A Community of Warriors:
We are people who have been shaped by grief in its many forms: the death of loved ones, divorce and relationship loss, identity shifts, career changes, major life transitions, and the quiet losses that often go unnamed. We gather because we understand that grief is not something to be avoided or conquered—it is something to be engaged, integrated, and ultimately transformed.
Guerrilla Grief is a community of warriors who come together not just to survive loss—but to thrive.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to create safe, grounded, and purpose-driven retreat experiences where individuals can engage grief honestly, build meaningful community, and develop the inner and outer tools needed to move forward with strength, clarity, and intention.
At the core of Guerrilla Grief retreats is the PPRRESS Framework, developed by Luke House, LCPC, and introduced in Guerrilla Grief: The Men’s Grief Manual. This framework guides all retreat experiences and reflects a whole-person approach to grief integration:
Purpose – Reconnecting with meaning and direction after loss
Physical Wellness – Using the body as a tool for healing and regulation
Resilience – Strengthening the capacity to endure, adapt, and grow
Remembrance – Honoring who and what has been lost without letting go of love
Emotional Health – Building emotional awareness, expression, and safety
Social Wellness – Healing through connection, community, and belonging
Spirituality – Exploring meaning, values, and connection beyond the self
Guerrilla Grief believes that healing does not come from bypassing pain, but from meeting it with courage, skill, and support.
Our Purpose:
The name Guerrilla Grief reflects the reality of loss. Grief can feel like a war for the heart—unexpected, exhausting, disorienting, and deeply personal. A guerrilla approach means we use every tool, tactic, and resource available to care for ourselves and one another as we continue living after loss.
This is not about erasing grief or leaving it behind. It is about integrating grief in ways that deepen our capacity to live meaningful, connected, and fulfilling lives—while honoring what and who has been lost, and those who came before us and made our lives possible.
Yes, grief is messy. Yes, grief is hard. And yes, grief can be fought with intention, compassion, and skill.
The Retreat Experience:
Guerrilla Grief retreats are intentionally designed using the PPRRESS framework, while remaining flexible to the theme, season, location, and needs of those attending. While no two retreats are exactly the same, participants can expect a thoughtfully curated experience that may include:
Group sessions where participants bear witness to one another’s stories in a safe, structured, and compassionate space
Movement and body-based practices such as yoga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu–informed exercises, and other somatic experiences that promote regulation, strength, and connection
Physical wellness supports including massage, Reiki, and other integrative or spiritual practitioners
Stories of purpose through loss, hearing from individuals who have transformed grief into meaningful action and direction
Outdoor and nature-based experiences, drawing on the powerful healing properties of the natural world, adapted to the season
Opportunities for reflection, rest, and integration, allowing space for both engagement and restoration
These retreats are not about fixing you. They are about walking alongside you—mind, body, and spirit.
The Outcome:
After attending a Guerrilla Grief retreat, our hope is that each participant leaves feeling:
Safe in their grief
Connected to others and themselves
Purposeful in how they move forward
Cared for in a way that restores energy rather than depletes it
Grief may remain—but it no longer has to be carried alone.
Locations & Giving Back:
Guerrilla Grief retreats may be held in various locations, but each retreat will intentionally incorporate time at House in the Woods—a deeply meaningful healing retreat space originally created to support military members and their families.
As you share your own loss, you will also know that a portion of your retreat fee directly supports this ongoing mission, allowing your healing to contribute to the healing of others.
About the Author
Luke House, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor based in Windham, Maine. After experiencing profound personal loss and years working in corrections and private security, Luke dedicated his life to helping others heal.
When not counseling or writing, Luke enjoys time outdoors with his son — hunting, fishing, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and exploring the woods and waters of Maine.
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Join the Movement
Healing happens in connection. Join an upcoming Guerrilla Grief Retreat to move from surviving to thriving.
This Is Guerrilla Grief:
We fight for our hearts.
We train our minds and bodies.
We remember who and what we’ve lost.
We live forward with purpose.
Welcome to Guerrilla Grief.
A Field Guide for Surviving Loss — and Rebuilding Your Life
By Luke House, LCPC
Luke House is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He works full-time in private practice in Windham, Maine, where he helps individuals navigate grief, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions.
After the death of his brother, Sgt. Joel House, Luke became a Gold Star Brother and went on to become a founding family member of House in the Woods, a veterans outdoor retreat in Lee, Maine. His continued work with the organization allows him to support veterans and their families through outdoor healing experiences and connection with nature.
Luke is also the author of Guerrilla Grief: The Men’s Grief Manual, a powerful exploration of how men can face and heal from loss through strength, purpose, and resilience.
Outside of counseling and writing, Luke enjoys spending time with his son outdoors—hunting, fishing, and being on the water—as well as weight training and teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
About the Book
When loss hits, most men are told to “stay strong.” But strength in grief isn’t about silence — it’s about learning to move through pain with purpose.
Guerrilla Grief: The Men’s Grief Manual is a practical, honest, and deeply human guide for men navigating the emotional terrain of loss — whether it’s the death of a loved one, the loss of identity, or a major life transition.
Luke House, LCPC, combines his personal story of loss with years of counseling experience to help readers understand grief through seven key domains…
Physical – Ground your body to steady your mind.
Purpose – Reclaim meaning and motivation in daily life.
Remember – Honor and integrate the memory of who or what was lost.
Resilience – Build mental and emotional toughness through the storm.
Emotional Health – Learn to feel and express emotion without shame.
Social – Reconnect with others and rebuild community.
Spiritual – Explore how loss reshapes your understanding of faith and existence.
Why This Book Matters
Men often grieve in isolation, unsure of how to express pain without feeling weak. Guerrilla Grief challenges that old narrative — redefining what strength looks like when your world falls apart.
“Guerrilla Grief challenges what it means to be strong when your world falls apart.”