Loss and Grief Therapy
In person and virtual grief and loss therapy in Culver City, Mar Vista, Venice CA, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, El Segundo, Westchester, and Manhattan Beach
Grief therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed to help individuals process the emotional, physical, and cognitive impact of loss. At Melissa W. Cooper Therapy, we provide evidence-based grief support to help you navigate mourning, reduce feelings of isolation, and find a path toward meaningful healing.
Do You Feel Like the World Stopped When You Experienced a Loss?
Grief of a Loss is not a problem to be solved or a task to be finished. It is a profound human experience that impacts your mind, body, and spirit. Whether your loss is recent or years old, you may feel like you’re carrying an invisible weight that no one else can see. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or alone in your sorrow, please know that healing doesn't mean "moving on", it means finding a way to carry your loss with more ease.
Signs You May Benefit from Grief Support
Emotional Waves: Feeling fine one moment and completely overwhelmed the next.
Grief Brain: Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or feeling out of touch with daily life.
Isolation: Feeling like friends and family don’t understand or that you’re a burden to them.
Physical Exhaustion: Persistent fatigue or changes in sleep and appetite.
My Specialized Approach to Grief Therapy
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Loss destabilizes your identity and sense of self. Reframing the loss is the first step to building self compassion and reducing shame over needing help.
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Identify hidden losses such as past identity, a version of the future you imagined, routine and predictability, and community or status.
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Reduce your overwhelm and stress so you can think clearly. Tools I use include:
Grounding exercises
Emotion regulation skills (DBT-style tools)
Cognitive restructuring (CBT)
Sleep and routine support
Mindfulness Practices
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As you transition from coping with the loss to integrating it into your life our focus will switch to help you answer the following questions:
What is this loss teaching you?
How does this fit into your larger life story?
What kind of person do you want to be in this new chapter?
This stage is about coherence.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California I am dedicated to helping individuals navigate the complexity of Loss and Grief. With over 8 years of clinical experience, my practice is rooted in evidenced-based care and a deep understanding of the mourning process. Either in person or virtually, I provide a compassionate HIPPA compliant space for clients to process their emotions without judgement.
My therapeutic approach is person-centered and integrative, drawing from the insights of Depth Perspective (Jungian) Psychotherapy, combined with evidence based practices, including CBT, EMDR, Mindfulness and Somatic Healing. Rather than focusing on “moving on” I work with you to integrate loss into your life story, cultivating resilience.
My education and training includes Depth Perspective (Jungian) Psychotherapy, Somatic Healing, Mindfulness Practices, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprogramming (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), allowing me to integrate insight-driven exploration with tools that deliver real world results.
Melissa’s Welcome Video
Melissa W. Cooper, MA, LMFT
Specialized Loss and Grief Therapist
In Person Therapy in Culver City and Surrounding Communities or Virtual Sessions throughout CA
Specializations
Stress
Anxiety
Burnout
Trauma
Counseling for Women
Life Transitions
Grief & Loss
Chronic Pain
What Other Therapists Say About Melissa
Endorsements From Psychology Today
Therapy is an important investment in your mental health and well-being. I strive to make the payment process clear, supportive, and transparent.
As an out of network provider, I do not accept insurance directly. Superbills will be provided upon request which you can submit to your PPO insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
Understanding Your Payment Options
You don’t Have to Walk This Path Alone
Taking the first step is often the hardest part of the journey. I offer a free introductory consultation to see if we are a good fit for your healing process.
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Grief counseling provides a structured environment to process the "tasks of mourning." Key benefits include reducing the physical symptoms of stress, identifying healthy ways to remember the deceased, managing "grief triggers," and preventing the development of complicated grief or clinical depression.
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There is no universal timeline for grief; however, most individuals begin to see a shift in the intensity of their emotions within 6 to 12 months. Therapy can help when "acute grief" feels frozen or does not evolve into "integrated grief," allowing you to function more effectively in daily life.
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We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
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Yes. Grief therapy is highly effective for "disenfranchised grief," which includes losses not always recognized by society, such as divorce, job loss, pet loss, infertility, or the "anticipatory grief" experienced when a loved one has a chronic illness like dementia.
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Your first session is a "safe landing." We will discuss the nature of your loss, your current support system, and any physical or emotional symptoms you are experiencing. There is no pressure to "fix" anything immediately; the goal is to build a foundation of trust and safety.