Grief Support Network

What Grief Support Network does

The Center for Somatic Grieving, formerly Grief Support Network, is a non-profit grief support organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, that rebranded in 2024. It operates a somatic grief support ecosystem combining yoga therapy, mindfulness, body-awareness practices, and group facilitation, anchored by a proprietary curriculum branded as "Mindful Grieving." The organization was founded by Wendy Black Stern following the loss of her son Noah in 2008, and today reaches across 11 countries via a combination of virtual programs, certified facilitators, and in-person retreats.

Its core product surface includes: (1) one-on-one somatic grief support sessions with the founder; (2) the Mindful Grieving Journey virtual program offered in 6-week, 6-month, and 9-month formats; (3) the 200-hour Mindful Grieving Yoga Therapy Teacher Training (YTT), delivered either as a Live Virtual Cohort ($3,650) or as an 8-day Maui Immersion ($3,600–$5,000 with accommodations); (4) a 50-hour self-paced Yoga & Somatic Foundations prerequisite course ($499); (5) in-person Awakening Through Grief retreats in Maui and at Soulshine in Bali, plus a Somatic Grief, Surf & Writing Retreat; and (6) community offerings including a Virtual Community Collective and drop-in Community Circles. A free "Create a Container for Your Grief" guide functions as the top-of-funnel lead magnet.

The business model is multi-stream and founder-led. Revenue is generated through one-time program/training fees, premium immersive retreat packages, recurring community/collective subscriptions, and individualized professional services; discovery calls and free content drive funnel conversion. Distribution occurs through direct website sales (Squarespace commerce), premium venue partnerships (Soulshine Bali, Wailea Inn Maui), and a network of 100+ independently certified facilitators who deliver circles and programs globally. The organization operates with approximately 6 employees, has no disclosed external funding, and is founder-controlled.

Name

Grief Support Network

Legal name

Center for Somatic Grieving

Website

https://griefsupportnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Center for Somatic Grieving is a non-profit founded in 2012 that delivers somatic grief support via the proprietary Mindful Grieving curriculum, offering one-on-one sessions, 6-week to 9-month virtual programs, yoga teacher training, retreats, and community circles to grieving individuals and wellness professionals across 11 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grief Support and Somatic Therapy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• Grief support services
• Somatic therapy programs
• Yoga teacher training
• Wellness retreat programs
• Mindfulness grief care

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. One-on-One Somatic Grief Sessions: Personalized 1:1 grief support sessions with Wendy Black Stern, ranging from single sessions to comprehensive packages. Includes complimentary 30-minute discovery call before enrollment.
2. Yoga Teacher Training Programs: 200-hour Mindful Grieving Yoga Therapy Teacher Training available in two formats: Live Virtual Cohort ($3,650 pay in full or $315/month) and Maui Immersion ($3,600 training only or $5,000 with accommodations). Includes certification and licensure to facilitate community circles and Mindful Grieving Programs.
3. Yoga and Somatic Foundations Course: 50-hour self-led prerequisite course for those without yoga teacher certification. One-time payment of $499.
4. Retreat Programs: In-person Awakening Through Grief retreats in Bali (at Soulshine Retreat Center) and Maui. Includes accommodation options and comprehensive retreat experience with daily yoga, meditation, cultural activities, and community connection.
5. Group Programs (Community Circles, Virtual Programs): Virtual Community Collective membership and drop-in Community Circles. Circles offered complimentary within Mindful Grieving Community Collective. Programs include 6-week and 6-month Mindful Grieving Journey programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Center for Somatic Grieving (formerly Grief Support Network) delivers grief support through one-on-one somatic sessions with founder Wendy Black Stern, multi-length virtual Mindful Grieving programs, in-person retreats in Maui and Bali, and 200-hour Yoga Therapy Teacher Training that certifies external facilitators to deliver the curriculum globally.

