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- Cost: $280–$400 per month
- Accepts Insurance: No
- Accepts Medicaid or Medicare: No
- Session format options: Live video, phone, or chat; unlimited messaging between sessions
Best Online Grief Counseling Services in 2024
Jun 24, 2024
Fact Checked
Our Reviews Team consulted mental health experts, mystery shopped over 60 platforms, and held focus groups to review the best online grief counseling services.
Losing a loved one can upend your world, whether it’s a parent, child, relative, a close friend, or a pet. In the wake of such a deep loss, you may want to process your emotions by speaking with a therapist or grief counselor. It’s especially important for older adults to receive the care they need, as those who lose a spouse may face increased risks of death.
Going to therapy can be a vulnerable process, and you may prefer to speak with someone from the safety and comfort of your home via online therapy. Recent research suggests that teletherapy may be just as effective for grief counseling as in-person therapy. [1] Zuelke A, et al. Effectiveness and Feasibility of Internet-Based Interventions for Grief After Bereavement: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mental Health. Dec. 8, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8
Our Reviews Team tested dozens of platforms to help you find the best online grief counseling for your needs. Discover our picks below, along with more expert insight on choosing the right provider.
Best online grief counseling service overall
Our pick for the best overall online grief counseling service is BetterHelp. It offers weekly live sessions with qualified therapists, and subscribers get access to weekly “group sessions.” We appreciate this combination of approaches for grief counseling since it allows you to connect with a therapist one-on-one and with others going through a similar situation.
Best online grief counseling service overall
BetterHelp
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Costs $280–$400 per month
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Unlimited messaging with your provider between sessions
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Includes bonus features like group sessions, journaling, and worksheets
Our top online grief counseling platform picks
- BetterHelp: Best online grief counseling service overall
- Brightside: Best online grief counseling service with Medicare
- Talkspace: Best online grief counseling service with insurance
- Online-Therapy.com: Best affordable online grief counseling service
- Zocdoc: Best grief counseling service for online and in-person sessions
- Sesame: Best as-needed online grief counseling service
- Calmerry: Best text-based online grief counseling
In case of emergency
Trying to find help during a crisis can be exhausting. In an emergency or crisis situation, it isn’t safe to wait for a therapy appointment. If there is an emergency, including plans to harm yourself or others, call 911. If you are having suicidal thoughts or experiencing a crisis, you should seek in-person and emergency care immediately. You can also call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
You may be experiencing a mental health crisis if you are [2] Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Crisis services: Identifying a crisis. Jan. 2, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/crisis/signs.htm :
- Feeling sad or depressed most of the time
- Acting violently (punching a hole in the wall, fighting with other people)
- Feeling anxious or agitated
- Feeling hopeless or like there’s no reason to live
- Not taking care of yourself (not brushing your teeth or hair, eating, drinking)
- Not sleeping
- Having mood swings
- Using drugs and/or alcohol to manage your feelings of sadness or depression, to numb the pain you are feeling
- Writing a will or getting your affairs in order
Compare the best online grief counseling services of 2024
| Cost per month* | $280–$400 | $95–$349 | $276–$436 | $160–$440 | Varies by provider | Varies by provider | $228–$360 |
| Session format | Live video, phone, or chat; unlimited messaging | Live video; unlimited messaging | Live video, phone, or chat | Live video, phone, or chat; unlimited messaging | Live video | Live video | Live video; unlimited messaging |
| Accepts insurance | No | Yes | Yes | No | Varies by provider | No | No |
| Accepts Medicare or Medicaid | No | Accepts some Medicare and Medicaid plans | No | No | Varies by provider | No | No |
*Excluding discounts and promotions
Best online grief counseling services of 2024
Best online grief counseling service overall: BetterHelp
Best online grief counseling service with Medicare: Brightside
Best online grief counseling service with insurance: Talkspace
Best affordable online grief counseling service: Online-Therapy.com
Best grief counseling for online and in-person: Zocdoc
Best as-needed online grief counseling service: Sesame
Best text-based online grief counseling: Calmerry
Medicare and Medicaid coverage
Medicare Part B covers telehealth visits, including individual, group, and family psychotherapy. [5] Medicare.gov. Telehealth. Found on the internet at https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth You will first need to meet the Part B deductible and then pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for telehealth service. If you want to use Medicare to pay for online grief counseling, always check with your Medicare program to confirm your costs.
Some state Medicaid programs cover telehealth services like online therapy. [6] Medicaid.gov. Telehealth. Found on the internet at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/telehealth/index.html You can use the Medicaid website to check your state profile and see if you’re eligible for Medicaid and if it covers telemedicine, which includes online mental health services.
How we chose the best online grief counseling services
Based on our independent research and consultations with mental health experts, our Reviews Team determined the following factors to be important when looking for online grief counseling:
- Overall cost
- Total value of the proposed services
- Whether it accepts insurance
- Potential discounts or financial aid
- Transparent billing practices
- Whether the technology is easy to use
- Whether you can filter therapists or psychiatrists by preferences or specialties
- Ease of scheduling appointments
- Accessibility across different ZIP codes
- Reliability of customer service
- Ability to switch providers easily
We also consulted with independent mental health professionals for their insights into the benefits and drawbacks of online grief counseling to aid our reviews.
Bottom line
Any of the above online therapy or grief counseling services can provide a place to begin working through your feelings with a qualified mental health professional.
“Online or in-person, counseling for grief and loss can be a tremendous resource, and just by seeking it, you are taking a tremendous step forward,” said Larson.
After choosing the right online therapy platform for your needs, it’s important to take care of yourself by eating well, getting plenty of rest, regular physical activity, and seeking comfort from loved ones. [7] Mental Health America. Bereavement and grief. Found on the internet at https://www.mhanational.org/bereavement-ad-grief
Frequently asked questions
The best therapist for you will depend on your preferences and goals, but finding someone you connect with is important. “For grief counseling, you want a therapist who is caring, empathic, a good listener, someone you can trust, and who expresses interest in you,” said Larson. “If you have had a more traumatic loss, find a therapist who has a background working with trauma.”
Every person processes grief in different ways. So the exact timeline can depend on your individual situation and how you’re processing your emotions.
According to Chang, some people may even prefer to seek grief counseling before losing a loved one. For instance, perhaps you’re caregiving for a spouse or parent with dementia and feel as if you’ve already “lost” them to the illness.
“This would be an instance where it could be beneficial to seek grief counseling while caring for someone with such an illness, to help process one’s emotions and thoughts during such a vulnerable time,” said Chang.
The online therapy services on our list start from as low as $46 per week without insurance with a first-month promotion. Other options cost as much as $109 per week without insurance. The amount you pay may also depend on whether or not your chosen platform or provider accepts insurance with copays.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- Zuelke A, et al. Effectiveness and Feasibility of Internet-Based Interventions for Grief After Bereavement: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mental Health. Dec. 8, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8701663/
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Crisis services: Identifying a crisis. Jan. 2, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/crisis/signs.htm
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Tips for survivors: Coping with grief after a disaster or traumatic event. Found on the internet at https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma17-5035.pdf
- Bradley University. 5 counseling strategies for grief and loss. Found on the internet at https://onlinedegrees.bradley.edu/blog/counseling-strategies-for-loss-and-grief/
- Medicare.gov. Telehealth. Found on the internet at https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth
- Medicaid.gov. Telehealth. Found on the internet at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/telehealth/index.html
- Mental Health America. Bereavement and grief. Found on the internet at https://www.mhanational.org/bereavement-ad-grief