13 Best Grief Counseling Services You Can Find Online

For those dealing with grief, it can often be validating to discuss what you’re feeling with others who have experienced the same kind of loss. This is why we like LifeStance, which has several different therapy groups available that are specific to different types of loss. Clients experiencing grief can join a group and work through their loss with the support of peers experiencing a similar loss, in addition to the licensed provider leading the group. Some of LifeStance’s grief-centered groups focus on loss more generally, and others treat a specific type of grief, like the loss of a partner or child. Groups can consist of five to 20 members, and larger groups often have two facilitators.

LifeStance also gives clients the option to share what kind of group they are looking for, and if the therapist has enough referrals, they will create a new group to meet this need.

In addition to its groups, LifeStance offers in-person and telehealth individual, family, and couples therapy, as well as medication management services, in 32 states (and continues to expand). Providers see clients of all ages, and offer a variety of specialization areas, lending to more diversity in treatment and support options available. LifeStance’s website also provides blogs, podcasts, and other educational information about a variety of topics, including grief and loss. It provides a personalized approach to treatment planning and connects you with a provider who can provide the services you need.

According to LifeStance’s website, its providers are in-network with most insurance plans and accept Employee Assistance Programs, which are work-based programs that connect employees with short-term care and referrals. Customer service can help individuals determine their coverage and what care will cost.

Of the 105 users we surveyed, 12% reached out to LifeStance specifically to treat grief and loss, which is about average across all the 55 online therapy companies we reviewed. All in all, 88% of respondents were satisfied with the platform and the services provided, rating it good, very good, or excellent overall. Seventy-three percent were able to get most or all of their needs met, and 90% rated the therapists' qualifications positively. Additionally, 79% were satisfied with the number of options they had for choosing a therapist with LifeStance. Seventy-five percent would recommend LifeStance to a friend.

Our tester of LifeStance was especially impressed with the services she received; she was “delighted” with her therapist, noting that “I felt that they listened to me and were compassionate.” 

Talkspace advertises that its providers have expertise in a wide variety of diagnoses and presenting issues, including grief and loss, and this service is available through a handful of monthly subscription plans. These plans take the guesswork out of scheduling sessions, as each plan guarantees certain services each month (like unlimited messaging or sessions once a week); this can be especially helpful to those dealing with grief who do not have the bandwidth to schedule sessions one at a time. 

Talkspace is well-known in the online therapy space as a source of affordable, convenient mental health services. It offers different subscriptions that include messaging, live chat, and live video or audio sessions through its website or app, ensuring that you can find a variety of support options. Clients as young as 13 can receive therapy through the platform, and it offers medication management services for adults ages 18 and up. In addition, Talkspace accepts a variety of health insurance plans, making it even more affordable and accessible to clients who are covered.

Although Talkspace has received criticism in the past for its privacy policies and possibly selling client data to advertisers, its current privacy policy states that it does not presently engage in this practice. Additionally, the privacy policy states that all Talkspace services are HIPAA compliant, meaning your protected health information is made confidential and private by law.

Note that Talkspace is under investigation for misleading shareholders about its financials and growth following the company going public in 2021.

Talkspace is in-network with many insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and accepts some EAP plans. It has four subscription plans available, all priced weekly and billed monthly:

• Messaging: This plan involves unlimited, asynchronous messaging with a therapist. No live sessions are included, and this plan is $69 per week.
• Live Therapy: This plan includes four 45-minute audio, video, or live chat sessions each month and starts at $99 per week. You cannot message your therapist with this plan.
• Live Therapy + Messaging: With this option, you get four live sessions plus asynchronous messaging. It starts at $109 per week.
• Couples Therapy: This plan offers four live sessions for couples and unlimited asynchronous messaging, starting at $99 per week.

Of those we surveyed, 90% of Talkspace users had an overall positive experience with the company, rating it good, very good, or excellent, with 82% noting its platform is easy to use and 78% finding a provider who met most or all of their needs. Eighty-three percent were satisfied with the therapist options, and 92% rated the therapists' qualifications positively.

