California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

Grief Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for adults in California looking for online therapists who help with grief. Use it to compare therapists’ approaches, specialties, and the types of grief they support, such as loss of a partner, parent, child, or ambiguous loss. All therapists listed are licensed in California, which covers the whole state, so your city does not limit your choices. Look at therapeutic orientation, experience with bereavement, session formats, and any stated focus on trauma, complicated grief, or support groups to find a better match for your needs.

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  1. 1. Cheryl Hopkins, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT for relationships and stress

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Grief · Parenting · Self esteem

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Cheryl Online sessions

  2. 2. Dr. Katharine Clarke, CA Psychologist

    38 years in practice · English · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Grief

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  3. 3. Menachem Stulberger, LMFT

    12 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate LMFT specializing in relationships and anxiety

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Family · Parenting · Self esteem · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Menachem Online sessions

  4. 4. Deana Porter, LMFT

    29 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT for relationships and families

    Works with Relationship · Family · Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Self esteem

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Gottman Method

    Continue with Deana Online sessions

  5. 5. Nancy Montes, LCSW

    22 years in practice · English · Female

    California LCSW supporting healing and resilience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes · Grief

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

    Continue with Nancy Online sessions

  6. 6. Dr. Monica Kelson, CA Psychologist

    33 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California psychologist for stress and trauma

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression · Grief

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  7. 7. Mary Ann Godefroy, LPCC, LPC

    14 years in practice · English · Female

    Support for change, coping, and growth

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Mary Online sessions

  8. 8. Dr. Cheryl Mims, LCSW

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    Steady support for anxiety, grief, and mood concerns

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Grief · Bipolar · Depression · Relationship

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  9. 9. Eileen Maxwel, LMFT

    20 years in practice · English · Female

    Licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Parenting · Depression

    Continue with Eileen Online sessions

  10. 10. Lynn Vinson, LCSW

    10 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced LCSW for adult mental health

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Grief · Self esteem · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Lynn Online sessions

  11. 11. Claudia Smith, LCSW

    40 years in practice · English · Female

    California LCSW with 40 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Self esteem · Depression · ADHD

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Mindfulness Therapy

    Continue with Claudia Online sessions

  12. 12. Elena Balashova-Shamis, CA Psychologist

    23 years in practice · English, Russian · Female

    California psychologist with integrative expertise

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression

    Continue with Elena Online sessions

  13. 13. Sandra West, LMFT

    25 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT with 25 years experience

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Self esteem · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Sandra Online sessions

  14. 14. Nathalie Contro, LMFT

    3 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    Collaborative LMFT for relationships and trauma

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Family · Depression

    Approaches Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Nathalie Online sessions

  15. 15. Dr. Frederick Smoot, LMFT

    5 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate LMFT for relationships and transitions

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Depression · Compassion fatigue

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

About grief therapy in California

Everyone listed on this page holds a licence to practise in California and works online. That matters more than it sounds: a licence is issued by the state, not by a city, so a therapist is available to anyone in California regardless of how far away they are. Someone outside a major metro can work with a therapist whose books would otherwise be out of reach.

1,259 therapists match this page, all of whom name grief among the areas they work with. Fifteen are shown above. The list changes between pages, so it is worth looking at more than one if none of these feels like a fit.

What to compare

  • Credential. LMFT, LCSW and LPCC are different training routes to the same licensed practice. None outranks the others; they shape emphasis rather than quality.
  • Years in practice. Shown for every therapist here. More experience is not automatically better, but it is a fair proxy for how much of a given problem someone has seen.
  • What else they work with. A therapist whose other focus areas overlap with your situation is usually a better starting point than one whose listed areas stop at the single thing you searched for.
  • Approach. CBT, psychodynamic, solution-focused and the rest describe how sessions tend to run. If you have tried therapy before and it did not suit you, changing approach is often more useful than changing therapist.
  • Language. Shown where a therapist offers sessions in more than English.

How online sessions work

Sessions run by video or by messaging, arranged through our partner platform rather than booked directly with the therapist. There is no travel and no waiting room, which for most people is the difference between starting and not starting. Pricing is set by the platform and shown before you commit.

Common questions

How do therapists who work with grief differ from general therapists?

Grief therapists often focus on loss-specific work, like processing bereavement, finding meaning, and managing anniversary reactions. They may use grief-informed models such as grief-focused CBT, narrative therapy, or meaning reconstruction. Compare whether a therapist emphasizes short-term coping strategies, long-term processing, or combined approaches for complicated grief and trauma-related symptoms.

Can grief therapists help with sudden or traumatic deaths differently than expected losses?

Yes. Therapists experienced with traumatic or sudden loss often integrate trauma-focused techniques alongside grief work. They may address intrusive memories, safety concerns, and shock reactions. Ask about their experience with unexpected deaths, disaster or violent loss, and whether they use trauma-informed methods when grief is complicated by PTSD-like symptoms.

What should I compare when choosing an online grief therapist licensed in California?

Compare stated experience with types of loss, therapeutic approach, and whether they mention complicated grief or trauma. Look for notes on working with specific populations, such as partners, parents, or bereaved teens. Also check session format, communication style, and whether they offer individual therapy, group support, or adjunctive resources.

Grief therapists by city

Other focus areas