How to Search for a Grief Therapist

Marcus, a 55-year-old recently retired fire captain, has read 22 of the 30 articles in the Grief Education Library. He understands what identity-transition grief is. He understands why leaving a 30-year career can feel like a death. What he doesn't know is whether he needs to talk to someone. He's looking for a place to start looking — not a commitment, just a list of options.

The Professional Resources section of Grief Companion helps you find grief-specialized therapists and counselors. It is a directory and a pointer, not a referral service. It does not store your search history or share it with third parties.

note

Grief Companion is not therapy and cannot replace professional mental health care. The directory in this section connects you to external resources. The app does not verify credentials, accept insurance, or facilitate appointments.

Steps

1. Navigate to the Assess tab and open "Professional Resources"

Tap Assess at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down past the assessment tools and education library to find Professional Resources. Tap to open.

2. Search for grief counselors

The search field at the top of the screen accepts a location (city, ZIP code, or region). Enter your location and tap Search.

Results show therapists and counselors who specialize in grief, bereavement, or loss. Each result card shows:

• Name and credentials
• Specialization tags (e.g., "Bereavement," "Pet loss," "Pregnancy loss," "Identity transition," "Anticipatory grief")
• Practice type (private practice, community mental health, hospital-based)
• Contact method (phone, website, or booking link)

3. Filter by telehealth availability or specialization

Use the filter options to narrow results:

• Telehealth available — shows only providers who offer remote sessions, useful if you're in a rural area, have limited mobility, or prefer not to go in-person
• Specialization — filter by specific grief type (e.g., "Disenfranchised grief," "Traumatic loss," "Caregiver grief")
• Accepts new clients — where this information is available, filter to providers with current availability

Not all filters will have matches in every location. If your area has limited options, the telehealth filter is the most reliable way to expand the pool.

4. See direct links to 988 and Crisis Text Line

At the top of the Professional Resources screen — above the search field — you'll see the crisis support banner, always visible:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — tap to call
• Crisis Text Line — tap to text HOME to 741741

These links are not inside the search results. They are at the top of the screen regardless of what you're searching. Crisis support is always one tap away, even when you're looking for longer-term help.

5. Read the disclaimer before contacting a provider

At the bottom of every provider card, and in the introduction at the top of the Professional Resources section, you'll see:

"This app is not therapy. The resources listed here are provided for informational purposes only. Grief Companion does not verify credentials, facilitate appointments, or have a relationship with listed providers. If you are in crisis, please reach out to a professional immediately."

This disclaimer is not collapsible or dismissible. It appears on every screen in the Professional Resources section.

What to Expect

The directory draws from publicly available sources and is not exhaustive. Not every grief specialist in your area may appear. If you don't find what you need here, your primary care physician, a hospital social work department, or a community mental health center can also provide referrals.

If you're not sure whether you need a therapist or just want to talk to someone, the When to Seek Help article in the Grief Education Library describes signs that professional support may be useful — without diagnosing you or telling you what you must do.

Search results in this section are not personalized by your app data. Your journal entries, assessments, and check-in history are never used to generate or rank provider results.

note

The Professional Resources directory is available on all plan tiers, including Free.