According to one of our testers of Talkspace, the signup process was “very quick and simple,” and another tester reported that one of the therapists she worked with "seem[ed] very knowledgeable about my mental health condition" and that the other provider she saw was "compassionate."

Usually, family therapy involves parents and children meeting with a therapist together to work through a concern or issue. However, adult relatives often go through grief together: siblings losing a parent, parents losing a child, and more. Octave is unique in that it specifically offers family services to adult relatives seeking to process their grief together.

Octave offers telehealth services for individuals, couples, and families. It utilizes a variety of therapy services using evidence-based interventions like behavioral and mindfulness-based modalities for alleviating symptoms, including mental health concerns arising as a result of grief, loss, and life transitions, such as depression or anxiety. Additionally, it offers free educational resources in its blog and workshops about mental health, which often have no charge.

With Octave, you can choose your therapist or ask to be matched with someone based on your needs. Additionally, Octave encourages clients to speak up to request a change if the therapist is not a good fit.

It is important to note that many insurance plans will not cover family therapy unless there is an identified client within the family with a diagnosable mental health issue, and family sessions focus on treating that individual’s diagnosis.

Although Octave is in-network with a limited number of insurance plans, it is expanding in this area. In addition, it offers support in helping clients seek out-of-network reimbursement, including providing documentation needed for the client to make this request. 

The cost per session depends on your insurance coverage. For those paying out-of-pocket, the cost for services depends on your location. Octave’s website has a cost estimator that allows you to input your location and insurance provider (or indicate you are paying out of pocket).

Individual therapy ranges from $170 to $250 per session and couples and family therapy is $190 to $275 per session if you are not using insurance.

Seventy-one percent of the 105 users we surveyed had a positive experience with Octave, which is lower than some of the other platforms included in our survey. However, 81% were able to get most or all of their needs met through Octave, and 74% rated the therapists' qualifications as good, very good, or excellent. Fifteen percent of our surveyed users reached out to Octave for help with grief and loss specifically, which was more than most other companies we reviewed.

Our reviewer of Octave was thrilled with the support she received, noting that “I found my provider at Octave to have an innate gift for developing rapport and providing feedback immediately.” She explained that “this is a particularly challenging task and as a therapist myself, I admired their ability to connect with what I was sharing and share their insights without knowing much about me.” What’s more, she was so happy with her experience that she passed on her therapist’s information to a friend seeking therapy.

Divorce or separation is a kind of loss—the loss of a partner, a relationship, and a support system —and can therefore cause grief. In fact, Growing Self was established after its founder, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, experienced a breakup and felt that her therapist did not appropriately address the pain and grief she was going through. As such, one of her areas of specialization is grief and recovery following a breakup or divorce. She even authored a book on this topic.

Recognizing the pain, trauma, and grief that can come with the end of a long-term relationship is important to clients’ healing. In addition to helping clients work through the pain of the breakup, Growing Self’s therapists can help you grow beyond the breakup going forward.

Growing Self offers both in-person and online therapy for individuals located in states where its providers are licensed, in addition to relationship coaching. It focuses specifically on relationship therapies, including marriage counseling, premarital counseling, and individual therapy as appropriate. New users can sign up easily and receive a free consultation to determine if Growing Self is a good fit for their needs before paying for services.

Growing Self offers evidence-based therapy approaches to treatment based on clinical psychology research, and also employs coaches with knowledge and expertise about relationships. Although it offers coaching services in addition to therapy, it differentiates the roles of therapists versus coaches and explains each of these services to clients. Coaching services are not eligible for insurance coverage, and therapists with Growing Self are not in-network with insurance, but customer support will help clients submit requests for reimbursement for therapy services.

