Discover how starting grief & loss counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
3 therapists available in Worcester
As a former member of a special operations military unit, I understand and can empathize with directly- and indirectly-related iss...
About
As a former member of a special operations military unit, I understand and can empathize with directly- and indirectly-related issues.
Lee Walker is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and a former member of a military Special Operations unit with 45 years of experience in mental health/addictions treatment. He is very concerned regarding the impact of trauma (frequently underrated) and the disease course of addictions (also frequently underrated). He is optimistic that significant life improvement is possible for his clients, and is committed to working with them to see that potential. Leon’s specialties are PTDS, trauma, and addictions.
Lee earned his Bachelor's in Abnormal Psychology at Clark University and Master's at Assumption University. His military background exposed him to a wide range of life circumstances and difficulties that impact people—many of whom have given up hope. Lee teaches his clients to use rational emotive therapy and reality therapy to manage symptoms on their own.
Lee believes that all clients have the potential to conduct self-therapy so they have clinical tools and interventions at all times.
Education and training
View more therapists in Worcester
As a young woman, I understand the challenges that academic, work, and family stress can present....
As a young woman, I understand the challenges that academic, work, and family stress can present.
Alyson Burchfield is a Resident-in Counseling (RIC) with over two years of internship experience in the mental health field. She provides therapeutic care to adults and couples who are seeking help with depression, anxiety, stress management, difficult life transitions, adjustment disorder, LGBTQ issues, mindfulness, and meditation. Alyson is a strong and empathetic ally who regards individuals as the experts of their own experience.
Alyson completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Franklin Pierce University and received her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. She utilizes an eclectic and collaborative strengths-based, narrative-based, mindfulness-based, solutions-focused, and person-centered approach to therapeutic care. Alyson is always fostering a therapeutic alliance that allows for individuals and clients to grow at their own pace while providing a safe and welcoming environment.
Alyson seeks to establish a compassionate and warm relationship with you to assist in building upon your strengths, and to collaborate with you on meeting your goals, processing challenges, and developing tools and techniques to help you grow even outside of counseling.
I'm passionate about creating a safe and judgement-free space where you can explore, heal, and grow into your best self; together,...
I'm passionate about creating a safe and judgement-free space where you can explore, heal, and grow into your best self; together, we'll turn challenges into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Christina Zarlengo is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 2 years of experience helping individuals seek clarity, balance, and personal growth. She supports clients through life transitions, relationship challenges, stress, and self-esteem concerns. Using an integrative, evidence-based approach, Christina blends proven therapeutic techniques with a warm, compassionate presence, empowering clients to gain insight, build resilience, and develop tools to create meaningful change and live with greater confidence and purpose.
Christina earned her Master’s in Counseling from Westfield State University. She has experience working with clients of all ages and utilizes a trauma-informed, integrative approach. She helps clients explore early experiences, understand behavior patterns, and build resilience, creating lasting change from the inside out.
Christina understands the challenges you face and how overwhelming the search for support can be. With warmth and care, she encourages you to reach out—your story matters. Together, you’ll explore what healing looks like for you, finding clarity, strength, and hope one step at a time.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Not ready to book? Contact me
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We'll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
No membership fees or subscriptions
Evening and weekend sessions
Award-winning therapy & psychiatry
What support are you seeking?
You acknowledge that by submitting this form, you are providing what may be considered “sensitive data” and consent to Thriveworks Privacy Policy & Terms. By submitting this information, you consent to receive communication from Thriveworks about our services via automatic calls, artificial or pre-recorded messages, or texts at the phone number provided, or by email at the address provided. You have the option to opt out of communications.
We will contact you with availability updates based on the preferences you provided for up to six months.
My go-to approach for helping people in grief & loss counseling is the stages of grief. I find it best benefits the client in understanding where they are at in their process and how to navigate each stage.
