How Much Does Grief Support Cost?
A Compassionate Guide to Getting the Help You Deserve
When we’re grieving, even simple questions can feel overwhelming. One question I’m asked often is: “How much does grief support cost?”
The honest answer is: it depends — on the type of support you choose, the depth of care you want, and the impact you’re seeking. But more importantly, the question behind the question is deeper:
Am I allowed to invest in my healing? Is my grief worth that level of care?
Let’s explore this together — gently, transparently, and in a way that helps you make an informed, empowered decision.
Every flame holds a story, and every story deserves space.
Why the Cost of Grief Support Varies
There are many types of grief support, each serving different needs and different stages of the grief journey:
Traditional Therapy
Insurance may cover part of the cost
$120–200/session
Focus: mental health, diagnosis, talk-based support
Grief Coaching
(This is what I specialize in)
Private-pay sessions
$65–200/session depending on provider
Focus: embodiment, nervous system support, identity reconstruction, post-traumatic growth
Community Groups
Often free or low-cost
$0–40 per session
Focus: connection, shared experience
Workshops/Courses
Online offerings, self-guided modules
$50–600 depending on length
Focus: tools for grounding, ritual, meaning-making
Retreats
Immersive healing in community
$800–4,500 depending on location and length
Focus: dedicated space for transformation and integration
Different needs call for different levels of support.
Someone in acute shock may need high-touch, personalized care. Someone years into grief may benefit from community, creativity, or a self-paced course.
My Philosophy on Pricing: Care Before Cost
Grief touches every part of our lives — body, mind, identity, relationships. Healing is not a luxury, it’s a need. Because of that, I’ve built a pricing approach that keeps accessibility and dignity at its center:
Sliding scale when feasible
Payment plans for deeper programs
Limited scholarships
Group sessions priced intentionally lower
Self-guided courses for accessible support at your own pace
When I set pricing, I’m not thinking of “billable hours.” I’m thinking of:
my lived experience of loss
certifications in grief education
ongoing training in polyvagal theory and somatic healing
Woman-Centered Coaching methodology
trauma-informed, high-touch support
time outside the session (prep, integration, resources, follow-up)
Trauma-informed care is not “show up for the hour and leave” work. It requires presence, attunement, nervous system awareness, and ethical care — which takes time and training.
What People Don’t Realize About the Cost of Grief Support
The biggest barrier isn’t financial. It’s mindset.
Many of us were taught that grief should be endured quietly — that support is “optional” or something you don’t pay for. But the truth is:
Grief lives in the body. If we don’t tend to it, it eventually tends to us — through our health, relationships, or wellbeing.
Investing in support isn’t indulgent.
It’s preventive care.
It’s emotional hygiene.
Real Stories: Why Investing in Support Matters
Grief support isn’t simply about getting tools — it’s about being witnessed, accompanied, and guided back into your own inner strength. The cost of grief support makes the most sense when you understand what’s possible within that sacred space.
Here are two stories from clients who generously shared their experiences.
Anna’s Story: “My grief had a place to be heard.”
When Anna began working with me, she was carrying a tenderness that lived not just in her emotions, but in her body. What she needed was a space where her grief could be fully seen, without being rushed or judged.
In her own words:
“I truly look forward to my sessions with Dawn. Her presence is soothing and calming, and I always leave feeling like my experience has been honored and my grief has had a space to be heard.” — Anna
For Anna, the investment wasn’t simply in sessions — it was in having a consistent, grounded presence alongside her as she learned to navigate her loss. Each session offered connection, nervous system support, and the reassurance that her grief mattered.
Penny’s Story: “From heaviness to a lighter way of being.”
Penny sought support not just to talk about her grief, but to explore who she was becoming through it. She wanted space to reflect, soften, and rebuild at a pace her body could handle.
She shares:
“Working with Dawn feels like spending time with a close friend. She is caring, compassionate, and present throughout the session, inviting self-awareness and reflection through her gentle direction and thoughtful questions.” — Penny
Through somatic practices, breathwork, and gentle inquiry rooted in post-traumatic growth, Penny began to feel possibility return to her life:
“Dawn invites you to be curious and consider the strengthening that comes from grief and loss, and what may be possible as you move through the heaviness to a lighter way of being.”
And perhaps the most meaningful part of her experience:
“I would recommend Dawn’s services to anyone who has recently experienced loss and is ready to begin a journey of healing.” — Penny
For Penny, the investment in grief support became an investment in her own wholeness — in reclaiming the parts of herself that grief had quieted.
How to Know What Type of Support You Need
Ask yourself:
Do I want to talk through my grief, or experience it through my body?
Do I want private support or community connection?
Do I want a structured journey or session-by-session care?
Am I in acute grief, or rebuilding my identity?
What am I emotionally and financially ready for?
For example:
Group support is more affordable than 1:1 immersion and offers connection
Self-guided courses let you go at your pace for an accessible price
Immersion days are higher cost because they accelerate healing through dedicated time and tailored tools
If You’re Worried About Cost — Start Here
There are beautiful, accessible resources you can explore right now:
Books
These authors have supported millions through grief:
David Kessler
Tara Brach
Nicole LePera
Francis Weller
Megan Devine
Low-cost community
Hospice grief groups
Local community circles
Faith-based support
Online grief circles
Free resources
Podcasts
Grief worksheets
Local nonprofits
Community education programs
You are allowed to begin gently.
The Value of Investing in Grief Support
Grief support isn’t about “moving on.” It’s about moving with.
When you invest in your grief, you invest in your future self — the one who can hold joy again, who can love again, who can honor the past without being trapped in it.
There’s no price tag for that transformation. But there is a cost to not tending to grief: disconnection, anxiety, exhaustion, health challenges, and feeling stuck in a life that no longer fits.
In my work, I’ve seen again and again: healing is faster, gentler, and more sustainable when your body is part of the process.
So… How Much Does Grief Support Cost?
Here’s the real answer:
As much as you’re ready to invest in yourself. And fortunately, there are meaningful options at every price point.
Whether you work with me or someone else, my hope is simple: Find support that honors the depth of your love, not just the depth of your loss.
Your grief deserves care, and so do you.
If You’d Like to Explore Working Together
I offer:
With sliding scale, payment plans, and limited scholarships for equity and access.
If you’re unsure where to start, I’m here. We’ll find the right path together — gently.
Dawn M. Geoppinger, Trauma-Informed Grief & Embodiment Coach
Dawn M. Geoppinger is a Trauma-Informed Grief & Embodiment Coach based in Portland, Oregon, with a strong foundation of over two decades of professional experience in public administration, education, and the nonprofit sector. She specializes in grief education, somatic movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, integrating evidence-based approaches such as somatic practices, post-traumatic growth and woman-centered principles to help clients reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and honor the full spectrum of loss and healing. Through her practice, The Embodied Grief Journey™, Dawn provides compassionate, expert support both in person and online—creating safe, nurturing spaces for individuals to explore grief, resilience, and embodied healing.
The real cost of grief isn’t financial — it’s emotional, physical, and relational.
Investing in grief support is investing in your wellbeing, your future self, and your ability to feel safe again. Let’s find a support option that fits your needs and budget.
