686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks 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

Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Program, Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Program, Aetna, +41 more
LGBTQIA+, Coping Skills, Stress, Addiction, OCD / Obsessive-Compulsive, +4 more

I know how hard it is to get back to feeling like yourself after you've faced several challenges—so my goal is to help you get back to a state of ca... I know how hard it is to get back to feeling like yourself after you've faced several challenges—so my goal is to help you get back to a state of calm while learning about yourself and your relationships in the process. Read more

Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Program, Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Program, Aetna, +41 more
Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Stress, ADHD, +5 more

With my vast experience, I provide a neutral ground to individuals and families to grow and strengthen themselves and each other.

103 more therapists available in Texas

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Blaine Stephens

Hear from Blaine Stephens, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

View Blaine Stephens's profile

What is your go-to approach for grief & loss counseling?

The preferred approach in grief & loss counseling is client-centered and compassionate, recognizing the unique experiences and emotions of grief. This method fosters a supportive and nonjudgmental space, with a therapeutic relationship built on trust and empathy, enabling clients to feel validated and understood throughout their grief journey.

What tools do you teach in grief & loss counseling?

Tools taught in grief & loss counseling include:

  • Emotion regulation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation.
  • Narrative therapy for sharing personal stories and memories.
  • Grief journaling for expressing thoughts, feelings, and memories.
  • Support network exploration to identify and access sources of support.
  • Coping skills development for managing daily life challenges.
  • Creative expression through art, music, or movement.
  • Meaning-making exercises to find sense in loss.
  • Rituals and ceremonies to honor the deceased and aid the grieving process.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in grief & loss counseling?

A client is making meaningful progress in grief & loss counseling when:

  • They exhibit increased emotional resilience and adaptive coping skills.
  • Symptoms of complicated or prolonged grief decrease in intensity and frequency.
  • There's greater acceptance of their loss and integration of the loved one's absence into their life.
  • They feel more connected to their support network, reducing feelings of isolation.
  • Signs of personal growth, such as increased self-awareness and compassion, are evident.
  • Engagement in meaningful activities and relationships resumes, alongside pursuit of goals and experiencing joy.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement grief & loss counseling?

To supplement their grief & loss counseling, clients can:

  • Engage in self-care activities like exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature.
  • Journal about their grief journey.
  • Seek support from friends, family, or support groups.
  • Participate in hobbies for distraction, relaxation, or creative expression.
  • Educate themselves on grief and loss.
  • Partake in rituals or ceremonies to honor their loved one.
  • Explore spiritual or religious practices for comfort and guidance.

What should someone do to prepare for starting grief & loss counseling?

To prepare for their first grief & loss counseling session, an individual can:

  • Reflect on their experiences, emotions, and thoughts surrounding their loss, considering how it has impacted their life and relationships.
  • Identify specific goals or intentions for therapy, such as processing grief, finding meaning, or developing coping strategies.
  • Consider what they hope to gain from counseling and any questions or concerns they may have about the process.
  • Gather any relevant information or documents related to their loss, such as obituaries, photos, or keepsakes, to share with the counselor if desired.
  • Be open to exploring their feelings and experiences in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment, recognizing that grief is a unique and individual process.
  • Acknowledge and honor their own needs for self-care and support during this challenging time, seeking out additional resources or support as needed.
  • Approach the session with a willingness to engage in the therapeutic process and a commitment to their own healing and growth.

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. Thriveworks grief therapists in McKinney, TX 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 provider at Thriveworks in McKinney, TX 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.

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 McKinney therapists and counselors accept 43 insurance plans

  • Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Program

  • Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Program

  • Aetna

  • Ambetter by Superior Health Plan

  • Auto Club Enterprises (Employers Health Network)

  • Baylor Scott and White Health Plan

  • Baylor Scott and White Health Plan Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas HMO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Buist Byars and Taylor (Employers Health Network)

  • Children's Medical Group (Employers Health Network)

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Self-pay costs at McKinney
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

4.9 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
Speaking to Haily is very calming. She has helped me make so many positive changes and cope with things that I cannot change.
Regina Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Blaine has been an incredible therapist and resource on my mental health journey. His kindness, patience and way of explaining some complex topics is second to none.
Kathryne Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I think that Traci Phipps is an excellent Therapist she's caring and in tune with life and all that it throws at you I would recommend her. I think very highly of her and her skills to get you thinking in ways no other has. I would give her a 20 rating if I could, she great and I'm glad I have her as my Therapist. Thank you Traci for our sessions .
Read more I think that Traci Phipps is an excellent Therapist she's caring and in tune with life and all that it throws at you I would recommend her. I think very highly of her and her skills to get you thinking in ways no other has. I would give her a 20 rating if I could, she great and I'm glad I have her as my Therapist. Thank you Traci for our sessions .
Victoria Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I absolutely love my therapist she's great. I love how I can get a different perspective of things from an outside party. I love how I feel free and just talk without judgment
Alexis Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Leslie Riley is great therapist
Ricky Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Have been seeing blaine at thriveworks for over a year and he has helped me immensely! I have given thriveworks number to numerous peers in hopes they find similar help!
Mitchell Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My therapist is extremely knowledgeable and professional. She has helped me immensely. She has helped me to change important things in my life to make it much better.
Denise Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I really appreciated Lesley listening to the current issues I'm dealing with and providing helpful strategies and suggestions on how to handle/move forward with resolving my issues.
Alexandra Apr 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry McKinney is located in the same building as Center of Pelvic Excellence, Genesis Back & Neck, Landry Odom of Allstate Insurance, and Peggy S, Breeding CPA PLLC Tax Services. We are near the intersection of S Stonebridge Drive and Cascades Drive. We are also near the intersection of S Stonebridge Drive and S Custer Road, and near this intersection is a plaza which contains Texas Pediatric Dentistry, Play Street Museum McKinney, Sweet Art Bakery and Cafe, All About U hair Salon, Stonebridge Cleaners, and Stonebridge Ranch Dentistry.

Phone number

(469) 949-3896

Languages spoken by TX 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

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

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