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

Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut | BCBS, Cigna | Evernorth, +4 more
Anger, Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Stress, Career, +5 more

Hello and welcome to your first step to a mentally stronger you!

Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut | BCBS, Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card), +16 more
Anger, Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Infidelity, Men’s Issues, +10 more

27 more therapists available in Connecticut

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Cristina Perera

Hear from Cristina Perera, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)

View Cristina Perera's profile

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

My go-to approach in grief and loss therapy is to meet each client where they are.

What tools do you teach in grief & loss counseling?

First, I will work to understand the client's culture and traditions they may practice when they experience a loss. I will also provide them with information regarding the stages of loss.

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

Progress is being made when clients are not getting stuck in any of the stages of grief.

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

Find ways you can identify what you admired about the person you lost or share stories about them that are uplifting. I also suggest incorporating a good quality of theirs to help you remember and honor who they were.

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

Preparation may only involve recognizing which stage or stages of grief the client has gone through prior to beginning therapy.

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 New Haven, CT 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 New Haven, CT 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?

Grief Counseling in New Haven, CT—Grief Therapists and Counselors  

Losing someone, or something, is a normal part of the human experience. However, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make us upset and sometimes angry. Grief is a peculiar process and it doesn’t happen the same way for everyone. Luckily, Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT​ has a team of grief counselors who can help you navigate your emotions throughout the grief process and also work towards acceptance and a happier way of living. If you are interested in speaking with a grief counselor, just call (203) 586-4264.

Symptoms of Grief: The Grieving Process

Grief is a natural response to loss. There are different types of grief and feelings associated with it. There are five stages of grief that can explain feelings that someone may have. How you feel specifically, and how fast you go through the stages, are all unique to you. There is no right or wrong way to grieve someone or something. Here are the five stages of grief and the symptoms associated with them:

  1. Denial: In the first stage of grief, you will feel denial. You may not accept the fact that something has actually happened. For Mandi, she can’t come to terms with the fact that her sister is gone and still feels like she can drive to her house and see her. Jared doesn’t believe that he actually lost his job and thinks that after quarantine, he can just go back to his office.
  2. Anger: The second stage of grief is anger. You might feel angry at the person who passed away or angry that you were let go from your job. No matter the situation, it can be hard to accept that this horrible thing happened to you. Some people may push away their loved ones.
  3. Bargaining: The third stage of grief is bargaining. This stage is when people are usually the most vulnerable and need the support of their friends and family the most.
  4. Depression: Depression is the fourth stage of grief and the stage where reality may really start to settle in. Depression can make everyday things like getting out of bed, going to the grocery store, or answering the phone hard. You have a heavy chest and are overcome with pain.
  5. Acceptance: The fifth and final stage of grief is acceptance. This is when you finally can come to terms with the event that has happened, and you can start working towards living a happier life.

We understand that you can never just forget someone or something in your life that was once there. However, it is possible to come to terms with what happened and be able to remember, but still live a full life. When someone gets stuck in one of the stages of grief like depression, it can be hard to come out of it on your own. That’s why we offer grief counseling.

What Is Grief Counseling?

As mentioned before, grief counseling is aimed at providing you or your loved one with the support and guidance needed to accept and move on from a loss. Once you have decided to work with a grief counselor at Thriveworks in New Haven, you will be provided with the tools, guidance, and support you need to process your emotions and come out of it feeling better and more at ease. If you have been grieving, you may also be struggling with things such as:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Anxiety
  • Lack of focus
  • Panic
  • Moodiness/irritability
  • Loneliness

You don’t need to go through any of this alone.

Work with a Grief Counselor at Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT

A grief counselor’s mission is to help their client move through the different stages of grief and heal. If you think that you or a loved one could benefit from working with a grief therapist, reach out to Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT.

To get started, schedule your appointment online or by calling (203) 586-4264. We look forward to helping you start working towards a happier life. Plus, you’ll get to experience our many benefits including same-week appointments for new clients, evening and weekend session options, most major insurances accepted, and more.

