Grief Therapists in San Francisco, CA

Therapy is a confidential space to explore areas where you are feeling stuck, experiencing difficulty, or contemplating change, with the goal of feeling more confident and whole as a person. I work with adult individuals who seek a deeper understanding of, and relief from, their suffering: depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship problems, spiritual/existential questions, and various forms of addiction (pornography, hypersexuality, substance abuse). Many times, addiction is accompanied by interactions with the legal system and therapy can be a safe space to process thoughts and feelings about legal problems or incarceration.

Hello! What if you woke up tomorrow and all your difficulties disappeared? Though hard to imagine, envisioning how you'd like your life to be is the first step in finding solutions. After hearing your story, I focus on strengths (in individuals and couples), and help you see the possibilities for positive change. This can be difficult for anxious or depressed clients, but I find it a good start. I embrace the role of authentic, non-judgmental collaborator. I use techniques that can immediately reduce anxiety, and I show clients that depression is treatable.

I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families going through major life changes, such as birth and death, and confronting challenges related to anxiety, trauma, grief, and addiction of all kinds. 

Specializing in life stressors, grief, self-esteem, and cultural identities, I provide compassionate support for individuals facing challenges. We'll work together to cultivate understanding, heal, and develop coping strategies. I create a safe, inclusive space where all aspects of yourself are embraced. You're the expert of your experience, and I'm here to listen and guide you.

I enjoy supporting my clients' curiosity to uncover and explore what contributes to who they are and how they connect with the people in their lives. I work especially well with traumatic experiences, troubled upbringing, grief and anxiety. If you want to understand or change the way you relate to yourself, your story and the world and maybe are longing for a more authentic self expression and acceptance or sense of iner strength, we might be a good fit. I believe that sustainable change happens from the inside and you have the capacity to create this change.

Nate Hinerman, PhD, LMFT, is Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Golden Gate University, San Francisco, where he is also a tenured Professor of Psychology, as well as the Chair of the Psychology Department. He is also on the faculty at the University of San Francisco, teaching in the Nursing School, and in the Religious Studies Department. He serves as Chair of the San Francisco End of Life Network, a community-based support and education group for hospice and palliative care professionals and patients, now in its 23rd year (www.sfeol.org).

The most significant predictor of a successful therapy experience is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. Building a safe, nurturing relationship is where I excel. My style is warm and highly interactive, best suited for clients who prefer a therapist who feels very "human." I assist clients to explore their thought patterns and corresponding emotional responses, and to identify unconscious assumptions they hold about themselves and the world, which inform behavior patterns. I also provide practical tools for regulating anxiety, managing depression, and processing grief.

Most people seek out a psychologist when they have truly done their best to resolve their difficulties on their own. When you can't see your own emotional blind spots, feeling stuck and distressed can ripple through many areas of your life. Perhaps this is your first time seeking out a therapist, or perhaps you are returning to psychotherapy for a fresh perspective. As a psychologist with over 17 years of experience, I have a seasoned understanding of what leads people to hit roadblocks in their lives, in areas including work, school, marriage, parenting, family, and intimate relationships.

How are you really doing? Whatever you are experiencing now that has led you to be curious about therapy I am grateful you are here. Welcome! It takes guts taking steps toward finding the support you need. I work with people helping them gain awareness of who they are, so they can start living life fully! I have no hidden agendas and am committed to meeting you where you are and supporting your process. I help clients through inquiry of the present moment with topics such as: life transitions, depression, anxiety, grief and trauma tailoring my approach to your unique individual needs.

Something is troubling you. What you can gain from greater self-awareness, understanding and true compassion for yourself can be extraordinary. Our conversations will help you overcome the obstacles to accessing the resources you already possess and developing those that are yet to come forth. Whether you suffer from anxiety, difficult grief or loss, creative blocks, or under-utilization of your full potential, talking to a non-judgmental professional listener can help.

Are you living with or have you recently been diagnosed with a major medical condition? Caring for someone who is ill or dying? Are you having difficulties coping with a chronic or newly diagnosed illness? Are your children struggling with the loss of a loved one? Are you dealing with the impact of illness on body image? Are you considering end of life options or dealing with issues such as loss and grief? We help patients, their loved ones, and caregivers coping with cancer, life-altering illness, chronic pain, neurological conditions, infertility, complex pregnancy, and end of life issues.

I imagine you’ve been hard on yourself lately. Thoughts like, “you’re not good enough” or “you should be over this by now,” play on repeat, unchecked. My approach is one focused on self-compassion, the art of reworking internal monologues to respond to yourself in a gentler, more understanding manner. You may not feel ready or deserving of treating yourself more kindly, but I would be honored to hold that warm space for you until you are.

The heart of my work centers around adults of the South Asian Diaspora. My goal in emphasizing my practice here is to recognize a need for folks to have a therapist who truly understands their background and can create safety in talking about parts of the culture that can feel shameful or misunderstood from a Western perspective. The most common areas of focus include family of origin issues, intergenerational trauma and creating space to heal your inner child, acknowledging your grief, exploring your TRUE identity, and cultivating positive relationships by creating boundaries and building self-esteem + confidence.

Looking for the right fit in therapy is everything, & I gladly meet my clients where they are & help them move towards the change they want to see in their lives. I provide insight-oriented therapy to those who want to work on how they show up in relationship, looking at behavioral patterns and unpacking how we can change the scripts that influence how you interact with others. I help those navigating the world as a Highly Sensitive Person or with neurodivergence, and are interested in therapy for the betterment of their relationship to self and others. I specialize in working with grieving clients navigating life altering change.

For the times you feel you have thoughts and feelings you cannot share with anyone, meeting with a therapist offers a contained space to reveal these parts of yourself. In my office, there is no right way to be in therapy. You are not the only person who might feel like a fraud in your own life.The unending thoughts about yourself or your life that are not so kind can stop. I welcome the full expression of the complexity of your emotions and experience.

If you are having a tough time in relationships, are feeling 'off', out-of-balance, or facing feelings of loss, grief, anxiety, depression, or confusion, I may be able to help you. Let's collaborate in a process where we explore, uncover, and understand your experience. Let's look with curiosity at what your patterns and feelings are trying to tell you. We will face the truth with compassion. I bring a calming, engaging, and dynamic presence to therapy as well as experience, strength, and hope. I offer a combination of insight, empathy, and tools that can support you to move through the raw, or tough parts of your psyche.

Valerie True, LCSW, working with adults 18 and older, focuses on life transitions, chronic and new medical diagnoses, grief and loss, caregiver issues, aging-related issues, work-related issues, stress, depression, and the growing pains of life. My approach is client-based, through talk and exercises we will work together to find the path that helps you gain insight and develop skills to support your goals.

Modern dating and relationships have become a tumultuous territory of uncertainty, miscommunication, rampant ghosting and infidelity. Friendships have become increasingly harder to navigate, and the desire to build and maintain community remains higher than ever. The state of the world has left us feeling helpless. We may feel disconnected from our families, our peers, our jobs, our personal identities, and our places in society. While it may be hard to process and express these experiences with others and even with ourselves... I am here with you.

I’m so glad to meet you. Many clients come to see me because they are experiencing loss, serious or chronic illness, or struggling with grief. Others have a sense that something is not right. I have specific experience and training in geriatric social work and nearly a decade of experience helping individuals and their families navigate psychosocial challenges of grief, loss and serious illness. I can also help with conceptualizing end of life wishes and legacy work.