Growing Self does not accept insurance but can help clients with paperwork for out-of-network reimbursement. The cost for treatment varies on the experience level of your provider, and the rates on the website indicate the following:

• Most Experienced: Doctoral-level clinicians with significant experience and expertise cost $160 per session, with some availability for sliding scale.
• More Experienced: Licensed providers with years of experience and certain experienced coaches fall into this category; they charge $135 per session, with sliding scale starting at $95 per session.
• More Affordable: Masters-level clinicians and unlicensed coaches with fewer years of experience charge $115 per session, with sliding scale starting at $75 per session.
• Most Affordable: Growing Self advertises “early career experts,” who have education and knowledge in relationships and therapy but limited hands-on clinical experience. These providers charge $105 per session and offer sliding scale starting at $65.

Of the 105 users who responded to our survey, 16% sought services specifically to treat grief and loss, which was one of the highest responses across our reviewed companies. Ninety percent of users had a positive experience with Growing Self, rating it as excellent, very good, or good overall. Eighty-nine percent rated the therapists' qualifications positively, and 78% indicated that the number of providers available was good, very good, or excellent. 

Our reviewer’s experience of Growing Self was “positive;” she reported that “both of the therapists I worked with created a comfortable and safe environment for discussing relationship issues and developing therapeutic goals that felt achievable with their support.” She specifically noted that “I felt confident that the therapists who I was working with were going to honor my confidentiality, be non-judgmental and compassionate, and help me move through some of my challenges.” She was equally as pleased with Growing Self’s customer service, feeling the representative she spoke with was “professional, accessible, and caring.”

ISA’s website indicates that there are approximately two million stillbirths around the world each year. Stillbirth and infant loss can be crushing, and many do not feel comfortable speaking openly about their experience. That is why support specifically for grieving stillbirth and infant loss is so crucial. According to its website, the International Stillbirth Alliance has a mission “to raise awareness and promote global collaboration for the prevention of stillborn and newborn death and provision of appropriate, respectful care for all those affected.” 

In addition to prevention, ISA has a directory of organizations that offer therapy and support to those grieving a stillbirth or infant death. While ISA is not responsible for these organizations, it works to connect people to an appropriate resource that can help them in their recovery.

It was founded in 2003 by three mothers who experienced stillbirth with the intent of promoting research to prevent stillbirth and providing support to families who have lost a child to stillbirth or infant death. Through worldwide presence and advocacy, ISA supports research initiatives to prevent stillbirth.

ISA promotes research about stillbirth and its causes. It also provides advocacy and bereavement resources. Its website includes a database of organizations and resources in many different countries that offer support and therapy for those grieving a stillbirth.

The cost for services depends on the organization and the service offered. Many providers listed offer free services to keep support affordable.

ISA was not included in our user survey, as it is not an online therapy platform or directory, though it does connect individuals and families with appropriate resources. According to online reviews, users appreciate that the alliance connects people to relevant resources and organizations, though others feel that since this organization does not directly provide the services advertised, they found it unhelpful. However, “because this type of loss is so specific,” explains Hannah Owens, LMSW and subject matter expert, “an organization dedicated to just this kind of grief is imperative for those who otherwise might feel like they are suffering alone.”

Pregnancy loss is highly emotional, making it difficult to talk about and share openly or to seek support. Most people are unsure how to respond to another person’s grief, and grief around miscarriage is particularly difficult to discuss. Because of this, it is important to find support and providers who are competent to help you walk through this difficult time.

Mindful Care employs therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in issues related to grief and bereavement, allowing clients to receive specialized care to address their symptoms after going through a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. Additionally, Mindful Care offers same-day microtherapy appointments, which are 20 minutes in length, and allow clients to connect with their therapist and work through non-crisis issues that come up. This service can be especially useful for those who have just experienced a miscarriage and who need emotional support in between their regular scheduled therapy sessions.

