Surviving Grief - by Gary Sturgis (Paperback)

About the Book

A compassionate companion for those sitting in grief circles. This book offers gentle guidance for facilitators and participants, helping create safe spaces where grief can be spoken, heard, and carried together.

Book Synopsis

Grief groups can be some of the most meaningful spaces people enter after loss.

They can also feel uncertain, emotional, and difficult to navigate.

For the person facilitating the group...

and for the people sitting quietly in the circle...

questions often arise that no one talks about.

What if no one speaks?

What do you do when someone becomes overwhelmed?

How do you respond when grief looks different from person to person?

And how do you hold space for others while carrying your own grief?

Surviving Grief: A Group Companion was written to gently support both grief group facilitators and those attending grief support groups.

Rather than offering rigid rules or clinical guidance, this companion provides thoughtful insight into the real moments that happen inside grief circles.

Drawing from years of experience facilitating grief groups, Gary Sturgis explores the quiet dynamics that shape these spaces:

- When silence fills the room

- When someone talks more than others

- When strong emotion appears unexpectedly

- When beliefs about grief and loss differ

- When trauma enters the conversation

- When the group comes to an end without "closure"

With compassion and honesty, this book reminds readers that grief groups are not about fixing pain or finding perfect words.

They are about presence, understanding, and allowing grief to exist without judgment.

Written in Gary's calm and reassuring voice, this companion offers guidance that is practical, human, and deeply respectful of the grieving process.

Whether you are facilitating a grief support group, attending one, or simply wanting to understand what happens inside these spaces, this book provides a thoughtful companion for the journey.

Because sometimes the most meaningful support doesn't come from knowing what to say.

It comes from being willing to stay.

Review Quotes

"Gary Sturgis writes about grief with rare authenticity. This companion is thoughtful, calming, and incredibly helpful for facilitators and participants alike. It reminds us that creating a safe space to share loss is one of the most meaningful things we can do."

- Rebecca Lawson, Community Bereavement Facilitator

"This book is an invaluable resource for anyone supporting people through loss. Gary Sturgis provides practical wisdom and deep empathy, helping facilitators create spaces where grief can be shared safely and honestly."

- Michael Trent, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator

"This book captures what grief groups are really like. Gary Sturgis explains difficult moments with honesty and compassion, offering guidance that feels practical and deeply human. Anyone facilitating a grief group will find reassurance and wisdom in these pages."

- Karen Mitchell, Grief Support Volunteer