive map of 86 grief support resources across the U.S., color-coded by organization type. Teal pins are Two Daughters Foundation groups.
Loading the map…
Know a grief support organization that should be on the map? Suggest an organization.
Frequently asked questions
What is peer grief support?
Peer grief support brings together people who have lived through similar losses to share their experiences without judgment. Unlike clinical therapy, peer support is built on shared experience: the other people in the group understand because they have been through something similar. At Two Daughters Foundation, our peer grief support groups are for young adults who have lost a parent.
How do I cope with the loss of a parent as a young adult?
There is no single path through the loss of a parent, but young adults often find it helpful to connect with peers who have experienced a similar loss, allow themselves to grieve on their own timeline, and find rituals to honor their parent. Joining a peer grief support group can ease the isolation that often comes with losing a parent before most of your friends have.
Is it normal to still grieve a parent years after they died?
Yes. Grief after the loss of a parent does not follow a fixed timeline, and it is common for waves of grief to return on anniversaries, holidays, and major life milestones such as graduations, weddings, or becoming a parent yourself. Long-term peer support helps many young adults move through these waves with community rather than alone.
What is the difference between a grief support group and therapy?
Therapy is a clinical relationship with a licensed professional, focused on personalized treatment. A peer grief support group is a community of people who have lived through similar losses, sharing experiences and coping strategies. The two can work well together. Our groups are peer support, not therapy. If grief is making daily life hard to manage, a licensed therapist or grief counselor can help alongside a group.
How can I support a friend who lost a parent?
Show up consistently, not only in the first weeks after the loss. Use their parent's name, ask specific questions about them, and resist the urge to fix the grief. If your friend is a young adult, sharing resources like Two Daughters Foundation's peer grief support groups can help them find community with others who understand.
Who can join a Two Daughters Foundation peer grief support group?
Our peer grief support groups are open to young adults aged 18 through 39 who have lost a parent or parental figure, regardless of how recent the loss was.
Do your grief support groups meet online?
Yes. Every Two Daughters Foundation peer grief support group meets online by video, once a month for an hour. Groups are organized by region so meeting times suit your time zone, and some regions organize occasional in-person activities, which are optional.
Do I have to live in one of your regions?
No. Every meeting is online, so pick the region closest to your time zone when you send a request. If none is close, choose "Somewhere else" and we will help you find the right group.
Do I have to talk during meetings?
No. You are welcome to share as much or as little as you like. Some people prefer to listen at first, and that is always welcome.
Is there a fee to join a grief support group?
No. All Two Daughters Foundation peer grief support groups are free to attend, for as long as you find them helpful.
What if my parent is currently ill but has not died?
You can join the waitlist for our virtual peer support group for young adults whose parent is receiving care for a serious illness using the request form on our support page. We will reach out.
Do you offer support for siblings grieving a parent together?
Yes. Siblings are welcome to join the same group or separate groups, whichever feels most supportive. Two Daughters Foundation was founded by two sisters who leaned on each other through the loss of their mom, so sibling and family support is central to what we do.