Evolving From Death Cafes to Mourning Tea

For the past few years, I've hosted quarterly Death Cafés, informal gatherings where people come together to eat, drink tea, and talk about death and dying. By design, Death Cafés have no agenda, no themes, and the facilitator doesn't direct the conversation, participants guide where the discussion goes. That's part of their beauty, and these sessions have been consistently well-attended.

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But they've also revealed an additional need. While the open, participant-led nature of Death Cafés works beautifully for many people, others are looking for something with more structure and gentle guidance to help navigate the harder parts of grief.

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That's why I'm introducing Mourning Tea.

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What is Mourning Tea

Mourning Tea is a series of structured grief support gatherings, each designed for a specific group navigating loss. These sessions build on the Death Café model;  the openness, the tea, the permission to speak honestly about death, but with facilitated discussion, thoughtful prompts, and resources to take home.

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This isn't therapy. It's connection. It's a space where you don't have to explain yourself or your grief. It's permission to speak what's often left unsaid.

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Over the coming months, there will be Mourning Tea sessions for:

• Adults grieving the death of a loved one

• Children and young people exploring grief and loss

• Older adults navigating end-of-life conversations​

 

These sessions are made possible by a Proveda Dying to Know Day Community Grant, which means they're free to attend.

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All Mourning Tea sessions will be hosted at my clinic, Flow State Psychology in Sumner. The space is welcoming and comfortable, with parking and toilets available.

 

Please note: the clinic is upstairs and there is no lift access, only stairs are available.

 

If this will be an issue for you, please contact me on 0466 059 111 or ali@griefguide.com.au so we can discuss alternatives.

Watch This Space

I'll be announcing dates for upcoming sessions as they're scheduled. If you'd like to stay informed about future Mourning Tea gatherings, follow Grief Guide on Instagram or check back here regularly.