Mindful Care offers individual therapy, addiction counseling, therapy groups, and medication management and psychiatry services. Although it does not presently offer a group specifically for grief or pregnancy loss, its group therapy options can be a source of support if you are feeling traumatized after your pregnancy loss, if your loss has led to difficulties in your relationship, or if you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The company offers telehealth therapy services in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan, and it has plans to expand. According to the website, Mindful Care users can request appointments Sunday through Friday and can usually schedule within two days. In addition, its providers are in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Mindful Care does not have subscription plans, and you pay only for services used. It is in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, which can be difficult to find with online therapy platforms. For those paying out-of-pocket, Mindful Care’s rates are as follows:

• Intake for therapy: $150
• Therapy session: $100 for a 40-minute session and $50 for a 20-minute session
• Group therapy: $35
• Intake for psychiatry: $175
• Psychiatry appointment: $75

According to our survey, 92% of users were satisfied with the treatment they received through Mindful Care, and 82% were able to get most or all of their needs met. Eighty-three percent were satisfied with the therapist options provided, and 95% rated the therapist qualifications positively. Eighty-three percent would recommend Mindful Care to a friend. Fourteen percent of the 105 users we surveyed reported seeking Mindful Care’s services to specifically treat their grief, and 5% needed treatment for postpartum issues.

Our tester thought that “the quality of the therapists and services provided at Mindful Care is top-tier,” and pointed out that, “though Mindful Care has only been around since 2018, it has made significant strides in the telehealth world.”

Grief takes many forms, and for some, it becomes debilitating. In recent years, the mental health field has begun researching and acknowledging different kinds of grief, including noting when bereavement becomes clinically significant. In the 2022 update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR, 2022), the American Psychiatric Association added a diagnosis of “persistent complex bereavement disorder” to offer diagnostic information and research into appropriate treatment interventions for those who struggle with complex grief.

While you do not need to experience diagnosable symptoms of persistent complex bereavement disorder in order to receive support for your grief, it is important for providers to understand the distinction between processing grief and experiencing clinical mental health symptoms. Grief is complicated and can manifest in so many ways, and Thriveworks grief specialists understand the nuances and distinctions. Thriveworks also has a free, educational blog that includes information about grief, complex grief, and persistent complex bereavement disorder. 

Thriveworks offers telehealth services in 49 states at this time, and it continues to expand. It also has 380 locations for in-person services. Clients can receive individual therapy and medication management, and many Thriveworks providers also work with children and adolescents as well as family therapy. Additionally, it employs prescribers who can treat ages 14 and up, so clients can seek medication support if needed.

Thriveworks often has appointment availability within 48 hours, allowing clients to quickly connect with a therapist who can help them. It is in-network with most insurance plans, and some locations are able to accept Medicare and Medicaid, though this varies. 

If paying out-of-pocket, prices start at $160 per session, but can also vary by location. You can call Thriveworks’s scheduling specialists to find out exact costs in your area.

Eighty percent of Thriveworks users would recommend the platform to a friend, and 90% rated their experience positively overall. Seventy-eight percent were able to connect with a provider who met most or all of their needs, and 82% were happy with the therapist options provided at Thriveworks. Eighty-eight percent were satisfied with the therapist's qualifications through this platform. Fifteen percent of our 105 surveyed Thriveworks users were seeking help with grief and loss, which was more than most of our other companies.

When your partner dies, it can be difficult to cope and heal. You might feel lost and not know where or how to ask for support. Providers with competency in treating grief often have training and knowledge for helping clients through this difficult time.

AbleTo providers have a wide variety of specializations and treat various presenting problems, including grief and loss after a partner’s death. It works to provide affordable mental health care and support. In fact, it partners with employers, so most users receive services at no out-of-pocket cost.

AbleTo offers many specific programs focused on alleviating specific symptoms based on the client’s needs. Many of these programs are eight weeks in length. Although no one approach to care is right for everyone, and a therapist cannot guarantee specific results at the onset, this approach and use of evidence-based treatment plans can help foster healing after the loss of a partner.

In addition to structured programs, individual therapy, and coaching, AbleTo has a digital on-demand program called Self Care. Based on research pertaining to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this program offers self-guided tools that individuals can use to foster mental health and build appropriate coping skills. The Self Care program prompts users to complete check-ins once per week to monitor progress. This can be a tangible tool for those struggling to move on after the loss of a partner, allowing clients to see the progress they’ve made while processing their grief.

