Grief and loss are experienced by all, but talked about by few. By definition, grief is the feeling you experience when you lose someone or something. COVID-19 has left many of us feeling some sense of loss.
Several of our therapists work with adults, adolescents, and children who are experiencing grief and loss. Child, adolescent, and adult reactions to grief can look very different. Working with a therapist can help provide you the support you need as you define your new normal after loss.
What is Grief and Loss?
Most of us can identify the grief we felt after the physical loss of a loved one. Friends and family even with the best of intentions can sometimes make us feel even more alone in our sorrow as they try to make us feel better. The grief we feel is multifold. The loss of a loved one is more than the physical loss of them, it’s the relationship we had with them. Grief is a natural response to loss but for some people, their grief becomes complicated and they need the support of a trained therapist to help them work through this.
Am I experiencing grief?
Possible signs of grief can include, but are not limited too:
- Agitation
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Emptiness
- Fear
- Loneliness
- Relief
- Sadness
- Shame
As David Kessler said, grief is unique for everyone. No two people will grieve the same way. This list is certainly not exhaustive. Your grief reaction is affected by many things, including but not limited to: your loss history, trauma history, support system and the nature of the loss. If you feel you need some support in your grief or if you have concerns you or someone you love may be experiencing complicated grief, reach out to a therapist.
When should I seek help?
You should consider seeking help for your grief when you are unable to integrate back into your new normal and any of the following areas of your life are impacted:
- School (difficulty concentrating)
- Work (difficulty keeping up with your work, interacting with coworkers or supervisors. Not wanting to go to work)
- Relationships (conflict with loved ones, avoidance of interactions or conversations with loved ones, feeling fear that you may lose them too)
- Sleep (difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling tired when you wake up)
What kind of help is available?
Just as grief and loss can look different for each person, the approaches that can help will not be the same for everyone. There are several approaches to therapy that can help with grief and loss including, but not limited to CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Existential Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. A therapist trained in grief and loss will be able to help you process your loss and learn to navigate your new normal.
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Choosing The Right Therapist
Related Therapist Profiles
The following therapists specialize in Grief and Loss
Chloe Hurckes, Intern Therapist
Grayslake | McHenry
Chloe is an emerging Marriage and Family Therapist offering emotionally focused, attachment-based care to adolescents and adults. She brings warmth, curiosity, and a culturally responsive, person-centered approach that honors identity, relationship, and the mind–body connection.
Fari Manyika Willoughby, MA, LPC, MSW, LSW
McHenry
Fari’s approach to therapy is holistic, promoting the awareness that each domain affects the other: Physical health impacts financial, mental, and relational health. Fari offers both telehealth and in-person counseling and believes that her role is to collaborate with, and walk alongside her clients, supporting them as they work towards healing and health.
Raquel Blair, MA, LPC
McHenry
Raquel Blair is a bilingual therapist (speaking Spanish and English) who works with adolescents and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, and major life changes.
Devin Godzicki, Intern Therapist
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Devin is a counseling intern with 13 years of teaching experience. She values meaningful relationships and is passionate about guiding individuals and families toward growth and healing.
Lara O’Malley, MS
Lake Zurich – Downtown | Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Lara O’Malley, MS, provides compassionate, practical, evidence-based care for individuals, couples, and families.
Jessica Stanfel, MA, LPC
McHenry
Jessica is a proud “boy mom” who navigates motherhood with humor and heart. A big kid at heart, she loves all things Disney but also enjoys engaging in deep, meaningful adult conversations. In her free time, Jessica enjoys board games (she plays to win!), video games, and curling up with a good book.
Zoe Yohe, M.Ed., LCPC
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Zoe provides compassionate, individualized mental health counseling for children, teens, and adults. She fosters a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to navigate life’s challenges and make meaningful change.
Carrie Meng, Intern Therapist
Grayslake
Carrie is a bilingual mental health counselor (English and Mandarin 中文普通话) originally from China, working with teens, adults, couples, and families. Drawing from her lived experience across cultures and her diverse academic background, she specializes in multicultural identities and concerns, career planning and transitions, and navigating the overwhelming emotions that can arise from these experiences—all through a trauma-informed lens. Carrie is also a Certified Binge Eating and Chronic Dieting Professional, committed to helping clients break free from disordered eating patterns and embrace body inclusivity.
