About The Grief Center

Founded in 2002, The Tristesse Grief Center was born from the inspiration of a courageous 14-year-old girl named Tristesse “Tess” Gonsalves, who battled cancer for six years. In the face of her death, her only concern was for those she was leaving behind, especially her mom. She wanted her mom to have a place where she could grieve, be understood, feel comfort, and, most importantly, find hope again. Tess’s mom, Laura, helped establish The Tristesse Grief Center, a place for grieving hearts of all ages.

Today, The Grief Center is recognized in our community as the expert on grief and stands ready to support individuals affected by loss and those who want to support them. In 2022, The Grief Center received the Champion of Children’s Health Award for improving health outcomes for Oklahoma children in underserved schools, and in 2023, the Center received national recognition as a Childhood Bereavement Changemaker.

The Grief Center serves over 3,000 people annually through individual counseling, therapeutic loss groups, Camp Erin Tulsa, and outreach services such as Crisis Response and its school-based initiative, The Healing Hearts Club.