AbleTo’s website indicates that most of its users do not have any out-of-pocket costs associated with their care, as services are covered by employer benefits. It is also in-network with most insurance plans, curbing the cost for those whose services are not fully covered. The website directs users to contact their insurance company for information about copays and does not accept any out-of-network clients.

According to our survey, 89% of AbleTo users were satisfied with their experience with the platform, rating it as good, very good, or excellent. Seventy-nine percent were able to get most or all of their needs met through AbleTo, and 84% rated the therapists' qualifications positively. Seventy-one percent would recommend AbleTo to a friend. Nine percent of our 105 surveyed users sought treatment for grief and loss, and 11% reached out to AbleTo because of loneliness.

Though our reviewer of AbleTo was “initially skeptical” about the short-term nature of the company’s services, after testing it herself, she was “pleasantly surprised with the program and the quality of care I received from my provider.” Specifically, she pointed out that “the therapist I spoke with was knowledgeable and patient,” and she appreciated “how quickly the customer service team responded to my requests.”

Losing a parent is always difficult, and many benefit from therapy after a parent dies. Census data from 2019 indicated that more than 15% of adults lose a parent before age 34, with some demographics experiencing even higher rates of parental loss. By age 55, most adults have lost at least one parent. While this may be expected as we get older, approximately 10.5 million children worldwide lost a parent to COVID-19. Grief therapy for those who have lost a parent is more important than ever.

LiveHealth Online offers individual, family, and couples therapy, with individual and family therapy available to children as young as 10. Therapists have a variety of training and specialization, including coping with illness, life transitions, and bereavement. Additionally, many LiveHealth Online providers offer family therapy, so children who lost a parent can attend therapy with the surviving parent to work through their grief.

Upon signing up, you can choose your own therapist who best fits your needs. Psychiatry services and medication management are also available for those aged 18 and over.

LiveHealth Online is in-network with many insurance plans, which can help cover the cost of treatment. If you are paying out-of-pocket, visits with psychologists are $95 per session, and visits with therapists are $80 per session.

Medication management and psychiatric services are $175 for an initial intake and $75 per follow-up visit.

Of those we surveyed, 87% of LiveHealth users would recommend the platform to a friend, and 90% had an overall positive experience with it. Seventy-nine percent were able to find a provider who met most or all of their needs, and 91% were satisfied with the therapist qualifications on LiveHealth. Ten percent of LiveHealth users sought treatment for grief and loss, which is about average with the other companies we reviewed.

Our tester of LiveHealth was impressed with the quality of care she received, noting that, “because LiveHealth Online therapists receive additional training in delivering online care, I found the video call experience more seamless and intuitive than on many other online therapy platforms.” She was “equally happy” with both the providers she met with, and felt that, “from a technical standpoint, the format was more user-friendly and consistent than that of some of LiveHealth Online’s competitors.”

Many people have experienced the death of a close friend, and even more have had a falling out or lost a friendship and grieved the end of that relationship. It can be difficult to cope with these feelings, and therapists at Doctor on Demand can help you work through your grief.

Doctor on Demand is a telehealth platform that provides flexible scheduling for a variety of medical and mental health conditions, including grief. It offers quick and easy sign-up for mental health services, including both individual therapy and psychiatry and medication management. Many providers specialize in grief and loss, tailoring individualized treatment plans to each client’s needs. So whether a friend has passed away or you cut ties with an important person in your life, your Doctor on Demand provider can help you through the loss. 

When you create an account with Doctor on Demand, you can see profiles for providers who are available to work with you. You can then choose your therapist based on who you think would be the best fit. Doctor on Demand also makes it easy to change therapists if you feel your provider is not a good fit.

Therapy services at Doctor on Demand are $129 per 25-minute session and $179 per 50-minute session. Psychiatric services are $299 for the initial intake and $129 for follow-up sessions. Doctor on Demand is in-network with most insurances, which can help alleviate the cost of services, and accepts many Medicare plans.

