Conditions we care for
Grief care for what
doesn't fade with time.
The death of someone you loved. An anticipated loss. A loss that does not fit a clean category. Grief is not a problem to be solved, and it is not a timeline to be respected. We support you through whatever shape yours takes.
- 2 locations · Cedar Rapids · St. Thomas
- In-person · Telehealth available
Grief is not pathology
"Some grief needs witnessing. Some needs treatment. Both are okay."
How we treat grief
Grief support, matched to what you actually need.
Most grief, even profound grief, is not a mental illness. It is the natural response of a human being to losing someone or something that mattered. The first reason patients come to us for grief is not to be diagnosed or medicated. It is to be witnessed by someone trained to sit with grief without trying to rush it.
Some grief, however, becomes complicated. It does not soften with time. It hijacks daily functioning months or years after the loss. It tangles with depression, anxiety, or trauma in ways that need clinical attention. This is what is sometimes called prolonged grief disorder or complicated grief, and there are specific, well-studied treatments for it.
We hold both of these realities at once. Most of the patients we see for grief do not need a diagnosis or a medication. They need a thoughtful, trained therapist and the space to grieve in their own way. Some do need more, and we can offer that too.
No timeline. No pressure.
You grieve at your pace, not the world's.
How we treat grief
Grief support, matched to what you actually need.
Treatment depends on what shape your grief is taking and whether it has become entangled with depression, anxiety, or trauma.
Grief Therapy
One-on-one therapy with a clinician trained in grief work. Modalities include meaning-centered approaches, complicated grief therapy (CGT), and trauma-informed grief work where the loss was sudden or traumatic. Sometimes the work is simply being heard by someone who is not afraid of grief.
Psychiatry & Medication (When Helpful)
Most patients grieving do not need medication. Some do, particularly when grief is layered with major depression, debilitating anxiety, or sleep so disrupted it impairs functioning. We prescribe thoughtfully, knowing that medication is a tool for a specific job, not a substitute for grief itself.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (Select Cases)
For patients whose grief has become entangled with treatment-resistant depression or PTSD, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be a consideration. It is not first-line care for grief itself, and we evaluate fit honestly: KAP is for clinical conditions that meet criteria, not for the experience of grief alone.
How treatment works
From your first call to ongoing care.
No surprises. Here is exactly what the path from your first call to ongoing treatment looks like at our clinic.
01
Reach out.
Book online or call us at (319) 800-2125 (Cedar Rapids) or (340) 244-9658 (St. Thomas). A free 15-minute consultation is the easiest way to start if you are not sure where to begin.
02
Initial evaluation.
A 60 to 90 minute conversation with a clinician. Full psychiatric and medical history, a review of what you have already tried, and a conversation about what you actually want out of treatment.
03
Your individualized plan.
We build a treatment plan with you, not for you. It may include therapy, medication, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, functional medicine workups, or a combination. We explain the why behind every recommendation.
04
Treatment begins.
You start the plan we built together. Sessions are scheduled around your life. In-person at our Cedar Rapids or St. Thomas clinics, or via secure telehealth where appropriate.
05
Ongoing care and adjustment.
Mental health is not linear. We check in, measure progress, adjust the plan when things change, and coordinate with your other providers when that helps.
Forms of loss we support patients through.
Grief takes many shapes, and some are easier for others to recognize than others. Every form is valid.
Under the grief umbrella
Frequently asked
Questions about grief treatment.
If your question isn’t here, our team can walk you through it. Call (319) 800-2125 or request a free 15-minute consultation.
01How long should grief last?
There is no normal timeline. Grief is not linear, and it does not graduate at six months or a year. For most people, the rawness of grief softens over time even as the loss remains. For some, grief stays acute or intensifies, and that is when professional support can help.
02What is complicated grief?
Complicated grief, sometimes called prolonged grief disorder, describes grief that remains acutely impairing well past the typical adjustment window (often defined as more than a year after the loss). Symptoms can include persistent yearning, difficulty accepting the loss, identity disruption, and functional impairment. There are specific therapies that help.
03Do I need to be diagnosed with something to get grief therapy?
No. Many patients we see for grief have no diagnosable mental health condition. They are grieving, and they want a thoughtful clinician to support them through it. Therapy is appropriate care even when there is no formal diagnosis.
04Will I have to take medication?
Most patients grieving do not need medication. It can be helpful when grief is entangled with major depression, severe anxiety, or sleep that has become impossible. The decision is collaborative and never automatic.
05I lost someone to suicide. Do you specialize in that?
Loss by suicide is a particular form of grief, often complicated by trauma, guilt, anger, and complex social dynamics. We have clinicians experienced with this kind of loss and can also connect you with peer support groups where helpful.
06Can I bring my family to grief therapy?
Yes, family grief work is something we do, particularly after the loss of a parent, child, or sibling where multiple family members are grieving together. We also offer individual work alongside family sessions.
07Can grief support be done over telehealth?
Yes. Grief therapy can be delivered effectively via secure telehealth, and many patients prefer it, particularly in the early months when leaving the house feels like too much.
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Ready when you are.
Whether you’re booking your first visit or just want to talk to someone — we’re here.