The Best Online Grief Counseling for Parents, Kids, and Families

Best Overall: Lifestance

Key Specs  

• Price: $75-$300 per session depending on insurance coverage and the therapist selected 
• Insurance Accepted? Yes
• Types of Counseling: Individual therapy, medication management 

Why We Chose It

Lifestance is a highly rated online grief counseling option that boasts an excellent selection of therapists, accepts insurance, and has great client ratings and reviews.  

Pros & Cons 

Overview 

Grief can infiltrate every facet of your life, and if you’re a parent, that means your kids’ lives as well, so it might be helpful to have a counselor who can support their mental health as well as your own. LifeStance offers individual and family therapy, meaning you can work through how your grief is impacting your family as a unit as well as on an individual level.

Founded in 2017, LifeStance employs around 5,400 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists, and counselors who offer both in-person and virtual grief counseling. It focuses on providing high-quality mental health care that is covered by insurance and is FSA/HSA eligible.

Signing up for LifeStance is a simple, intuitive process, which may be a relief if grief is making even small tasks seem impossible. Its website is easy to navigate and selecting a therapist takes only a few minutes. Once you’ve chosen a therapist and an appointment time, you’ll receive automatic reminders for the one-on-one grief counseling appointments which run 45 minutes. Users have left positive reviews of their therapists and of the progress they've made. 

LifeStance takes insurance-covered and self-pay clients. Unfortunately, because each therapist's fee is different, you cannot easily filter by cost or know exactly how much your session will cost until it’s been booked. If you happen to need medication management, LifeStance also offers this service depending on the therapist that you select, however, this is typically reserved for more long-term issues rather than short-term counseling. 

Plans & Prices 

Counseling sessions last 45 minutes. There’s no information on the website about how much sessions cost, but the company told us it’s between $75 and $300 per session depending on location and the therapist’s level of expertise. Lifestance accepts all major insurance carriers as well as FSA and HSA funds.

User Satisfaction  

Eighty-eight percent of Lifestance clients reported that they had a positive experience with 22% sharing that their experience was excellent, and 41% noting that it was very good. Lifestance users also largely felt that their therapist was a good fit, with 73% reporting that their therapist met all or most of their needs and 79% felt good about the number of quality Lifestance providers available in their state. 

Best for Affordability: Wellnite

Key Specs

• Price: Plans start at $75 per month 
• Insurance Accepted? Yes
• Types of Counseling: Individual therapy, medication management

Why We Chose It

Wellnite offers a range of counseling services and has therapists who specialize in grief processing. Its plan costs only $75 per month for those who are paying out of pocket. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview

Parents and families who don’t have insurance and are looking for affordable counseling to cope with grief will find quality care at Wellnite. It offers family counseling as well as individual counseling for parents or teens over 13.

The most inexpensive plan is just $75 a month and includes four chat-based mental health coaching sessions, a monthly consultation with a doctor, and a 30-day supply of one prescription as needed—an extremely affordable option when compared to other counseling services on this list. While chat-based counseling may not be right for everyone, it might be a comfort for those mired in grief who aren’t ready to meet a counselor face to face. 

Wellnite acknowledges that grief is different for everyone and that it’s important to work with a counselor to set your and/or your family’s goals and discuss what sort of support is needed. However, if text-based counseling is all you can manage at the moment, their most inexpensive plan may be a good fit. 

You will communicate with your providers through either a video call or a web-based chat session via the secure patient portal. Accessing either of these types of communication is simple and reviewers noted that it was easy to use the platform. The counselors, doctors, and psychiatrists who work with Wellnite all specialize in the treatment of anxiety and depression, so if you have ongoing depression and anxiety in addition to the grief you are seeking support for, this may be a particularly good option. 

Plans & Prices

Insurance is accepted, but you must be on a PPO plan. Wellnite offers two subscription options:

• The Serotonin Plan: $75 per month; gives you access to four chat-based sessions per month, one doctor consultation every month, and a 30-day supply of one prescription, if needed
• The Mindfulness Plan: $195 per month; gives you everything the Serotonin plan does, plus two video-call sessions with a licensed therapist 
  

User Satisfaction

Seventy-six percent of Wellnite users shared that its services were either very good or excellent and 73% reported that they felt the value for their money spent was either very good or excellent. Eighty percent of users said that their Wellnite experience was better than other services they have used in the past and 91% said that they were either likely or very likely to recommend Wellnite to someone like them. 

