Grief Education  ·  Children  ·  Families  ·  Maryland & DMV

You don't have to
navigate grief alone.

And neither does your child.

The Anchored Heart Center for Grief Education creates spaces of safety, understanding, and healing for grieving children and the families who love them. Our work is grounded in evidence, guided by compassion, and designed to strengthen the most important relationship in a grieving child's life — yours.

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Heart Connections™ Programming

Where families find their footing.

Every program under the Heart Connections™ umbrella is designed to meet you exactly where you are — no experience required. Just willingness.

Free · Community

Supporting Your Grieving Child

A Guided Caregiver Conversation

A free, one-hour facilitated conversation for parents and caregivers. You'll leave with a concrete tool and the knowledge that you are not alone. No registration required beyond a seat at the table.

Parent Workshop

The Anchored Child

Supporting Your Grieving Child

A 90-minute psychoeducational workshop combining teaching, reflection, and experiential learning. Understand your child's grief developmentally. Leave with language, tools, and confidence.

Children's Group · Ages 8–10

The Anchored Child

Children's Grief Support Group

A small, safe peer support group for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Experiential, unhurried, and grounded in the belief that children grieve best when they don't grieve alone.

About the Founder

"Your child does not need a perfect parent.
They need a present one."

Bennētta McDuffie is a Grief & Bereavement Specialist and the founder of The Anchored Heart Center for Grief Education. Her work is grounded in evidence-based frameworks including Worden's Tasks of Mourning, the Dual Process Model, Continuing Bonds theory, and her own original McDuffie Integrated Grief Adaptation Framework™. She holds a graduate certificate in Grief & Bereavement from the University of Vermont and brings hands-on facilitation experience working with grieving children and families across the Maryland and DMV region.

Bennētta Lenore McDuffie · Founder

Our Approach

Presence over performance.

Grief is not something we fix. It is something we learn to carry. Our work is grounded in the belief that a child's most powerful resource is a steady, loving adult who stays present through the waves.

  • Children grieve in waves — play is regulation, not disrespect
  • Behavior is often grief in disguise
  • Children need safety, honesty, permission, and connection
  • Grief has no timeline — and neither does healing
  • Your presence is more powerful than perfect words
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"Children don't need the waves to stop.
They need a steady anchor during them."

The Anchored Wave Model™

Get In Touch

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you are a parent, caregiver, school counselor, faith community, or organization — we would love to hear from you. Programming is currently forming for May 2026 and beyond.

info@anchoredheartcenter.com@anchoredheartgriefanchoredheartcenter.com