Kintsugi Grief Center

Directions Website Contact the practice

Kintsugi Grief Center Providing Grief Support Groups, Community, and Truth Talks about Grief

Grieving the loss of a spouse or partner can feel incredibly isolating. So much of life changes—not only the person you ...
10/07/2026

Grieving the loss of a spouse or partner can feel incredibly isolating. So much of life changes—not only the person you love being gone, but the routines, companionship, plans, and future you imagined together.

Our Virtual Spousal & Partner Loss Support Group is a space to be with others who understand some of what it means to navigate life after this kind of loss.

There is no expectation to have the right words or to be at a certain place in your grief. You can come exactly as you are.

Wednesdays | 6:00–7:30 PM
Virtual throughout California

We are currently welcoming new members.

If you or someone you know may benefit from this space, please reach out or visit kintsugigrief.com for more information.

There is space for you here. 🤍

Our 5th Annual Kintsugi Holiday Gathering & Potluck is coming this November, and I’m so excited to gather together again...
09/24/2026

Our 5th Annual Kintsugi Holiday Gathering & Potluck is coming this November, and I’m so excited to gather together again. 🎉🎉

Over the years, this gathering has become such a special part of the Kintsugi community—a space to share food, connect with one another, remember the people we love, and make a little room for both grief and togetherness during the holiday season.

Saturday, November 14th
12:00–2:00 PM
Sierra Madre, CA

Whether you’ve gathered with us before or this would be your first time, there is a place for you at the table. 💜

More details + RSVP coming soon.

Sometimes support looks like the smallest things.🍂🍁Grief asks a lot of us, and sometimes the things that help us through...
09/01/2026

Sometimes support looks like the smallest things.

🍂🍁

Grief asks a lot of us, and sometimes the things that help us through the day are surprisingly small.

A walk.
A certain song.
Sitting outside.
Calling someone who gets it.
Making dinner.
Saying no to plans.
Going to bed early.

What’s one small thing that has been helping you lately?

Share below if you feel comfortable. Someone else might need the idea today.

💜💜💜

There are some new faces here, and it felt like a good time to introduce myself. 🤍Hi, I’m Vanessa. I’m a licensed marria...
08/27/2026

There are some new faces here, and it felt like a good time to introduce myself. 🤍

Hi, I’m Vanessa. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in grief and bereavement, and the founder of Kintsugi Grief Center.

My path to this work is deeply personal. I became widowed at a young age after losing my husband to cancer. My own experience with grief changed not only my life, but also the way I came to understand what it means to truly support someone after loss.

Over time, that experience became part of what led me to create the kind of grief support and community I wished had existed when I needed it.

Today, through Kintsugi Grief Center, I have the privilege of supporting people through individual counseling, grief support groups, community gatherings, and grief education.

But at the heart of all of it is something very simple:

Grief deserves a place to be held.

A place where you don’t have to explain why you’re still hurting.
Where there is no timeline you’re expected to follow.
Where the person you love can still be spoken about.
Where you can be exactly where you are.

I believe deeply that healing doesn’t mean leaving behind the person we love. We learn, slowly and in our own ways, how to carry our love and our loss with us as life continues.

Whether your loss is recent or you’ve been carrying it for many years, there is space for you here.

And for those of you who have been here for a while, thank you for being part of this community. For those who are new, I’m so glad you found us.

A little glimpse into the heart behind Kintsugi. 💜

support

Sometimes when we’re grieving, we search for something that will make the pain disappear.But healing is rarely found in ...
08/13/2026

Sometimes when we’re grieving, we search for something that will make the pain disappear.

But healing is rarely found in one big breakthrough.

More often, it’s found in the smallest moments of caring for ourselves.

A deep breath.

The feeling of your feet on the ground.

A sip of water.

The warmth of your hand over your heart.

A phone call to someone who feels safe.

These moments may seem simple, but they gently remind our nervous system that we are here, we are supported, and we can move through this one moment at a time.

If grief feels especially heavy today, I invite you to choose just one of the grounding practices in this carousel.

Not because it will take your grief away.

But because it may help you feel a little more anchored as you carry it.

