Should I Use Therapy For Grieving Near Me? Where Do I Find It?

Updated March 10, 2024by Regain Editorial Team

Some of our lowest times can be those that are spent in grief or grieving. While it’s perfectly normal and often possible to work through the stages of grief and grieve on your own, sometimes it’s helpful to have a grief counselor or grief support group to walk you through the process and support you with your grief. 

You may find that you want to work with a local grief counselor, but you’re unsure how to find one. Another option is to find online grief support, though you may be wondering how effective it is and if online therapy for grief is right for you. We’ll cover that throughout this article.

What is the definition of grief?

Online grief counseling can help you heal

It’s helpful to have a good understanding of what grief is. Grief is an intense period of mourning following a loss, such as that caused by a death. Some people think of grief as sadness, but it’s more than that.

Symptoms of grief can include:

  • Despair

  • Anger and irritability

  • Depression

  • Deep sadness

  • Fear

  • Guilt

  • Helplessness

  • Numbness

  • Isolation

Grief does not just happen when you lose a loved one, although that’s one of the most common times when people experience it. Other circumstances that can lead to grief include losing a job, ending a relationship, moving, or dealing with chronic illness. 

It’s important to remember that everyone handles situations in life differently. While some may take these situations in stride, others will experience intense grief. Grief will also look different for everyone; thinking that grief is supposed to look one specific way can make it hard for you to identify when you are experiencing it if your symptoms aren’t what you think they are “supposed” to be.

Options for no cost grief counseling and/or support groups

Many people think of paying a therapist when they think of counseling. And that’s a very effective way to get help with your grief. However, there are also options for free grief counseling that can help you as well. Here are some of the options.

Hospice

Hospice is a term used for the care given to those that are terminally ill in their last few years, months, or weeks. Hospice workers can offer support for the families when a patient passes away as well. Those that take advantage of the counseling may be able to receive free counseling for a year or slightly more after the death of a family member or loved one. This can be incredibly helpful as you work through “firsts” without your loved one.

TAPS national military survivor helpline

TAPS is a great place for military service members to get therapy when they cannot meet in person with a counselor. This could be because they are just not comfortable talking to someone face-to-face, or it could be because it’s 1 am, and there’s no one awake to talk to. This hotline has someone waiting to answer your call 24 hours a day. 

You can reach it at 800-959-TAPS (8277).

College or school counselor

Many times, schools, colleges, and universities provide free counseling for students. If you’re in school and have experienced an event that has left you living with grief, reach out to your school to see what options are available to you. There may be options for one-on-one counseling sessions or even group sessions that you can attend.

Churches

If you attend a church, there’s a good chance that there is an option for free grief counseling. It could be through a pastor or priest or with a trained church goer. During difficult times, your faith can help you find support and community.

If you don’t have a church you attend, many will also allow you to counsel one pastor. Contact churches in your area to find an option that works for you.

Funeral homes

Funeral homes are experienced in dealing with grief; many have created options for free grief counseling. And, if they don’t have any counseling that they offer, they may be able to provide you with options in your local area. If you’re dealing with grief, you can try contacting a local funeral home to see what’s available to you.

Group therapy

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You may be able to find group therapy in your area that deals directly with grief. A simple search of “free grief counseling near me” online can help turn up the available results. You can also try searching the term “bereavement group” to see if that brings up any options for you.

Is this therapy effective?

You may be wondering if free grief therapy can really be effective. The simple answer yes. Bereavement counseling has been found to have a long-term benefit for those that participate. Many groups or therapists will have exercises or recommendations on things that you can do to help with the stage that you’re at. Sometimes the only thing that you’ll be able to handle is simply showing up and listening, and that’s OK too.

How bereavement therapy helps

When you are experiencing grief, it can be easy to feel like you’re alone in your struggles. It can be incredibly helpful during grief therapy to find out that the symptoms you’re experiencing are normal. Sometimes just knowing this is enough to provide you with a little bit of comfort and support while grieving.

During grief counseling, you can also learn strategies that you can use to help you work through the stages of grief. Sometimes you need someone helping you to continue moving through the process so you don’t get stuck on one stage.

And, sometimes, you need someone to listen to you. It may be that you’re still sorting out your emotions and feelings and need a sounding board to list to you and help validate your feelings. Or, it may be that you want the reassurance of having a listening ear. There are many difficult things that you can go through when you’re experiencing grief.

For example, if you are grieving over the death of a loved one or the ending of a long-term relationship, you will have to go through all of the first holidays without that other person. It may be difficult to decide how to handle things like holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries if you don’t have the guidance of an experienced professional. You may feel like forgetting all about the holidays for the year, but grief counseling can help you work through that and find a healthy way to move forward.

Try online therapy

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Online grief counseling can help you heal

Online counseling services like those offered by Regain can make it easy and convenient to get the grief counseling you need, especially if it affects your relationship with your significant other. It’s what works best for you.

Sometimes grief can be overwhelming and make it hard to get through your daily tasks. If you feel like this, then the idea of going to sit in a therapist’s office seems like it’s just too much. If you’re feeling this way, then online counseling might be the best option for you. And, it allows you to contact your therapist when you need their assistance instead of waiting for days or weeks to get an appointment.

Therapist reviews

“Michelle has been a wonderful listening ear as I have worked through the grief of losing my mother and issues in my relationship. She is very calm and understanding, letting me talk through my thoughts and not condemning at all. I have appreciated her responding to me in a timely manner, especially when I wasn't expecting a response.”

“Buddy helped us get through a rough patch of our relationship. He listened to both sides and helped us bridge the gap. He is extremely compassionate, understanding, and empathetic. He has a wide scope of experience and was able to provide insight into other topics as well, such as grief and loss. Talking to Buddy feels like talking to a good friend who really cares about you. I am so thankful to Buddy for how he helped us, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a counselor.”

Online grief counseling can help you heal

Meet Our Therapists

Lindsay Burke - Board-Certified Marriage and Family Therapist, Lifecoach

Lynn Salsbury - LCSW,MSW

Sam Jenkins - MSW,MFA,LCSW

Gina Found - MA, Board-Certified Marriage and Family Therapist

Eric Anderson - LMFT,CSAT

Carla Noto-Vencill - MA,LMFT

Cynthia Wiedemann - LMFT

Terry Brewer - LCSW

Catherine Wilson - LMHC

Takeaway

There’s no denying that grief is difficult to work through. But the last thing you want is to get stuck in your grief. Attending counseling can help you see what steps you can take to work past your grief healthily.

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