Loneliness in Grief: Exploring the Silent Struggle & Path to Connection
Pre-conference: May 31, 2026 | Conference: June 1–3, 2026
STUDENT UNION
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 521 East Avenue N | La Crosse, WI USA
We will have international speakers examine loneliness not only as a pain to be alleviated, but as a profoundly human terrain that can deepen meaning, reshape identity, and open pathways to connection. We honor grief’s silence while building bridges toward belonging and hope.
Redefining Loneliness & Aloneness — exploring the difference between solitude and loneliness; reframing isolation as a space for meaning-making, reflection, and transformation in grief.
Identity, Marginalization & Invisible Grief — how loneliness is intensified in marginalized groups (cultural, racial, gendered, neurodivergent, unhoused, expatriate, widowed, caregiving populations) and the impact of systemic barriers and stigma.
Masculinity, Silence & Cultural Expectations — the hidden grief of men and fathers, stoicism, emotional suppression, and the tension between vulnerability and control.
Developmental & Relational Dimensions of Loneliness — loneliness across the lifespan (emerging adulthood, midlife, aging elders, caregivers); grieving alone vs. grieving with others; rebuilding intimacy after loss.
Connection, Companioning & Community Support Models — pathways from isolation to connection, including relational care approaches, peer support, and meaning-focused grief therapy.
Innovation & Creative Healing Approaches — expressive arts, body-based practices, technology and AI, meditation, and alternative care models as tools to address bereavement loneliness.
