This might be for you if you notice
- Someone you love has died, and the days feel unreal
- Waves of sadness, anger or guilt that arrive without warning
- Trouble sleeping or eating since the loss
- Feeling that the people around you expect you to be over it
- Grieving a divorce, a job or another major life change
- A child or teen who is grieving and not sure how to say so
Grief is a natural response to loss
Grief is a response to loss. It can follow the death of a loved one, and it can also follow losing a job, a divorce or another major life change. Grieving is part of the normal process of reacting to a loss, not a problem to be fixed.
It can show up in your mind, your body and your relationships. Mental reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness and despair. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems and changes in appetite.
There is no real order to the grieving process, and mourning is personal. How long it lasts can depend on how close you were to the person and whether the loss was expected. If your grief does not look like anyone else's, that does not mean you are doing it wrong.
How grief counseling can help
Friends, family and faith can be sources of support, and grief counseling is also helpful to some people. Mental Health America suggests seeking professional help when grief feels like too much to bear. You do not have to wait until then. Wanting a place to talk is reason enough.
Counseling is not about forgetting or moving on by a deadline. It is time set aside to say what is hard to say elsewhere, to remember the person or the life you lost, and to work out how to keep going while still caring about what is gone.
Therapists on our team use person-centered therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, CBT and attachment-focused therapy. Not every therapist uses every approach, so we match you with someone who suits you. We do not prescribe medication.
Things that can help while you grieve
- Seeking out caring people
- Expressing what you feel, out loud or on paper
- Looking after your health with regular meals and sleep
- Keeping some order and purpose in your days
When a child or a family is grieving
Children grieve too. Mental Health America advises talking honestly with children, in terms they can understand. A therapist can help you find the words and can give your child a place of their own to talk.
A loss also changes a household. Everyone may be grieving the same person in a different way. See our child therapy and family therapy pages if that sounds like your home.
What online sessions look like
Every session is a secure video visit. You can talk from your own couch, with your own tissues, without driving anywhere afterward. You need a phone, tablet or computer, an internet connection and a private spot.
Virtual visits do not require travel, and they can reach people who cannot easily get to in-person care. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and sessions are confidential within the limits the law sets.
Counseling is ongoing support, not emergency care. If your grief comes with thoughts of ending your life, or you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services. Our crisis resources page lists more options.
Getting started
- Book a free consultationChoose a time for a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page. It is fine if you are not sure what to say.
- Get matched with a therapistYou must be in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during sessions. We match you with a therapist licensed where you live. You can read about our team first.
- Check your coverageWe are in-network with many plans, and self-pay is available. See insurance and fees or ask us to verify your benefits.
- Talk at your own paceYour first session is a conversation about who or what you lost and how you have been since. There is no script and no rush.
Carrying the loss, and still living
Mental Health America puts it this way: you never stop missing your loved one, but the pain eases after time and allows you to go on with your life. Many people find that the love stays while the sharpest edges soften.
If you are wondering whether what you feel is grief, depression or both, a therapist can talk that through with you. Our depression therapy page explains more. Whenever you feel ready to talk, we will be here to listen.
Therapists for grief counseling
These therapists describe related experience in their own profiles. We will help you find the best fit and confirm who is licensed in your state.
Questions people ask
What is grief counseling?
Grief counseling is talk therapy focused on a loss. You meet with a licensed therapist to talk about what happened, what you are feeling and how daily life has changed. It is not about forgetting. It is support for carrying the loss, and according to MedlinePlus, grief counseling or grief therapy is helpful to some people.
How does online grief counseling work?
You meet your therapist by secure video on a phone, tablet or computer, from a private place. You must be physically in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during each session, and we match you with a therapist licensed in your state. Evening and weekend appointments are available, depending on the therapist.
Does insurance cover grief counseling?
Coverage depends on your plan and state. We are in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Geisinger, Optum, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Medicaid is not accepted, and self-pay is available. Ask us to verify your benefits before your first session so you know what to expect.
How long does grief last?
There is no set timeline. Mourning is personal, and how long it lasts can depend on things like how close you were to the person who died and whether the loss was expected. Mental Health America notes there is no real order to the grieving process. Counseling can offer support wherever you are in it.
Is it too soon, or too late, to start grief counseling?
Neither. Some people reach out in the first days after a loss, and others come long afterward when something brings it back. If your grief feels like too much to bear, that is a good time to seek professional support, and you are welcome before that point as well.
Can grief counseling help with losses other than a death?
Yes. The CDC describes grief as a response to loss that can be caused by many things, including the death of a loved one, losing a job, getting divorced or going through other major life changes. Whatever you have lost, a therapist can help you make sense of it.
Sources
Published by Locascio Wellness. Last updated October 9, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Anthony Locascio, PsyD, LPC. This page is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.