Emily Nelson, MSW, LCSW
Lake Zurich – Downtown | Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Emily Nelson, LCSW, provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy for children, adults, and families navigating life’s challenges and transitions.
Tori Larsen, MS
Grayslake
Tori is a therapist who offers a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment for individuals seeking clarity, healing, and growth. She works collaboratively with clients to explore challenges, build emotional insight and resilience, and develop tools that support lasting change and deeper self-understanding.
Jennifer Koppe, MS
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Jennifer is a compassionate therapist committed to supporting children and young adults with ADHD, Autism, Depression, and Personality Disorders. She creates a client-centered, safe environment where individuals can develop coping skills and achieve emotional regulation.
Pamela Roble, M.Ed., LCPC, ATR
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Pamela Roble, ATR, LCPC, MEd, offers creative therapy for clients 5-95, integrating art therapy and faith-based approaches to address life challenges and transitions.
Boaz Johnson, Intern Therapist
Grayslake
Boaz Johnson is a warm and integrative South Asian American therapist who works with adults, couples, and families across the lifespan, drawing from behavioral, psychodynamic, and mind-body approaches. Fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi, he helps clients uncover meaning, resilience, and healing through a culturally responsive, logotherapy-informed lens.
Elizabeth Skjoldal, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
McHenry
Dr. Skjoldal is a psychologist with over 30 yrs of licensed experience. She was born in Cuba and is bilingual. Her primary areas of interest are psychological treatment of chronic illnesses including cancer, trauma, grief and loss. She also has taught at the graduate level in the area of multicultural competency including cultural humility.
Ava Currie, MS
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Ava Currie is a Cherry Hill Counseling intern pursuing a Master's of Science degree at National Louis University. With a strong passion for helping those in need, she is committed to providing empathetic support and contributing to client growth and healing through thoughtful and effective therapeutic techniques.
Nazree Williams, MSW, LSW
Wheaton
Nazree Williams is a therapist with a background in science and medical research. She combines creativity, nature and neuroscience into her practice, offering a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to heal, grow, and achieve goals. She makes understanding your brain engaging and easy to grasp. By breaking down how different neurological regions and chemicals influence your mood, anxiety and behavior, Nazree helps you grasp the interaction between our mind and body, which can assist with managing of emotions.
Cathy Araos, MA.Ed., LPC
McHenry | Lake Zurich – Downtown
Cathy's professional path has been diverse, encompassing teaching roles across numerous school districts. A committed lifelong learner, she holds two Master's degrees. Outside of work, she finds joy in woodworking, hiking, and camping adventures with her family.
Paramita Bhattacharya, LCSW, PEL
Grayslake
Paramita is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked as a clinician on 3 different continents. She speaks 4 different languages which include Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and English. She has experience working with 5 year olds to 85 years old. Paramita utilizes evidence-based practices to support clients needs and has a background in trauma care.
Lisa LaBute, MS, LCPC
Teletherapy Only
Lisa LaBute earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University in 1984 and her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Saint Francis College in 1996. She’s had the opportunity to work in several states as well as doing an internship in London. She’s been a licensed professional counselor in the state of Illinois since 2007.
Jennifer Thelen, MA, LPC
McHenry
Jennifer works with teens, adults and couples. She is devoted to creating a safe relational environment to encourage self-exploration while supporting clients through life’s challenges.
Alexis Mathews Carr, MA, LPC
Vernon Hills
Alexis strives to make her clients feel safe, welcome, and accepted through the use of empathy, genuineness, and humor. Her counseling approach is rooted in CBT, DBT, and a strengths based approach. Alexis works with clients to identify their strengths in order to find growth and healing.
Luke Bruschuk, MSW, LSW
Vernon Hills
Luke Bruschuk is a Licensed Social Worker in Illinois, holding a Master’s in Social Work from Western New Mexico University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He specializes in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, anxiety and depression, substance use disorders, life transitions, and veteran-related concerns. Luke employs a strengths-based approach, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques to empower clients toward self-determination and personal growth. He serves adults aged 18 and older, offering flexible in-person and remote sessions.
Jackie Kendall, MA, LPC
McHenry
Jackie is acquiring an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University. Jackie is a nature and animal lover who enjoys spending her free time with friends and family. She feels that counseling picked her well before she decided to pursue a career in the helping profession. She was taught at a young age that the greatest gift in the world is helping others.