Product overview

Center for Somatic Grieving (formerly Grief Support Network) offers a holistic grief support ecosystem comprising individual one-on-one somatic grief sessions with founder Wendy Black Stern, virtual Mindful Grieving Programs in 6-week/6-month/9-month formats, professional Mindful Grieving Yoga Therapy Teacher Training (available as Live Virtual Cohort or Maui Immersion), a 50-hour Yoga & Somatic Foundations prerequisite course, and in-person retreats in Maui and Bali. Community offerings include Virtual Community Collective and Community Circles. A free Create a Container for Your Grief guide serves as an entry point. The portfolio integrates yoga therapy, somatic practices, mindfulness, and grief education to support individuals and train facilitators globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mindful Grieving: The signature somatic grief curriculum developed by Wendy Black Stern, offered through virtual programs, community circles, and yoga teacher training.

Products and services

• One-on-One Somatic Grief Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ certified facilitators trained and practicing globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Soulshine Sound + Wellness ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium retreat venue partnership for Awakening Through Grief Bali retreats. Soulshine, owned by Michael and Sara Franti, provides luxury accommodations including yoga shalas, infinity pools, spa services, organic gardens, and cultural experiences. The resort's energy and kindness aligns with the retreat's healing focus, creating a powerful container for grief work.
• Wailea Inn (Maui)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate gated estate venue for Mindful Grieving YTT Maui Immersion. Located 50 yards from the beach in Wailea, Maui with multiple suites, indoor yoga studio, heated pool, and outdoor spaces for training.
• The Rising CreativeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite design and development partner credited for the Center for Somatic Grieving website.
• Dr. Arielle SchwartzsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest faculty for YTT program, providing instruction on trauma physiology and trauma-informed yoga practices.
• Nancy GruskaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort lead for YTT Maui Immersion program, supporting facilitation and student guidance.
• Laura CummingssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort lead for YTT Maui Immersion program, supporting facilitation and student guidance.
• Corinne AndrewssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-instructor for Yoga and Somatic Foundations course. Co-owner/director of Shraddha Yoga, ERYT-500, RPYT, with expertise in yoga philosophy, embodiment, and trauma-sensitive trainings.
• Chelsea Brady (Rising Creative)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarketing and business module instructor for YTT program, teaching business practices and marketing for grief facilitators.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yoga Alliance: The largest credentialing body for yoga teachers and schools, setting standards for 200-hour and 500-hour trainings. Comparable as the broader incumbent defining the certification landscape in which CSG's 200-hour Mindful Grieving YTT competes.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: A large yoga and wellness retreat and training organization offering immersive retreats, yoga teacher training, and healing programs. Comparable as an incumbent in the yoga-based wellness retreat and certification space that overlaps with CSG's Maui retreats and YTT.
• Hospice Foundation of America: A national nonprofit providing grief and bereavement education, professional training, and consumer programming across the U.S. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the bereavement education and training category, with broader reach and institutional funding that CSG lacks.

Direct peers

• Dougy Center: A pioneering grief support organization offering peer-support groups and training programs for grieving children, teens, and adults. Comparable as a nonprofit grief-support provider with a structured training-the-trainer model that mirrors CSG's facilitator certification approach.
• Modern Loss: A grief-focused media platform, community, and resource hub offering essays, candlelight gatherings, and online programming for bereaved individuals. Closely aligned with CSG's content-and-community model in the same grief-support category.
• What's Your Grief: An online grief education and support platform offering courses, articles, and resources for both grieving individuals and professionals. Comparable as a direct-to-consumer grief education brand with digital program revenue similar to CSG's virtual offerings.
• Grief.com (David Kessler): A prominent grief education and training platform founded by grief expert David Kessler, offering courses, certifications, and online resources for both the bereaved and helping professionals. Comparable as a founder-led, direct-to-consumer grief education and professional-training brand in the same category.
• The Dinner Party: A national peer-support community for grieving 20-40-somethings, hosting dinners, gatherings, and online circles. Directly comparable as a grief-focused community organization using peer-led circles as its core delivery mechanism.
• Elephants and Tea: A media and community organization supporting adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer and grief, blending storytelling, peer connection, and facilitated community. Comparable in mission and community-led GTM approach to CSG's circles model.
• Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy: The yoga therapy training organization from which founder Wendy Black Stern holds her certification. Directly comparable as the source methodology underpinning CSG's curriculum, with overlapping practitioner community and similar somatic/yoga therapy positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterforSomaticGrieving
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforsomaticgrieving
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/griefsupportnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grief Support Network