Doctor On Demand rated positively overall, with 94% of those we surveyed feeling that its service was good, very good, or excellent, and 75% of users were able to get all or most of their needs met. Seventy-eight percent were satisfied with the options available to them on the platform, and 91% rated the therapists' qualifications positively. Eighty-nine percent indicated that Doctor On Demand was helpful in connecting them to an appropriate provider. Thirteen percent sought services specifically for grief and loss, and 79% would recommend Doctor On Demand to a friend.

Our reviewer of Doctor on Demand felt like her therapy sessions with the company were “overall helpful,” and the therapist “gave me some coping strategies and treatment options” specific to the concerns she and her provider discussed. She also thought the clinician “offered helpful insight into my issues and practical solutions, which I appreciated.”

Grief comes in many forms and is not always the result of a death or loss of a relationship. For some, losing a job unexpectedly brings up feelings of grief and loss, as being laid off can be distressing and increase anxiety about the future. Even if the transition is planned, such as preparing for retirement, many grieve the end of a career, position, or phase of life associated with that position. If you are struggling with a life change related to job loss, a grief therapist can help you through this difficult time.

MDLIVE providers specialize in many different mental health issues, including both grief and life transitions. Since these kinds of transitions can trigger past mental health issues and cause them to resurface, users can seek a provider with experience in grief counseling as well as specialization in another specific mental health diagnosis. Clinicians offer flexible scheduling, with night and weekend appointments available, and they are also in-network with most insurance plans to help with the cost of care. Users can seek general medical and urgent care through MDLIVE as well.

MDLIVE offers individual therapy for a variety of diagnoses and conditions, including grief and life transitions, in addition to psychiatry services and medication management, all through the same platform. 

MDLIVE’s website indicates that most of its users get part or all of their services covered by insurance, with sessions costing as little as $0 depending on coverage. If paying out-of-pocket, fees are $108 per session for individual therapy. For psychiatry, an intake appointment is $284, and follow-up sessions are $108.

Users report good experiences with MDLIVE, with 91% of those we surveyed rating the company positively overall, and 83% were able to connect with a provider who met most or all of their needs. In terms of therapists, 82% were satisfied with the options available to them, and 94% were satisfied with the therapists’ qualifications. Eighty-four percent of those we surveyed would recommend MDLIVE to a friend. Of the 105 users we surveyed, 16% reported turning to MDLIVE to process grief, a high percentage compared to the rest of our reviewed companies.

Our MDLIVE reviewer “was impressed by the range and experience of therapists available,” and notably reported that “both therapists I tried were helpful and compassionate–skilled enough that I would consider seeing them regularly.” She also interviewed providers at MDLIVE who all had good experiences working with the company.

ZenCare is an online directory that lists therapists and psychiatrists in all 50 states, allowing potential clients to search by type of treatment offered, health insurance accepted, and therapy groups. Therapist specializations include grief, so clients can filter as needed.

ZenCare was created to help streamline the process of finding a therapist. As such, it verifies providers’ credentials and licensure before allowing them to be listed on the site. All listings include an introduction video, letting clients get a feel for the therapist’s personality and style before scheduling an appointment. ZenCare also updates therapists’ availability regularly, so you know which providers are taking new clients.

In addition to therapist and psychiatrist listings, ZenCare has an up-to-date blog offering educational information about grief specifically (you can search the blog for articles on this subject) as well as on mental health, therapy, relationships, and other related topics.

Each provider on ZenCare lists their individual specializations and treatment options. According to the site, ZenCare has providers who offer individual, group, family, and couples therapy, as well as physicians who offer medication management. The types of therapy available will depend on providers licensed in your area.

Since ZenCare is a directory and does not directly employ therapists, each therapist has the freedom to set their own rates and make independent decisions about credentialing with insurance companies. When searching, you can filter providers based on your insurance.

Clients who use ZenCare report an overall positive experience with the platform. According to our survey, 90% of users rated the platform as good or very good overall, and 86% found the site easy or very easy to navigate. Ninety-six percent of users were able to find a provider who met most or all of their needs, and 81% were satisfied or very satisfied with the providers available to them through ZenCare. Eight percent of ZenCare users were seeking a therapist specifically to treat grief or loss.