I teach the following tools in grief & loss counseling: myths and facts of grief. Understanding what grief is and what it is not helps clients recognize that no grieving process is the same, that everyone approaches it differently and that is okay. Understanding that the stages of grief are not linear, and being able to identify what is it and what it is not will assist the client in reaching acceptance in a healthy manner.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in grief & loss counseling when they are able to identify where they are at in the process and finally are able to complete the goodbye letter. When a client is able to complete the goodbye letter, it does not mean that their process it over, it just means that they accept what has happened and they are able to cherish/remember their loved ones while moving forward with their lives.
Clients can supplement their time in grief & loss counseling with finding additional resources outside of therapy, joining groups (grief group therapy or social media platforms), self-care and prosocial activities that are going to bring them satisfaction and increase their quality of life.
To prepare for their first grief & loss counseling session, an individual can come with ideas or goals of what they want out of therapy but most importantly, to come prepared to feel vulnerable and allow for the healing process to begin. I'd encourage clients to come with the understanding that no grieving process is the same and that the healing process differs for every individual.
Grief and loss counseling helps people grieve difficult losses including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. It helps people navigate their grief process and eventually accept, understand, and move forward from their loss. Thriveworks grief therapists in Worcester, MA have specific experience, training, and skills that enable them to best support grieving individuals.
Grief and loss counseling isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it involves sharing about your loss and then working with your counselor to acknowledge and accept your new reality in its wake. Your provider at Thriveworks in Worcester, MA will design your treatment plan around your unique needs and goals for therapy, applying the counseling techniques that best support them.
If you have recently experienced an event like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, the loss of a job, or another major life change, then you may want to seek grief and loss counseling. Grief can be caused by many experiences and events, so if you feel that you are having trouble moving on from a certain event or find that it is still impacting your life and functioning, grief and loss counseling can help you process it more effectively so that you can move on and once again find fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.
There are many counseling theories for treating grief, one of the most frequently used being the dual process model of grief which helps people acknowledge who or what they’ve lost through rumination while also adjusting to the new roles and identities that this loss has now placed on them. There are also many commonly used therapy approaches used in grief and loss counseling, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and traumatic grief therapy.
Grief & loss counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
For many, grief and loss counseling lasts for about 6 months. For others, it may last shorter or longer, depending on the severity of their loss and their grief.
The bottom line is that grief and loss can be gut-wrenching. Getting through this tough time requires patience, support, and a lot of love. When opening up feels hard or if you don’t want to feel like a burden to others, there are grief counselors who can step in to help. Not only will grief counseling give you a way to express your feelings, but you will be given tools to use as you move forward towards a place of peace. Thriveworks Counseling in Worcester has licensed grief counselors who provide the compassionate and understanding care you may be looking for. Call (508) 409-6134 to schedule an appointment.
Grief happens differently for everyone. Some experience all of the different stages of grief rapidly while others may take months, even years, to cope with a loss. Although we think of death as the only reason to grieve, we can also grieve a lost job, a divorce, and even moving out of an old home. No matter the situation, there are resources to help you out along the way. In general, there are five stages of grief. They are:
The way you move through the stages of grief is unique to you. It might not be as simple as it sounds. Through each stage of grief, you might feel a mix of different emotions, pain being one of the most prevalent. When it gets to be too much, we can get stuck in one of the stages without the ability to move forward towards acceptance. Because of this, it can be very hard to do alone. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, it might be worth reaching out:
You may be wondering how a psychologist could help you grieve. Thriveworks Worcester has some techniques that can be used to help. Our psychologists are highly skilled in this field and have the skills needed to offer you compassionate and thorough care. Some of our specialty techniques include:
We are a client-oriented practice. That means that your unique situation and personality are crucial to the way we provide you care. It also allows our psychologists to connect with you on a deeper level and provide you with more meaningful relationships. If something isn’t working for you, we can change it. No matter what, we have your back.
If you think you could benefit from grief counseling, schedule an appointment with Thriveworks in Worcester. You can book online through our online booking portal or by calling our office at (508) 409-6134. We have flexible scheduling options in the evenings and on weekends and online appointments available, too. Our goal is to work with your schedule so you can get the help you need when you need it. Reach out today to get started.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in ET
Call us to book
Our team is happy to help you schedule your first session.
Book online
Find the right provider for you. Book your session online yourself in just a few easy steps.