Many of us are feeling the emotional effects of living through environmental and social change. We may feel grief for what is being lost, anxiety about the future, overwhelm, helplessness, anger, sadness, or simply a growing sense that something is deeply out of balance.

After listening to Kriss Kevorkian’s recent webinar, many people expressed a desire for spaces where these feelings can be shared openly and honestly; without judgement, pressure to “stay positive,” or the need to immediately turn feelings into action.

The HEC Environmental Grief Support Group has been created in response to that need.

These gatherings offer a supportive community space to gently explore the emotional impacts of climate change, ecological loss, and the uncertainty of our times. Together, we will create space for reflection, conversation, connection, and mutual care.

This is not therapy, nor a political strategy session or debate space. It is a facilitated community support group for people wanting companionship, understanding, and the opportunity to process difficult feelings alongside others who may feel similarly.

The groups are grounded in the understanding that grief is a natural and healthy response to loss. When grief is shared in community, it can deepen connection, resilience, compassion, and our capacity to remain present to life.

As Francis Weller writes, engaging grief helps us “keep our hearts open and soft.”

Before each session, you will be provided with a link to watch a webinar by Dr. Kriss Kevorikan on 'Environmental and Ecological Grief' to assist with background information on these terms and associated experiences. It is not a requirement to watch this webinar, however you may find it useful.

What to expect

Each session may include:

· a brief teaching or reflective reading

· guided mindfulness or grounding practices

· small group conversations

· opportunities for personal reflection

· collective listening and witnessing

· wellbeing practices and ideas for self-care and self-investing

The groups will be facilitated by experienced therapeutic group counsellors alongside environmental and community advocates.

Who is this for?

This group may be supportive for people who:

· feel grief, sadness, fear, anger, guilt, numbness, or overwhelm in response to environmental change

· feel isolated in these emotions

· long for honest conversation and meaningful community

· are tired of carrying these feelings alone

· want a space where they do not need to have answers

You do not need to identify with the term “environmental grief” to attend.

This group is not a therapy group, a debate forum, nor will there be any focus on activism strategy or solutions.

Instead, this is a space for shared humanity, reflection, and compassionate listening.

In the words of Dr. Kriss Kevorkian:

“Ecological grief is the grief reaction stemming from the disconnection and relational loss from our natural world.”

And from Francis Weller:

“We know and feel in our bones that something primal is amiss… It is essential that we stop and recognize these losses.”

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Date: Wednesday 26th August
Time: 5.30pm - 7pm
Location: Online only, via zoom. A link will be sent to the email address you provide on the day of the webinar.

Cost: Sliding Scale, pay what you can.
Sliding scale pricing is a flexible payment system where the cost of a ticket varies based on a person’s income or ability to pay, making it more accessible to a wider range of people. It allows participants to choose a price within a set range that works for them.

Please make sure to provide a valid email address when you book your place. The Zoom link will be sent to this email address on the day of the session.

Ticket sales will end at 9am on Tuesday 25th August.

Out of respect for the privacy of the participants, we will not be recording this session.

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You are warmly invited

Whether these feelings are very familiar to you, or only just beginning to surface, you are welcome here.

Facilitated by experienced counsellors and environmental advocates.

Bookings essential.

For further enquiries please contact:

Jess Bamford

Coordinator, Hills Environment Centre

coordinator@hecinc.org.au

0405 527 610

OR for enquires regarding the content of the sessions and further questions about participating,

Please contact counsellor/facilitator, Jane Macnaught

jane@tranquilloplace.com

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Hills Environment Centre is proudly supported by Hills & Fleurieu Landscape SA Board and funded by Green Adelaide

We acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians of the land and waters, the Peramangk and Kaurna peoples, upon whose land we live, work, travel and visit at the Hills Environment Centre.

Contact the host of Environmental Grief Support Group (Online)

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