Not always. Grief is deeply personal, and there’s no one “right” way to move through it. Some people find healing in conversation and connection—whether in therapy or a group. Others lean on family, faith, nature, journaling, or quiet rituals that help them feel grounded.
That said, if your grief feels especially heavy, isolating, or disruptive, support from a professional can make a meaningful difference. You don’t have to figure it out alone. If you’re wondering whether grief counseling or a group might help, we invite you to reach out and talk it through with us.
Grief support looks different for everyone—there’s truly no one-size-fits-all timeline. Sometimes we meet with clients for just 6 weeks, and they feel they’ve gotten what they need on their grief journey. Other times, it’s 6 months, or longer, depending on what feels supportive and where they are in their process.
It’s also common for people to end or pause grief support and return periodically, especially around anniversaries, life changes, or unexpected waves of sorrow.
While structured grief therapy for traumatic or complex losses often lasts a few months, healing itself is not linear—and it doesn’t mean forgetting or “moving on.” The goal is to find more room to breathe and live alongside your grief, at a pace that’s right for you. Whether that means brief support or a longer journey, we’re here to walk with you.
Not at all. Grief comes in many forms. We work with people navigating the pain of divorce or breakup, illness, career upheaval, aging, identity shifts, or big life transitions. Grief is about loss and change—whatever that looks like for you.
Catharsis Theater is a powerful, experiential approach we’ve created to help people move through grief and emotional pain in community. It blends elements of psychodrama, group sharing, creative expression, and witnessing. Unlike traditional therapy sessions, these workshops are held in a supportive theater setting, where we explore stories of loss, resilience, and hope together.
Participants often describe it as transformative, surprisingly uplifting, and deeply connecting. It’s especially helpful for people who feel stuck in their grief, or who long for a way to process their experiences that goes beyond talking.
At the California Grief Center, our mission is focused and intentional: we support individuals navigating grief, loss, change, and life transitions. While we understand emotional pain takes many forms, our expertise and services are dedicated specifically to grief-related care.
If you’re seeking help for other mental health concerns, we want you to find the right support. Below are trusted directories and resources that can guide you:
Therapy Den
Open Path (reduced cost $40–70/session)
Inclusive Therapists
Psychology Today
Good Therapy
Mental Health Match
Clinicians of Color
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Men
Latinx Therapy
Therapy for Latinx
South Asian Therapists Directory
Asian Mental Health Collective
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Sexual Assault Hotline
SAMHSA (Substance Use and Mental Health Services)
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: text "HOME" to 741-741
If you or someone you love is in crisis or experiencing a medical or psychological emergency, please reach out immediately by calling 988 or your local emergency services (911).
While we don’t accept insurance directly, we’re happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company, which may offer partial or full reimbursement. We’ll walk you through the process to make it as smooth as possible.
If you’re here, you’ve already taken a brave first step. From here, it’s simple: reach out. We’ll start with a gentle conversation—no pressure, no expectations—just a chance to explore what support might look like for you.
When you’re ready, you can fill out the short contact form you’ll find at the bottom of every page on this website, or, if it feels more comfortable, simply send us an email. Either way, we’re here to listen and help you figure out what support might look like for you.
To speak with us or learn more about upcoming workshop events, click here.