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 New Haven therapists and counselors accept 17 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut | BCBS

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • Connecticare

  • Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Medicare Advantage

  • JP Farley Corporation

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Self-pay costs at New Haven
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
★★★★★
I dislike how it's difficult to see or edit your information on the website, and the fact that we can't do monthly payments instead of paying after every session is also irritating. My provider herself Marissa Ferrao is amazing and I appreciate her so much.
Read more I dislike how it's difficult to see or edit your information on the website, and the fact that we can't do monthly payments instead of paying after every session is also irritating. My provider herself Marissa Ferrao is amazing and I appreciate her so much.
Rebecca Mar 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Very easily accessible, great fit when it came to my specific provider.
Mackenzie Mar 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
The thing that I most appreciate is that I get postive feedback and with my therapist I feel he is my best friend. At first I was skeptical with a male therapist he's great and I am glad I am doing therapy now
Alicia Mar 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I always feel as if my questions, concerns, and problems are taken seriously. When in my first session I brought up that I was interested in an ADHD assessment, a statement that had made previous providers elsewhere uncomfortable/annoyed, Elina worked with me instantly to understand why I was interested in that assessment and when we realized it would be a good course of action, immediately helped me receive the help I needed in that area. I never felt as if she was without methods or strategies to help me work through something, especially once we had a breakthrough on the root of my issues. She celebrates my successes and provides comfort and advice on the way forward with my struggles. When I have set a goal that is hard for me to stick to but I ultimately want to achieve, she is consistent in checking in on my progress and helping me adjust my approach to make a completed goal a plausible future. Additionally, for years I have been unable to dissect how to approach the issue of having imposter syndrome, I only knew how to identify it. Elina is the first person to help me breakdown what I can do to help me work past my imposter syndrome and I am extremely grateful.
Read more I always feel as if my questions, concerns, and problems are taken seriously. When in my first session I brought up that I was interested in an ADHD assessment, a statement that had made previous providers elsewhere uncomfortable/annoyed, Elina worked with me instantly to understand why I was interested in that assessment and when we realized it would be a good course of action, immediately helped me receive the help I needed in that area. I never felt as if she was without methods or strategies to help me work through something, especially once we had a breakthrough on the root of my issues. She celebrates my successes and provides comfort and advice on the way forward with my struggles. When I have set a goal that is hard for me to stick to but I ultimately want to achieve, she is consistent in checking in on my progress and helping me adjust my approach to make a completed goal a plausible future. Additionally, for years I have been unable to dissect how to approach the issue of having imposter syndrome, I only knew how to identify it. Elina is the first person to help me breakdown what I can do to help me work past my imposter syndrome and I am extremely grateful.
London Mar 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Very helpful..
Leon Mar 2025
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I started seeing Cristina after I suffered a tremendous loss. She has been a light in my healing journey and I feel so lucky to have connected with her. I cannot recommend her enough and know that anyone who has the fortune of receiving her care is in great hands!!
Read more I started seeing Cristina after I suffered a tremendous loss. She has been a light in my healing journey and I feel so lucky to have connected with her. I cannot recommend her enough and know that anyone who has the fortune of receiving her care is in great hands!!
New Haven Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Cristina Perera is helping me in many ways to get out of my fears and insecurities in my life! I really will live appreciating her as a great therapist!!!
New Haven Mar 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Christina is one amazing counsler. She has helped tremendously with my marriage and business relationships.
New Haven Mar 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry New Haven is located off of Sherman Ave, just east of Monitor Square and west of the Hospital of St Raphael. We're inside the Sherman Medical Building, along with Renal Research Institute New Haven Home Dialysis and Quest Diagnostics. The closest bus stop is George St and Sherman Ave. If you have trouble finding our office or have any questions about how to get here, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Phone number

(203) 633-8772

Languages spoken by CT providers

  • Russian
  • English
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
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

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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
Friday 8:00am - 9:30pm

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