Grief counseling for loss and bereavement

Understanding grief

Grief doesn’t follow neat stages

The well-known stages of grief were never meant to be a fixed sequence. Most people move back and forth between sadness, anger, numbness, guilt, and moments of relief or even laughter. Grief can quiet down and then return around anniversaries, holidays, or unexpected reminders.

The kinds of loss we work with

The death of a parent, partner, child, friend, or pet. Pregnancy loss and infertility. Loss after suicide. Anticipatory grief when someone you love is ill. Losses that come with migration or moving far from family. And losses others may not recognize, like the end of a friendship or the life you expected to have.

When grief feels stuck

For some people, grief stays intense and disruptive for a long time and makes daily life very hard. This is sometimes called prolonged grief. Focused support can help you carry the loss differently while keeping your connection to the person you lost.

What sessions look like

We make room to talk about the person and the relationship, including the complicated parts. We work on managing the waves when they hit, rituals that feel meaningful to you, and slowly rebuilding a life that holds both the loss and what comes next.

Grieving from far away

When someone dies in another country, you may miss the funeral, grieve on a different schedule from your family, or feel cut off from the rituals that would usually hold you. Travel, visas, and time zones can add guilt and helplessness. We can find ways to mourn where you are and honor the traditions that matter to you.

Caring for yourself while grieving

Basic care often slips during grief: sleep, meals, movement, time with people. Gentle routines and letting others help can make the waves more bearable. Therapy can help you figure out what kind of support you need and how to ask for it.

When to reach out

There’s no deadline for grief, and no minimum. Reach out if the loss is making it hard to function, if you feel alone with it, if it’s tangled with guilt or anger, or if you simply want a place to talk about the person you lost. If grief comes with thoughts of not wanting to live, call or text 988.

Online grief counseling across Illinois

Grief can make leaving the house hard. Meeting by secure video lets you talk from somewhere comfortable, anywhere in Illinois, including Chicago and the suburbs. TCC is in-network with BCBS PPO and Aetna PPO, with UnitedHealthcare coming soon. Superbills are available for other plans, and each therapist holds a limited number of reduced-fee spots for clients without insurance. See fees and insurance →