Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

914 people sought grief & loss counseling help at Chesapeake in the last year

Discover how starting grief & loss counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 88 therapists in Virginia available for an online or in-person session.

Starting Grief & loss counseling

What type of counseling is needed when a person cannot get over the grief of losing a loved one?

Grief and loss counseling helps people grieve difficult losses including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. It helps people navigate their grief process and eventually accept, understand, and move forward from their loss. Theriveworks grief therapists in Chesapeake, VA have specific experience, training, and skills that enable them to best support grieving individuals.

How does grief and loss counseling work?

Grief and loss counseling isn't one-size-fits-all, but it involves sharing about your loss and then working with your counselor to acknowledge and accept your new reality in its wake. Your Thriveworks provider at Thriveworks in Chesapeake, VA will design your treatment plan around your unique needs and goals for therapy, applying the counseling techniques that best support them.

Signs I should seek grief counseling

If you have recently experienced an event like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, the loss of a job, or another major life change, then you may want to seek grief and loss counseling. Grief can be caused by many experiences and events, so if you feel that you are having trouble moving on from a certain event or find that it is still impacting your life and functioning, grief and loss counseling can help you process it more effectively so that you can move on and once again find fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.

What counseling theory is best for grief?

There are many counseling theories for treating grief, one of the most frequently used being the dual process model of grief which helps people acknowledge who or what they've lost through rumination while also adjusting to the new roles and identities that this loss has now placed on them. There are also many commonly used therapy approaches used in grief and loss counseling, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and traumatic grief therapy.

Is grief counseling conducted in person or online?

Grief & loss counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does grief counseling last?

For many, grief and loss counseling lasts for about 6 months. For others, it may last shorter or longer, depending on the severity of their loss and their grief.

Need more help deciding?

Losing a loved one—a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend—is crushing. Grieving such a loss can prove to be a completely distressing experience. Not to mention other losses, such as a miscarriage or the death of a pet, can be just as heartbreaking. In both instances, grief involves letting go of someone or something and learning to live life without it. Additionally, it means working through difficult emotions—emotions that nobody wants to experience—like sadness, anger, fear, and confusion.

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” –C.S. Lewis

The bottom line is that grief and loss can be excruciating. And getting through this tough time requires an abundance of support. The good news is that there are medical professionals who dedicate their work to guiding individuals through the grief process and providing them with the support that they need. Grief counselors can help those who have just found out about the loss of a loved one, as well as those who have been processing their loss for a few weeks or months now—the grief counselor’s ultimate mission is to help their clients heal.

Did a loved one recently pass? Have you experienced another heartbreaking loss? Think about working with a grief counselor at Thriveworks Chesapeake. These experts can help you work through all of your difficult feelings related to the loss, find a new normal, and ultimately assist you in grieving properly. Furthermore, they will offer you endless support. If you think you could benefit from grief counseling, reach out to Thriveworks Chesapeake today. Call us at (757) 414-6427 to schedule your appointment.

Symptoms of Grief: Despair, Rebellion, and More

Grief is our response to loss, specifically the loss of an individual or thing that we loved and cared for. There are different types of grief, characterized by one’s emotions, behaviors, and ability to heal. For example, normal grief is characterized by the emotions we mentioned above: sadness, anger, fear, confusion. Those who experience normal grief also struggle to go about their day to day after their loss, but with the right support, they heal and get back to living well.

Complicated grief, however, is more extensive. Individuals with complicated grief are mentally and emotionally impaired. They feel completely distressed over their loss and find day to day activities impossible. Often, these individuals need a little extra support to move forward from their loss. If you exhibit the following symptoms of complicated grief you might need the guidance of a grief counselor: 

  • You can’t stop thinking about your loss
  • You feel depressed on dates related to the loved one lost
  • You rebel or engage in self-destructive behavior like binge-drinking
  • Your grief is triggered by the smallest events or conversations
  • You make an extreme lifestyle change
  • You refuse to talk to loved ones about your loss—it’s just too difficult

If you are experiencing the above symptoms, reach out to a grief counselor for help. Furthermore, if you have recently experienced a great loss and you need the extra support, consider working with a grief counselor. There is no shame in needing help.

