Support Groups


Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep...
— Carl Sandburg
Artist's Rendering of Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc.

Sometimes the voice you need to hear when you're struggling and hurting is that of someone else who's been where you are and who understands first-hand what you're experiencing.

Whatever your situation and circumstance, Hospice of Santa Barbara offers an opportunity for you to connect with others who are facing, or have faced, your situation. All our support groups are co-facilitated by licensed professional counselors and peer counselors -- men and women just like you who have faced their own grief and are now ready to give back to others.

Our facilitators strive to make each group a safe, supportive and healing place.

To register for any of these support groups, or more information, please call our Intake Coordinator at (805) 563-8820.

To see a full list of our  Support Groups, click here.

To see a full list of our Thomas Disaster Support Groups, click here. 

Hospice of Santa Barbara Support Groups

Teen Support Group

For people ages 14 To 18 facing the loss of a loved one.  This group will provide a safe supportive environment for teenagers to express grief.

Young Adults Grieving Support Group

For people ages 19 to 30 facing the loss of a loved one.  This group will provide a safe supportive environment for young adults to express grief.

Daytime Widow/Widowers

Grief support for spouses and partners

Evening Widow/Widowers

Grief support for spouses and partners

Survivors of Suicide

For those grieving the death of a loved one by suicide

Healing the Loss of a Loved One

For those grieving the death of someone who has touched their life

Healing through Poetry

For those seeking an inspirational and creative way to express their feelings (time-limited group)

Art Group

Grief support using expressive arts (time-limited group)

Loss Later in Life

For residents of Maravilla Retirement Community

Healing of the Loss of an Adult Child

For parents grieving the loss of an adult child

Living with Loss (Pregnancy/Infant Loss)

For parents grieving a pregnancy loss or loss of an infant

Men's Grief & Spirituality

Come join other men in grief as we search for meaning and expression of our loss.

Mindfulness for Healing

Meditation group in which members will use awareness techniques to address painful feelings around loss.

HSB in the Schools

HSB provides free professional bereavement counseling in all local high schools. Please call for more information.

Parenting After Loss

For grieving parents, caregivers and bereaved children and teens

I Have a Friend®

A unique mentor program that pairs a child learning to survive the death of a parent or sibling with an adult who had a similar loss as a child