Grief & Loss Counseling in Westborough, MA • Find Help

Meet with a grief counselor as soon as this week

Hannah Fishman She/Her

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

The world can feel very loud and overwhelming, and I am here to help guide you through the difficult times that life can bring and...

Book with Hannah

Hear from Joan Barclay, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

View Joan Barclay's profile

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

The grief and loss counseling that I offer has a client-based approach, as this is the inner work of the client. I help people to reframe regret, mitigate anger, and recognize (if appropriate) that forgiveness is a process. I focus on helping the client to find meaning in the loss, which may seem incredulous to achieve. I help the client make attachments within the loss.

What tools do you teach in grief & loss counseling?

One primary tool that I promote in healing from grief and loss is to honor our feelings. There is no “set time” by which one is supposed to stop crying, stop talking about the impact of the loss, or stop feeling vulnerable. Learning to stop the negative talk of shame regarding feelings of grief and loss is another powerful tool that I help clients refine.

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

Healing in one’s grief journey cannot be measured by time or by a count of sessions. When a client experiences those gradual wistful moments of remembering their loved one with gratitude, and perhaps a smile, progress in integrating the grief is happening. Recognizable cumulative moments like these reflect our progress and acceptance of the loss.

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

I encourage my client to honor their grief and loss by creating a meaningful ritual that can be done outside of sessions. We explore ways to do that together in session. Each loss is as unique, as is our grief. There is no prescribed method that is appropriate for everyone.

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

When I start my first session with a client who is grieving, I let them know that I am here to listen. I am here to hold and to honor their pain. If someone is so brave as to reach out for support in their grief and loss recovery journey, making that first step is the beginning of the healing. No other preparation is necessary. Just call to find a companion-in-grief counselor.

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 Westborough, MA 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 Westborough, MA 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 insurance and we offer self-pay options too.

Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling at Thriveworks.

Insurance options

Self-pay costs

Our therapists and counselors in Westborough accept 28 insurance plans

Aetna
Aetna Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)
Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS
Carelon
Cigna | Evernorth
Compsych
Fallon Health | Medicare Advantage
Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network
First Health Network
Harvard Pilgrim

Self-pay costs at Westborough

Talk therapy

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

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.9 Learn about verified reviews

View all reviews

★★★★★

My therapist is wonderful and I look forward to our sessions every week.

Savanna Sep 2025