IANDS-affiliated Groups serve people who have had near-death experiences (often called “experiencers”) by offering supportive sharing opportunities and connection with others who have similar experiences and those who care about and support them. IANDS Groups also offer education and discussion of near-death and related experiences to the general public in a supportive, accessible setting.
Located in various cities in the U.S. and a number of other countries, the IANDS Groups hold regular meetings for both experiencers and the general public. IANDS trained facilitators group facilitations strive to create a safe and respectful environment for all.
- Find an IANDS Group — Listing of IANDS in-person Groups and Contact Information.
- Find an Online Group – Online Sharing Groups (ISGO) offer a convenient option when in-person group aren’t convenient or accessible.
Interested in Starting an IANDS Sharing Group? We’re here to help.
Starting an IANDS Group is a true commitment of your time, energy, and dedication to supporting those who have had near-death and related experiences, to those who care about and support them and to the general public.
IANDS Groups are organized and run by trained Group Facilitators who must be IANDS Members at the Supporting Level or higher and who agree to lead their Group according to IANDS’ policies and by-laws. Most IANDS Groups meet monthly and are open to everyone, offering peer-to-peer support and sharing information about NDEs and similar experiences. To get started, follow these steps:
Step 1: Define your purpose. Do you want to create a peer support group primarily for experiencers, a speaker group or a study and discussion group for the general public? Your purpose will determine which people you invite and the program structure you’ll need.
Step 2: Review the IANDS Group Affiliation Policy
Step 3: Register your group with IANDS. How to Register an IANDS Group
Step 4: Decide how and when you will meet – this can always be revised once the group is formed. Locations may include libraries, community centers and local churches.
Step 5: Develop a list of potential participants and ways to inform them. Start small and grow the group through word of mouth. Potential interested participants may:
- Nurses and other healthcare workers
- Physicians and emergency personnel
- Nursing homes and hospices
- Senior centers
- Clergy and spiritual counselors
- Therapists and social workers
- Support groups for the terminally ill or the bereaved
- Death doulas
- Funeral directors
Step 6: Follow IANDS’s Group Guidelines
All IANDS groups must agree to the following guidelines:
- Allow freedom of interpretation of NDEs and similar experiences and don’t proselytize any single point of view.
- Provide peer support, not therapy.
- While fostering the free exchange of ideas through open discussion, IANDS groups, led by trained facilitators, safeguard participants by refraining from techniques that are known to have been emotionally hazardous for some individuals.
- Are led by a person who is an IANDS member.
- Hold IANDS membership in the group’s name within a year of formation.
Each local group is financially independent of IANDS.
If you’re interested in starting an IANDS group, fill out and submit the request form.