Valerie Dobrow, MSW, LCSW
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Val is passionate about empowering clients of all ages through skill development to achieve their goals. Val utilizes evidence-based treatments including CBT, DBT, and play therapy techniques that prioritize resilience (all ages, starting at 2 years).
Veronica Gillen, MSW, LCSW
Wheaton
Veronica Gillen is a licensed social worker with a Masters Degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with an emphasis on trauma informed care and strengths-based recovery support. Veronica is a bilingual therapist and provides services in both English and Spanish. Veronica enjoys working with women, children, and teens as well as families.
Cris Goodfellow, MA, LPC
Grayslake
Cris is an intern therapist, seeking completion of her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University (Graduation May 2024). Cris is passionate about working with teens and adults, couples, and families, helping all people to seek individual and relational health.
John DeArvil, MSW, LSW
Vernon Hills
John studied psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earned his master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. He has experience working with adolescents, adults, and families in outpatient and residential treatment settings. John is motivated to work with people to help them progress towards their goals and see genuine improvement.
Deb Landeene, MA, LPC
Lake Zurich – Downtown
Deb is a Master’s level counseling intern from Concordia University Chicago. She provides treatment to clients of all ages, but has a passion for working with adolescents and their parents. She is a wife and a mother to 2 grown children. She enjoys her animals, gardening and making jewelry. Deb considers herself a life-long learner.
Kimberly Johnson, MSW, LCSW, CADC
Lake Zurich – Downtown | McHenry
Kimberly has a MSW, LCSW and a CADC along with over 7 years working with serious mental health diagnoses and substance abuse from Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar, Anxiety, Depression, substance abuse(s), etc. Additionally, the last 5 years were spent in Hospice on a multi disciplinary team working with terminal illnesses, end of life “issues” and families.
Juan Torres, MSW, LCSW, CADC
Vernon Hills
Juan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois and can provide services in both English and Spanish. He specializes in treating substance use disorders and mood disorders. He works with adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings.
Clark Barshinger, Ph.D.
Lake Zurich – Downtown | McHenry
Practicing clinical psychology for over 50 years, Dr. Clark Barshinger has broad and deep experience counseling patients. His graduate education includes a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from DePaul University, and Master’s Degree of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary. He works mostly with adults, teens and couples.
Keith Bjorge, Psy.D.
McHenry
Dr. Keith V. Bjorge is a clinical psychologist with 33+ years of experience. He has experience and passion working with troubled marriages, teen and family related problems, chemical addictions, and mood disorders. Dr. Bjorge earned the Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.
Diane Geiser, MSW, LCSW
Lake Zurich – Downtown
Diane Geiser is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with adults, adolescents, couples and families. Diane is a highly skilled clinician who can work with clients in identifying goals and change strategies that promote growth. She also has experience conducting wellness seminars with corporations and executives.
Rick Coffaro, MA, LPC
Teletherapy Only
Rick Coffaro’s work experience prior to Cherry Hill includes twenty-eight years in sales, marketing, and management. The theme of his career was making, building and maintaining relationships. Rick offers first-hand knowledge of life and career transitions. He enjoys working with individuals, couples, adults, adolescents and young adults, and groups.
Gary Gruebnau, MA, LSW
McHenry
Gary is a social worker with several decades of experience counseling teens, adults, and couples in secular and church settings. He enjoys working with a broad age range of clients from teens to the elderly. His background includes military service, working in the business world, and teaching in both public and private settings.
Leslie Scofield, MSW, LCSW, CADC
Vernon Hills
Leslie Scofield, MSW, LCSW, CADC is a Licensed Social Worker who has worked in the field of substance abuse for over 15 years. Her practice ranges from children to adults, and focuses on trauma, grief and loss, family issues, and addictions. She is passionate about working with groups. Leslie is also retired from military service, which informs her clinical perspective.
Michelle Schaefer, MA, LCPC, PMHC
Grayslake
Michelle Schaefer, LCPC, has experience working with adults, couples, teens, and families. Michelle has an advanced certification in Perinatal Mental Health and specialized training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals, couples, and families. Michelle strives to create a secure client-therapist alliance in order to support people as they navigate life challenges and heal relationships.
Elizabeth Haines, LCPC, NBC-HWC, YACEP
Teletherapy Only
Elizabeth is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She values a strong therapeutic alliance and believes that a supportive and collaborative working relationship is instrumental in helping clients improve their overall quality of life. She uses her expertise in yoga and mindfulness to assist clients in learning to calm and relax the stressed body and mind.
