Grief Treatment in Massachusetts
Support by secure video when a loss has become too heavy to carry on your own.
Questions first? Call 617-858-8276. Booking and intake run through our secure, HIPAA-compliant patient portal.
Clinically reviewed by Joseph Lavoie, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC · Last reviewed
The short answer
Grief treatment in Massachusetts at Journey Psychiatric Care is talk therapy, and medication only when another condition such as depression is also present. Visits are by secure video from anywhere in the state, with the same clinician every time.
When grief needs more than time
Grief is a normal response to loss. It is not a disorder, and most people do not need a psychiatric provider to get through it. Friends, family, faith communities and grief groups carry a lot of people through the hardest months.
Sometimes grief gets stuck. Months go by and the pain is as sharp as the first week. You stop sleeping, stop eating, or stop caring about anything. Old anxiety or depression comes back. That is when it helps to talk with someone trained in mental health.
At Journey, that person is Joseph Lavoie, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. He is not a psychiatrist or a physician. He can evaluate what is going on, offer psychotherapy, and prescribe medication when it is indicated.
What grief care covers
Loss of a person
The death of a partner, parent, child, friend or anyone close to you, whether it was sudden or expected.
Other losses
Divorce, a miscarriage, a lost job, a diagnosis, or a pet who was family. Grief is not only about death.
Grief with depression or anxiety
When loss sets off depression, panic, heavy drinking or sleep problems, those get treated too.
Normal grief and prolonged grief
Grief comes in waves. In the early months you might cry often, feel numb, replay the last conversation, or feel the person is still in the room. Those are common, and they usually soften over time even if they never fully go away.
The American Psychiatric Association now recognizes prolonged grief disorder. For adults, it is considered when at least a year has passed since the death and intense longing or preoccupation with the person still gets in the way of daily life most days. Other signs include feeling that part of you has died, avoiding reminders, or being unable to plan for the future.
Grief and depression can look alike, but they are not the same. In grief, painful feelings tend to be tied to the loss. In depression, low mood and worthlessness spread to everything. An evaluation helps sort out which one you are dealing with, because the treatment is different.
What treatment looks like
For most people, the main tool is therapy: a steady place to talk about the person, the loss, and the parts of life that changed. There is no medication that treats grief itself. If depression, anxiety or insomnia has set in, medication may help with those, and Joseph will explain the options before anything is prescribed.
Therapy for grief is not about getting over the person. It is about finding a way to carry the loss and still live your life. That can mean talking through guilt or anger, working on sleep and routine, and slowly going back to the places and people you have been avoiding.
Signs it is time to reach out
- You still cannot accept the death, or feel numb, many months later.
- You have stopped seeing friends, working, or taking care of yourself.
- You are drinking more or using other substances to get through the day.
- You feel life has no meaning or think about joining the person who died. If so, call or text 988 now.
How it works
- Book a first visit. Your first visit is a full psychiatric evaluation by secure video.
- Tell your story at your own pace. You talk about the loss, how you are sleeping and eating, and what feels hardest right now.
- Agree on a plan. Therapy, medication for a co-occurring condition, or both. Nothing is started without your say.
- Keep the same clinician. Follow-up visits are with Joseph every time, so you never re-tell the story of your loss.
Related conditions and care
Insurance
In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, Oscar Health, Oxford, Point32Health and UnitedHealthcare. Out-of-network invoices are available, and you can contact us for current self-pay rates.
Frequently asked questions
How long does grief last?
There is no set timeline. Many people find the sharpest pain eases over the first year or two, though anniversaries and holidays can bring it back. If grief is still as intense after a year and is keeping you from daily life, it is worth getting evaluated.
What is prolonged grief disorder?
It is a diagnosis the American Psychiatric Association added in 2022. For adults, it applies when intense longing for or preoccupation with the person lasts at least a year after the death and causes real trouble in daily life. It is treatable, most often with therapy.
Is there medication for grief?
No medication treats grief itself. Medication may help if grief has led to depression, anxiety or severe insomnia. Joseph will tell you whether that applies to you and what the trade-offs are.
Should I see a therapist or a psychiatric provider for grief?
If you mainly need a place to talk, a grief counselor or therapist may be enough. If you also have symptoms of depression or anxiety, or you might benefit from medication, a psychiatric nurse practitioner can do both. Which do I need?
Can grief cause depression?
Yes. A loss can trigger a depressive episode, especially if you have had depression before. Signs include low mood that is not tied to the loss, feeling worthless, and losing interest in everything. Those signs are a reason to get help.
Is grief therapy by video as helpful as in person?
For talk-based care, many people find video works well, and it means no driving or sitting in a waiting room on a hard day. You need a private space and a steady internet connection. You must be in Massachusetts during each visit.
Take the next step in your journey.
Same clinician every visit. Telehealth anywhere in Massachusetts.
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