Support for adults after a suicide

Waves is a free, 8-week psychoeducational programme available throughout Aotearoa, delivered by trained facilitators. I co-founded Tony's Place (which holds the IT for Waves programme) and have been personally facilitating Waves since 2014, and continue to do so. Waves is an excellent programme..

My programmes are additional options, not alternatives. They offer direct work with me, greater flexibility in content (I adapt each programme to the specific needs of the group), and a focus on distinct themes that build on or sit alongside what Waves covers.

If you're new to group support after suicide loss and unsure where to start, I'd encourage you to explore Waves, a free programme available throughout Aotearoa.

Waves offers a structured, psychoeducational foundation and is delivered by trained facilitators across the country.

My programmes suit people who are looking for something different: direct work with me, flexibility in content, or a focus on a specific theme. They're also a good fit if you've already completed Waves and want to continue in a different direction, or if you're drawn to a relationship-specific group focused on a particular aspect of living with suicide loss.

There's no wrong starting point, it's about what feels right for where you are.

It depends on where you are in your experience:

• Navigating Suicide Grief is the starting point for people trying to understand what they're experiencing and find ways to manage day-to-day life with grief.

• Living with Suicide Loss explores how to live alongside grief, including how you continue your relationship with your loved one. This programme is open to those who have completed Navigating Suicide Grief.

• Who Am I Now? is open to anyone. It suits people asking questions about identity, meaning, and direction after loss has changed them, whether or not they've attended other programmes.

Yes. Living with Suicide Loss builds on the understanding, groundwork, and shared language developed in Navigating Suicide Grief. Completing the first programme ensures you're ready to engage fully with the content in the second and that the group can work from a common foundation.

Yes, and many people do. If you're considering both Navigating Suicide Grief and Living with Suicide Loss, you'll need to complete Navigating first. Who Am I Now? is designed to support those further along in their grief journey.

All programmes are delivered online via Zoom. Each programme runs for six weeks, with one two-hour session per week.

Groups are small, typically 6–8 participants. This allows everyone space to contribute and be heard, while still benefiting from the shared experience of others.

While suicide loss shares common threads, each relationship brings its own particular impact. A parent grieving a child faces different questions than an adult grieving a parent. A partner's daily life is reshaped in ways a sibling's may not be.

Relationship-specific groups allow participants to be with others who understand their particular experience, without needing to explain or translate.

I regularly offer programmes for parents, adult children, partners, and siblings. From time to time, I also run programmes for friends, grandparents, and mixed-relationship groups. If your relationship isn't currently listed, get in touch. I may be able to let you know when a suitable group is planned, or gauge interest for a new one.

Each session combines learning with group discussion. I share information and frameworks drawn from research and my experience, and participants are invited (never pressured) to share their own reflections. The balance shifts depending on the session and the group.

There's no expectation to speak if you're not ready. Some people contribute a lot; others prefer to listen. Both are welcome.

Sessions run for two hours. I'd suggest allowing a little time afterwards to decompress; a quiet cup of tea, a short walk, or a few minutes to journal before returning to the rest of your day or evening.

You get to decide what you choose to share with the group; share as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing. It is important that the group is a safe space for you, where you feel able to share what feels important for you.

That said, I ask that you don’t share the specific details of how your loved one died. This is personal information and isn’t necessarily helpful or appropriate to be shared with the wider group.

Life happens. If you need to miss a session, let me know and I'll provide a summary of what was covered so you can stay connected with the group's journey. Because each group is unique and sessions build on one another, recordings aren't provided, but I'll make sure you're supported to continue.