Jack Gordon, LCSW, DCSW
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Jack is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional. He works with adults, families, and adolescents ages 12 and up. He specializes in anxiety treatment and has a passion for work with clients with chronic pain/illness. His clinical interests include anxiety, parenting skills, life/career transitions, and family/relationship issues.
Liz Lattof, MA, LCPC, CCATP
Lake Zurich – Downtown
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at Cherry Hill Liz works with a wide variety of clients, children, adolescents, families, and adults. She has additional training in play therapy and groups. She enjoys helping people with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, and other challenges and transitions.
John Dichtl, MA, M.Div., LCPC
Teletherapy Only
John Dichtl has worked as a counselor since 2012 in both agency work and private practice. He has focused experience providing couples counseling, and treating mood disorders and addictions. With graduate level training in both therapy and theology, John is uniquely equipped to help clients integrate their psychological and spiritual concerns.
John Kim, MA, LCPC
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
John received his MA in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University where he gained experience doing therapeutic work through the university's counseling center. John is committed to building warm, authentic, and meaningful relationships with his clients as he helps them work toward their unique goals. He works with individuals, couples, and groups.
Alessa Rosati, MA, LMFT
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Alessa Rosati is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She graduated from Adler University with a Master’s Degree in Couple and Family Therapy. Along with her work in private practice, Alessa has experience working in school environments and hospital settings. She specializes in helping adolescents and adults with relationship difficulties, issues of low self-esteem, grief and loss, anxiety, and stress.
Justin Feinberg, MA, M.Div., LCPC
Grayslake
Justin’s Graduate education includes both a Master’s degree in Mental Health counseling as well as a Master’s of Divinity from Trinity International University. He works with individuals, couples, and families and has a heart to see relationships flourish and people become who they were meant to be. He has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and utilizes this toward helping marriages, families, and individuals thrive.
Jennifer Flanagan, MA, LCPC
Grayslake
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a masters degree from Trinity International University. She has a passion for helping people see their strengths and potential. She believes this is accomplished through authentic relationships and support for and collaboration with others.
Emily Salomon, MS.Ed., LCPC
Lake Zurich – Willow Ponds
Emily earned her MS.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Illinois University. Emily holds deep value for the safe space that exists within the therapeutic relationship. She embraces the importance of being provided with new lenses with which a client may see the world a bit differently.
Laura Ronkoske, MSW, LCSW
Lake Zurich – Downtown
Laura has been a school social worker for 23 years. Nothing brings her more joy than helping young children, adolescents, and adults through life’s most challenging times. She has recently moved to private practice to help others outside the school environment to be their best selves and help give them the tools to be able to do so.
Patti E. Krivo, MSW, LCSW
Teletherapy Only
Patti is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with decades of experience in the mental health field. Patti specializes in work with trauma recovery and PTSD as well as the impacts of those experiences on family relationships.
Georgene Manley, LCPC, CAADC
Grayslake
Georgene is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She has worked in a clinical setting most of her career. She has treated clients in residential, outpatient addictions and mental health treatment programs, and corporate settings. She loves helping clients tap into the resilience that is often overshadowed when anxiety, depression, or addiction surfaces.
Diann Pomeroy, M.Ed., LCPC
Grayslake
Diann has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University. She has a passion for working with women, supporting them across the lifespan as they navigate continuous change and transition. She believes that all parents need support in the parenting journey at every stage and considers being a part of that process a great privilege.
Nicole Taylor, MS.Ed., LPC
McHenry
Nicole is a licensed therapist who is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.
Julie Berry, MA, LPC
Grayslake
Julie is passionate about working with women, young adults, and individuals helping them find the power within themselves to navigate any struggle they may be facing. She loves forming a strong trusted relationship with her client. She focuses on helping people name their struggles or pains and identify ways to take action toward healing and wholeness. She believes we can learn from life’s experiences as helpful information to understanding ourselves more.
Jennifer Irocky, PhD Clinical Psychology Intern
McHenry
Jennifer is passionate about health, wellness, and the body- mind connection. She is finishing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is currently interning at Cherry Hill Counseling. Professionally, she has completed ten years of studies and three years of clinical work, and is currently working on her dissertation.