How can grief counseling help me?

Grief therapy provides a safe space to express your feelings, make meaning of your loss, and explore ways to move forward while still honoring what was lost.

What types of grief do you work with?

I work with grief related to death, divorce, estrangement, illness, life transitions, and ambiguous loss—including grief tied to trauma or unresolved relationships.

Grief Counseling in Austin

You’re Not Supposed to “Get Over It”
You’re Supposed to Be Seen In It

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t look the same for everyone.
And it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you if you’re still not okay.

Whether you’re grieving the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, or a future that didn’t happen—your pain is real, and you don’t have to carry it alone. Grief counseling in Austin is available at my two convenient locations.

What Does Grief Really Feel Like?

Grief is more than sadness. It can feel like:

A fog that won’t lift
Numbness or disconnection from life
Anger that shows up unexpectedly
Guilt—about what was said, or not said
Anxiety or fear of more loss
Feeling like the world kept spinning without you

Sometimes, the people around you don’t understand why you’re still hurting.
Sometimes you don’t understand. That doesn’t mean you’re grieving wrong.
It means you’re human.

Why Is My Grief Still Affecting Me So Deeply?

Because it mattered.
Because they mattered.
Because something was lost that can’t be replaced—and that kind of loss doesn’t just disappear.

Grief can become complicated or overwhelming when:

You had unfinished business or unresolved conflict
The loss was traumatic, sudden, or layered with betrayal
You weren’t supported the way you needed
You’re carrying past losses you never had space to feel
You’re grieving more than a person—you’re grieving a life, identity, or dream

In therapy, you don’t have to make your grief smaller. You get to let it breathe.

How Can Grief Counseling Help?

Grief counseling isn’t about “moving on”—it’s about moving with your grief in a way that honors what was lost, while creating space for what’s still possible.

Together, we’ll:

Make room for your full experience, without judgment
Explore complicated emotions like guilt, anger, numbness, and fear
Work with your nervous system to regulate anxiety and trauma responses
Use tools from narrative therapy, parts work, somatic therapy, and meaning-making models to help you feel more grounded and whole

Grief doesn’t get smaller—you grow around it.
And in that growing, something new can begin.

What Kinds of Grief Do You Work with?

I work with many forms of grief, including:

Death of a partner, parent, sibling, or friend
Complicated grief from betrayal, abuse, or unresolved endings
Non-death loss, such as divorce, estrangement, retirement, or chronic illness
Ambiguous loss (e.g., dementia, addiction, emotionally unavailable parents)
Anticipatory grief related to caregiving, aging, or terminal illness

If you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling “counts” as grief—it does.

What Is It Like to Work with Carolyn?

Clients often come to me when they’re trying to “hold it all together” but feel like they’re falling apart inside. In our work together, you don’t have to filter or shrink what you’re feeling.

I bring over 30 years of experience in helping people move through life’s hardest moments. My style is warm, intuitive, trauma-informed, and deeply respectful of your unique grief story. There’s no pressure to perform or heal on a schedule.

You’ve already made it this far—let’s find the next step together.

Do You Offer In-person Grief Counseling in Austin?

Yes. I offer grief therapy in Austin at two locations:

Northwest Austin near Cedar Park (78729)
Central Austin / Rosedale area (78731)

FAQs About Grief Counseling

Q: Is there a “right” way to grieve?
A: No. Grief is not a checklist or a linear process. Everyone grieves differently, and therapy helps you discover what your process needs.

Q: Can therapy help if my grief feels like trauma?
A: Yes. When loss is layered with trauma, therapy can help you process both safely. We’ll work gently with your body, your story, and your pace.

Q: What if it’s been years since my loss? Is it too late?
A: It’s never too late. Unprocessed grief can linger for years beneath the surface—and finding space for it can bring profound relief and healing.

Q: Do you take insurance for grief counseling?
A: Yes. I’m in-network with First Health, and United/Optum. I also offer Open Path and private pay options.