Grief Therapy in NYC and Online

Everyone keeps saying it gets easier. Some days it does. Then you hear a song in a CVS, or reach for your phone to call them, and it's day one again.

Grief doesn't move in stages, no matter what the internet says. It moves in waves, and sometimes the waves hit months or years later. You don't need to be "stuck" to deserve support. You just need a place where you don't have to be okay.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

The grief we help with

The death of a parent, partner, child, sibling or friend, whether it was expected or came out of nowhere
Sudden or traumatic loss, including overdose, suicide and accidents, where shock and grief tangle together
Anticipatory grief, when someone you love is sick and you're grieving them while they're still here
Grief after a long illness, including the exhaustion and relief that caregivers rarely admit to feeling
Hidden grief. The losses people don't send cards for: a divorce, an estrangement, a friendship, a pregnancy, a pet, a career, the life you thought you'd have
Complicated relationships. Grieving someone you loved and were also hurt by
Old grief. A loss from years ago that you never had room to feel

When grief needs more than time

Grief isn't a problem to solve. But sometimes it gets wedged in a way that time alone doesn't shift. It might be worth talking to someone if:

You can't stop replaying the death, or the days before it
Guilt or "what if I had" thoughts won't let go
You're avoiding anything that reminds you of them, or can't stop seeking it out
You feel numb, or like you're watching your life from the outside
Everyone around you seems to have moved on and you feel alone in it
You're leaning on alcohol, work or busyness to get through the day

How we work with grief

Our approach starts with listening. You get to tell the story, all of it, including the parts that don't make you look like a good mourner. Then we work on what's actually in the way.

Grief-focused therapy that helps you carry the loss and the love together, rather than choosing between "letting go" and holding on.
EMDR for losses with a traumatic edge, when the images or moments of the death keep intruding.
Meaning-making and continuing bonds. Finding ways to stay connected to the person you lost while still living your life.
Practical support for the stuff nobody prepares you for: the anniversaries, the holidays, the first time back at work, the family dynamics that grief stirs up.

Therapists who specialize in grief

Emily Stern, LMHC-D

In person in Midtown Manhattan and online. Grief Treatment certified and EMDR-trained. Emily trained in psychosocial oncology at Montefiore's cancer center and has spent years sitting with loss that doesn't follow a script. It's the work she loves most.

Robert Lynch, MS, LMHC

Online. Brings acute hospital experience and a steady, practical style to loss, and to the anxiety and low mood that often come with it.

David Rachman, MS, LMSW

In person in Midtown Manhattan and online. Leads grief and bereavement groups, with deep experience where grief and addiction overlap.

Kristine DiLorenzo, LMHC, NCC

Online in NY, FL, NJ and PA. Brings mindfulness and compassion-focused work to grief and the anxiety that often follows it.

Therapy room at our Midtown Manhattan office, with a mustard velvet loveseat and soft lighting — Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan therapy room with a cream armchair and a landscape painting — Midtown Manhattan

Emily and David see clients in our Midtown Manhattan office, a short walk from Grand Central. On Long Island? We'll match you with Emily or Robert online, so you're with someone who focuses on grief. Online, our grief therapists see clients in New York, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maine.

Grief therapy FAQ

Is it normal to still be grieving after a year?

Yes. There's no deadline on grief. Many people find the second year harder than the first, once the shock wears off and support thins out.

What's the difference between grief counseling and therapy?

The terms overlap. Grief counseling usually focuses on adjusting to a loss; therapy may also look at how grief connects to trauma, anxiety, relationships or old patterns. Our therapists do both.

What is anticipatory grief?

Anticipatory grief is grieving a loss before it happens, often while caring for someone with a serious illness. It's real grief, and it often comes with guilt and exhaustion that deserve support too.

What is prolonged grief disorder?

Prolonged grief disorder is a diagnosis for grief that stays intense and disabling for a long time after a loss, usually a year or more. It's treatable, and a grief-trained therapist can help you tell whether that's what you're facing.

Can therapy help if the loss was traumatic?

Yes. When a death was sudden or violent, or you witnessed it, grief and trauma can lock together. Approaches like EMDR can help loosen the traumatic memories so the grief can move.

Do I have to talk about the death in detail?

Only when and if you're ready. You lead.

Can I use my insurance?

Many of our clients use out-of-network benefits, and we provide monthly superbills to make reimbursement easier. We're in network with Northwell Direct, and some of our therapists are in network with other plans. We'll help you figure out your options during your free consultation. See cost and insurance details.

A place where you don't have to be okay

Book a free 15-minute consultation and we'll connect you with a therapist who specializes in grief.