Healing doesn’t ask us to rush.

It simply asks us to return to ourselves, one gentle choice at a time.

Which grounding practice feels most supportive to you today?

With love,
Vanessa

08/12/2026

One of the greatest fears after loss is that healing means leaving someone behind.

But love doesn’t disappear because life changes.

Over time, many people discover that healing isn’t about letting go.

It’s about finding new ways to carry the person you love—with you, within you, and through the life you continue to live.

The truth is, you’re probably already doing this every day.

Their love lives in the little things.

In the way you laugh.

The meals you still make.

The traditions you continue.

The values you hold.

The songs that bring them close.

The way their voice still echoes in your heart.

You already know what they sound like.

What their embrace felt like.

The little details that made them them.

Love doesn’t ask us to forget.

It asks us to carry those moments forward in a way that continues to shape our lives.

There is no timeline for this.

Only your own journey.
be gentle with yourself
One step at a time

With care,
Vanessa

Weekends can be especially hard after loss.The routines change.The house feels quieter.Plans you once shared become remi...
08/08/2026

Weekends can be especially hard after loss.

The routines change.

The house feels quieter.

Plans you once shared become reminders of what’s missing.

If today feels different than the rest of the week...

You’re not doing grief wrong.

Weekends simply have a way of making us notice the empty spaces.

So if all you accomplish today is making breakfast, taking a walk, or resting...

That is enough.

The most important thing to me and connecting with others about grief is that you feel seen and heard.

Share here about about how the weekends feel for you since your loss. We are listening

Warmly,
Vanessa

Whether you’re 32 or 72, grief can feel profoundly isolating after the death of a spouse or partner.Loss doesn’t ask how...
08/05/2026

Whether you’re 32 or 72, grief can feel profoundly isolating after the death of a spouse or partner.

Loss doesn’t ask how old you are.

It doesn’t wait until retirement.

It doesn’t wait until your children are grown.

It can arrive when you’re building a career, raising young children, planning a wedding, celebrating retirement, or dreaming about the future you thought you’d have together.

And regardless of your age, one thing often remains true:

It can feel incredibly lonely.

At Kintsugi Grief Center, our spousal and partner loss group is a place where you don’t have to explain your grief or carry it alone.

When my husband died at the age of 30, it was very difficult for me to find a group at such a young age. Creating these spaces became a meaningful part of the journey .

Whether your loss is recent or years ago, whether you were married or lifelong partners, you are welcome here.

Because healing isn’t about fitting into a certain age or stage of life.

It’s about finding people who understand.

Spousal & Partner Loss Support Group
Held every Wednesday
6:00-7:30 pm

Sometimes people think grief is only about missing someone we love.But grief also asks us to say goodbye to parts of our...
08/04/2026

Sometimes people think grief is only about missing someone we love.

But grief also asks us to say goodbye to parts of ourselves.

The version of you who laughed more easily.

The version who felt certain about the future.

The version who didn’t carry this ache.

One of the quietest parts of grief is realizing you’re mourning the life you thought you would have.

And that can feel confusing.

Because you may find yourself thinking,

“I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”

If that’s where you are today, please know this:

You are not meant to become the person you were before your loss.

Healing isn’t about returning to who you were.

It’s about gently discovering who you are becoming while carrying the love, the memories, and the grief with you.

There is no timeline.

No “right” way to do this.

Only one small step at a time.

Vanessa 💜

Wherever you are in your grief, we’re here to meet youOur virtual support groups provide a compassionate space to connec...
07/27/2026

Wherever you are in your grief, we’re here to meet you

Our virtual support groups provide a compassionate space to connect with others who understand, share your story, and receive support wherever you are on your grief journey.

August Groups OPEN:

🌿 Caregiver Support Group
Wednesdays | 12:00–1:00 PM

🤍 Spousal/Partner Loss Group
Wednesdays | 6:00–7:30 PM

🌿 Parent Loss Group
Thursdays | 6:00–7:30 PM

If you’re interested in joining or would like to learn more, we’d love to connect.

Visit www.kintsugigrief.com or send us a message

Address

Pasadena, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kintsugi Grief Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Kintsugi Grief Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category