Our Mission
Angling In Grief Support is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people navigate loss through compassionate grief care, meaningful connection, and restorative experiences in nature.
We provide professional grief coaching that offers a safe, supportive space for individuals to process grief of all kinds. In addition, we integrate fly fishing and related outdoor experiences into select programs, offering a hands-on, kinesthetic approach that helps many people engage their grief in a different and often deeply meaningful way.
Our organization was founded by Rick Gillert, an Anglican priest and hospice chaplain, who recognized a growing need for alternative approaches to grief support. While traditional grief groups are helpful for many, he also saw that they do not meet everyone where they are. Angling In Grief Support was created to bridge that gap—offering new pathways for healing that combine professional care, personal connection, and the restorative rhythm of the natural world.
Our Vision
To become a leader in innovative grief support in the North Georgia area.
Our Values
At Angling In Grief Support, our work is guided by the values represented in the acronym F.I.S.H. These principles shape every interaction, program, and decision we make.
F – People First
Every person has inherent worth and dignity. We treat each individual with compassion, respect, and kindness, recognizing that every grief journey is unique.
I – Integrity
We are committed to the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct. We strive to earn and maintain the trust of those we serve, our volunteers, our partners, and our community.
S – Stewardship
We believe every resource is a gift to be used wisely. We are faithful stewards of the financial support entrusted to us, the natural environments where we serve, and the relationships that make our mission possible.
H – Hope Through Faith
Our hope is rooted in the Christian faith and the compassion of Jesus Christ. We are open and honest about the foundation of our ministry while welcoming and serving people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences with respect, dignity, and care.
These values guide us as we walk alongside those experiencing grief, offering hope, healing, and community to everyone we serve.
A Different Way to Grieve
Understanding Instrumental Grief
Not everyone experiences grief in the same way. While some people naturally express grief through emotions and conversation, others process loss through thinking, problem-solving, and activity. This is often referred to as instrumental grieving.
Instrumental grievers tend to make sense of their loss by staying engaged, learning, and participating in meaningful physical activities. For them, healing often comes through action rather than words alone. This approach is a healthy and recognized way of grieving, even though it may be misunderstood by friends or family who assume that staying busy means avoiding grief. While activity can sometimes be used to escape painful emotions, it can also be a constructive and effective way to work through loss.
At Angling In Grief Support, we believe fly fishing provides an ideal setting for instrumental grievers. The focus, rhythm, and problem-solving involved in the sport create opportunities for reflection while reducing the pressure to "talk about feelings." Combined with practical grief education and compassionate support, fly fishing offers a meaningful path toward healing that respects the unique way many people process grief.
Our goal is to meet people where they are and provide support that fits the way they naturally grieve, helping them move forward with hope, understanding, and resilience.