Online grief therapy, including grief that starts before a loss

Who this is for

This page is for adults grieving a death, whether a parent, partner, child or friend, and for losses that aren’t a death: a parent with dementia, a divorce, a pregnancy loss, a diagnosis, or the life you expected.

You might notice that:

• waves of sadness, anger or numbness that come out of nowhere
• trouble sleeping, eating or concentrating
• guilt about what you did or didn’t do
• a sense that others expect you to be “over it”
• grieving someone who is still alive
• dread of holidays, anniversaries and birthdays

This is individual psychotherapy with a licensed clinician. It isn’t coaching. Couples and family sessions are a different format that insurance may treat differently, so ask before you book if you’re interested in a joint session.

What we might work on

• Telling the story of the loss, at your pace
• Guilt and the “what ifs”
• Anticipatory grief while caring for a declining parent
• Holidays, anniversaries and other hard dates
• Grief in a family, when everyone mourns differently
• The practical decisions that come with loss, from belongings to caregiving
• Carrying the relationship forward in a way that feels right to you

How the Care Map Method™ shapes our sessions

The Care Map Method™ is the framework I use to organize our work, alongside a standard clinical assessment. It isn’t a separate tested treatment. It keeps four kinds of needs in view:

Then we work in four steps:

1. Map the emotion and trigger. We map when grief hits hardest: times, places and reminders.
2. Match the need with a strategy. We name what you need, such as company, quiet, remembrance or a break, and choose a way to meet it.
3. Merge the strategy into daily life. We plan for the hard moments ahead, like a holiday or an anniversary, so they don’t ambush you.
4. Manage communication and responses. We work on what to say to family and friends about what you need, then notice together what’s changing over time.

Plan the hard day

For an upcoming anniversary or holiday, decide three things in advance: one way you’ll honor the person, one person you’ll be with or call, and one exit plan if it gets to be too much. Grief is easier to carry when the day has some shape.

How we’ll look at progress

We’ll choose markers that fit you, such as:

• how often grief overwhelms your day
• sleep and appetite
• whether you can talk about the person
• how you’re managing hard dates
• re-engaging with things that matter to you

We check these every few sessions and change the plan if something isn’t helping. I can’t promise a particular result; we focus on what is in your hands.

Sessions, licenses and insurance

Sessions are online by video for adults who are physically located in California, New Jersey, Oregon or Maine during each session. Licenses: California LCSW #136364; New Jersey LCSW #44SC05528100; Oregon LCSW #L16530; Maine LCSW #LC26593.

Through Alma, I’m in network with Aetna, Cigna, Carelon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Optum plans including UnitedHealthcare, Oscar and Oxford. Coverage depends on your specific plan, not only the insurance company’s name. Alma checks it before your first session, including any copay or deductible, and handles the billing. How using insurance works.

Check Insurance and Availability on Alma →

Questions people ask

Is there a normal timeline for grief?

No. Grief often softens with time, but there’s no deadline. If it’s still making daily life very hard after many months, or getting worse, therapy can help.

Can I get therapy for anticipatory grief?

Yes. Grieving a parent who is still alive, for example one with dementia, is real grief. Many adult children carry it alongside caregiving decisions, an area I know well.

Is grief the same as depression?

They can overlap. Grief usually comes in waves tied to the loss, while depression tends to color everything. I’ll check for both.

Can we talk about losses that aren’t a death?

Yes. Divorce, estrangement, a diagnosis, a pregnancy loss and a parent’s dementia are all losses. Many people find they haven’t had permission to grieve them.

Do you take my insurance?

I see clients through Alma, and through Alma I’m in network with Aetna, Cigna, Carelon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Optum plans including UnitedHealthcare, Oscar and Oxford. Coverage still depends on your specific plan. Alma checks it before your first appointment, including any copay or deductible. Please share plan and health details through Alma’s secure intake, not by text or email.

Where do I need to be during sessions?

Sessions are online by video, and you need to be physically in California, New Jersey, Oregon or Maine during each one. Your insurance plan can come from another state; what matters for licensing is where you are during the session. Alma checks whether your plan covers sessions with me.

Sources and resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Related