What do we do at Sad Isn’t Bad?

The saying “Sad isn’t bad” may seem straightforward, but the death of a loved one often leaves us feeling confused and alone.

Our name serves as a gentle reminder that it’s okay to feel sad after the death of a loved one.

How do we do that?

The grief we feel after the death of a loved one can make us feel alone, upset, and angry, and it can be a confusing and scary time for both children and their families, as each person processes grief differently.

At Sad Isn’t Bad, we provide a safe, supportive place for children and their parents or caregivers to communicate the emotions they feel after a loved one’s death.

We aim to help children identify and express their feelings in a healthy way, foster open communication within families, and provide tools for individuals to continue on their journey with grief.

These may seem like fuzzy objectives, especially as life without a loved one leaves us confused and in pain, but at Sad Isn’t Bad we remove some of the barriers to this process in what we call “sessions.”

A session consists of four meetings, each with two main parts:

1. Meals. We provide families with a meal to share together. It’s an informal time where you can connect with your family members, other families attending the session, and the facilitators to break the ice.
2. Small-group discussions. We then break out into small groups by age: elementary school children, middle schoolers/high schoolers, and adults. Each group is led by a professional facilitator who prompts discussion and encourages each person to talk about their experiences with grief when they’re comfortable doing so. Being surrounded by peers allows each person to feel more accepted about the emotions they’re feeling.

We know life after the death of a loved one is difficult, and we’re here to make it easier for families to communicate their feelings in an honest and productive way.