Schedule Grief Counseling at Thriveworks Chesapeake

Grief counseling is a type of therapy aimed at helping people who have experienced a loss. A grief counselor’s mission is to help their client move through the different stages of grief and ultimately heal from the loss so they can live a happy, healthy life again. If you think that you could benefit from grief counseling, reach out to Thriveworks Chesapeake. Our counselors are the best of the best—they have the right skills to help you and they have completed training that further enables them to help each client that walks into their office.

Give Thriveworks Chesapeake a call at (757) 414-6427 if or when you are ready to schedule an appointment. We’ll be here, and we’ll be ready to get started.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Chesapeake therapists and counselors accept 24 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia | BCBS

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

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Self-pay costs at Chesapeake
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
Sarah Hawkins is a very compassionate person. She always encouraged me to try my hardest to solved my problems using her advise. I am bless for having her as my therapist.
Read more Sarah Hawkins is a very compassionate person. She always encouraged me to try my hardest to solved my problems using her advise. I am bless for having her as my therapist.
Sarah Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I find the sessions to be quite beneficial. I feel that I am progressing alone nicely.
Eugene Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Andrea Stephen is a kind and compassionate counselor. She listens to her clients intently, because she genuinely cares. Her passion to help those who are hurting is what motivates her. She is an asset to the Mental Health industry.
Read more Andrea Stephen is a kind and compassionate counselor. She listens to her clients intently, because she genuinely cares. Her passion to help those who are hurting is what motivates her. She is an asset to the Mental Health industry.
Chesapeake Oct 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I would like to sing the praises of Andrea Stephen and give her a big shout-out for a job well done!!! I have had the pleasure of studying with her in multiple classes, as a fellow student in the counseling program. Later on, we serendipitously worked alongside each other in the field. Andrea is a genuine listener, faithful encourager, and a beacon of hope. She is a counselor who truly cares about her clients and wants to see them thrive.
Read more I would like to sing the praises of Andrea Stephen and give her a big shout-out for a job well done!!! I have had the pleasure of studying with her in multiple classes, as a fellow student in the counseling program. Later on, we serendipitously worked alongside each other in the field. Andrea is a genuine listener, faithful encourager, and a beacon of hope. She is a counselor who truly cares about her clients and wants to see them thrive.
Chesapeake Oct 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I've had the pleasure of working with Tammy Boone for about 5 months now and it has been a wonderful journey. She has challenged me to do the work and express myself in ways I never thought was possible. She provides ways to cope with difficult situations without being judgmental. I couldn't have asked for a better clinician!
Read more I've had the pleasure of working with Tammy Boone for about 5 months now and it has been a wonderful journey. She has challenged me to do the work and express myself in ways I never thought was possible. She provides ways to cope with difficult situations without being judgmental. I couldn't have asked for a better clinician!
Chesapeake Feb 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Dr. P. Jones, I can only say that she is simply the best!!! I found Dr. Jones in a rush, she had authentic concern for the situation, she went over and WELL ABOVE assisting us with our needs. She was our angel during this process!!!
Read more Dr. P. Jones, I can only say that she is simply the best!!! I found Dr. Jones in a rush, she had authentic concern for the situation, she went over and WELL ABOVE assisting us with our needs. She was our angel during this process!!!
Chesapeake Jan 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Jones for the past 9 months. She is incredibly genuine and easy to confide in, even over our online sessions. She was able to help me through a difficult time and I will truly miss my sessions with her. I highly recommend her services. Thank you Dr. Jones!
Read more I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Jones for the past 9 months. She is incredibly genuine and easy to confide in, even over our online sessions. She was able to help me through a difficult time and I will truly miss my sessions with her. I highly recommend her services. Thank you Dr. Jones!
Chesapeake Dec 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Close out review with Dr. Patricia Jones. Outstanding service and was extremely helpful in giving me several techniques that I can use. Having video sessions was very convenient and effective. Highly recommend Dr. Jones just for her listening skills and the ability to relate to what you are going through. Very passionate about her job and you will not be disappointed when selecting her as your counselor!
Read more Close out review with Dr. Patricia Jones. Outstanding service and was extremely helpful in giving me several techniques that I can use. Having video sessions was very convenient and effective. Highly recommend Dr. Jones just for her listening skills and the ability to relate to what you are going through. Very passionate about her job and you will not be disappointed when selecting her as your counselor!
Chesapeake Sep 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Chesapeake is near Zero’s Subs, and shares an office building with Pamela Smith MD. We off of Poplar Hill Road, and across from Bedei Compounding Pharmacy Services.

Phone number

(757) 210-9381

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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