Services › Grief & Loss
Grief Counseling, At Your Pace.
Telehealth support through grief and loss. Covered by Partnership HealthPlan Medi-Cal, with no referral and no waitlist.
Last updated: October 2026
What We Treat
What grief counseling helps with
- Bereavement after the death of a loved one
- Anticipatory grief
- Loss of a relationship
- Loss of health or identity
- Complicated grief responses
- Grief tied to trauma or disaster
There is no prescribed timeline for grief, and no expectation that you should be "moving on."
Our Approach
How grief counseling works
- Room for all of it. Sessions make space for the full range of grief responses, including the complicated ones.
- Stay connected. Support helps you stay connected to daily life and the people still in it.
- Your pace. There is no timeline and no pressure.
- Fit the approach to you. Your clinician may draw on patient-centered, narrative, ACT, or EMDR approaches.
Sessions run 50 to 60 minutes by secure video or phone, and you set the pace of what you talk about.
When To Reach Out
Signs grief support could help
- The loss still feels as raw as the first weeks, months later
- You are avoiding anything that reminds you of the person
- You feel stuck, numb, or unable to imagine the future
- Guilt, anger, or regret keeps replaying in your mind
- Sleep, eating, or work have not recovered
- You feel alone in your grief, even around others
You do not need to be struggling badly to deserve support. Grief alone is reason enough.
What To Expect
How grief counseling unfolds
- Telling the story. Early sessions make space to talk about the person or what you lost, at your own pace.
- Making room for every feeling. Sadness, anger, relief, and guilt can all be part of grief. None of them are wrong.
- Living alongside the loss. You find ways to carry the loss while slowly re-engaging with daily life.
- Continuing bonds. Many people find meaningful ways to stay connected to the person they lost.
Grief does not follow neat stages. Your counseling follows your experience, not a script.
Why Telehealth Works
Support from home when leaving home is hard
In the weeks and months after a loss, getting out the door can take more energy than you have. Telehealth lets you get support from a familiar, private space.
There is no waiting room and no drive home after a hard session. You can take a moment for yourself before stepping back into the day.
Explore free tools like the daily mood check-in and guided breathing on our Therapy Tools page.
Myths & Facts
Common myths about grief counseling
MythGrief should be over in a year.
FactThere is no deadline. Grief changes shape over time, and anniversaries and milestones can bring it back.
MythStaying busy is the best way to cope.
FactKeeping busy can help, but avoiding grief entirely can make it last longer. Gently facing the loss helps it soften.
MythCounseling means forgetting the person.
FactGrief counseling is about carrying the loss, not erasing the relationship.
Coverage & Getting Started
What grief counseling costs and how to start
In network with Partnership HealthPlan
PMHS is a contracted, in-network provider with Partnership HealthPlan of California. Covered sessions for Medi-Cal members usually cost nothing.
Grief counseling is covered for most Partnership HealthPlan members at no cost, and you can reach out directly without a referral. PMHS also accepts Medicare, Medi-Medi, and private pay, with sliding-scale fees available. We confirm your coverage before your first session.
- Reach out. Submit the short form or call or text (925) 771-0430. We respond within one hour between 8am and 8pm, or by 9am the next morning.
- We verify your coverage. We check your Partnership HealthPlan, Medicare, or other benefits for you.
- Start this week. No waitlist. Your first session is an intake, by secure video or phone from home.
Where We Serve
Grief Counseling in all 24 Partnership HealthPlan counties
PMHS is 100% telehealth, so you can start from home in every Partnership HealthPlan county, including these towns.
What PMHS does not provide
- Crisis or emergency services. Call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
- Medication management or psychological testing.
- Court-ordered evaluations or forensic assessments.
- In-person appointments. PMHS is 100% telehealth by video or phone.
- Sessions while you are physically outside California.
Common Questions
Grief Counseling FAQ
Does Medi-Cal cover grief counseling?
Yes. Grief is one of the covered reasons to start outpatient therapy with Partnership HealthPlan, usually at no cost to the member, with no referral needed.
Is it too soon, or too late, to start?
No. There is no wrong time to start grief counseling.
Do I need a diagnosis to start?
No. Grief is a normal response to loss, not a disorder. You can start counseling simply because the loss is hard to carry.
Can I join sessions from home?
Yes. All sessions are by secure video or phone, from anywhere in California.
What is prolonged grief disorder?
Prolonged grief disorder is a diagnosis added to the DSM-5-TR in 2022 for grief that stays intense and disabling long after a loss. Most grief is not a disorder, but if grief has stalled your life, therapy can help.
Can I get grief counseling for a loss that is not a death?
Yes. Divorce, estrangement, a health diagnosis, a pet’s death, or losing a home to fire can all bring real grief.
Related Services
Other therapy PMHS offers by telehealth
Ready to take the next step?
You do not have to grieve alone. Start this week.
Telehealth therapy across all 24 Partnership HealthPlan counties. No referral needed. No waitlist.
Get Started