Best for Text-Based Therapy: Talkspace

Key Specs

• Price: $69–$109 per week
• Insurance Accepted? Yes
• Types of Counseling: Individual therapy, couples therapy, teen counseling, psychiatry, medication management 

Why We Chose It 

Talkspace is a well-known, well-regarded teletherapy service, and very accessible for those who want to talk or text for therapy. Text-based therapy may be helpful as a supplement to other grief counseling options or as an option for those who prefer to avoid face-to-face therapy. 

Pros & Cons

Overview 

Talkspace is one of the most established and well-known online therapy companies. It stands out for ease of use with its clear pricing plan, insurance acceptance, and quick matching process. It’s also one of the only online grief counseling options that includes the option for text-based therapy, which may be helpful for people who aren’t yet willing or able to speak to someone about their grief face to face. 

While virtual counseling is considered to be as effective as in-person counseling, many experts don’t feel that text counseling is an effective substitute for either virtual or in-person therapy. However, text counseling may be helpful as a supplement to online grief counseling. 

The messaging therapy plan starts at $69 per week and includes unlimited messaging and guaranteed therapist response five days per week. Whether you want to text from time to time when you’re feeling like you could use the support or you can sit down and dedicate time to text therapy on a regular schedule, this plan can be a great fit. 

Talkspace is also a good option for people who want to try live chat therapy. Live chat therapy functions like a chat-only meeting where you and your therapist instant message back and forth in real-time. The Live Therapy plan (including live chats) starts at $99 per week and includes four live therapy sessions each month via phone, video call, or live chat. 

Plans & Prices

Talkspace Accepts most common insurance plans, FSA, and HSA, and billing is monthly. It operates on a subscription base and has plans ranging from $69 per week to $109 per week.

• $69 per week to message a therapist and receive responses five days per week
• $99 per week for one weekly live 30-minute video, audio, or chat therapy session plus daily weekday messaging
• $109 per week for access to a weekly live 30-minute video, audio, or chat therapy session, daily weekday messaging, and access to live workshops
  

User Satisfaction

Ninety-four percent of users reported they had a good, very good, or excellent experience with Talkspace and 78% of users felt that all or most of their needs were met by their counselor. Ninety-two percent of users said that their counselor’s qualifications were good, very good, or excellent and 82% said they were either likely or very likely to recommend the service to others. 

Best for Teens: Teen Counseling

Key Specs

• Price: $60–$90 per week
• Insurance Accepted? No
• Types of Counseling: Individual talk and text therapy 

Why We Chose It

Teen counseling works exclusively with adolescents (ages 13–19) in all 50 states. Its monthly subscription is relatively affordable and includes four live sessions and unlimited messaging. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview

Teens may have a hard time opening up about their grief, but if they have access to an online counselor, particularly one who offers text therapy, it may be easier. Teen Counseling offers individual therapy, including grief counseling, to adolescents ages 13 to 19 in all 50 states. Therapy sessions are always facilitated by licensed and accredited psychologists, clinical social workers, or professional counselors.

Clients enroll in Teen Counseling’s monthly subscription plan which includes four live therapy sessions and unlimited messaging each week. While Teen Counseling does not take insurance, it is a relatively affordable subscription when compared to other companies. 

Teens and their caregivers both receive patient portals when they sign up for Teen Counseling and can share their specific needs there. This can help ensure that parents and caregivers stay in the loop and can share important information with the counselor (such as if they notice a sudden change in their teen with regard to how they’re coping with their grief) while also being sure that their teen has privacy. 

Reviewers noted that it was easy to view therapist bios and to enroll in the program but that the therapy portal was a bit glitchy. Eighty-five percent of users were satisfied with the therapist they were matched with, though many felt frustrated that exact pricing (the website only gives a range) was not disclosed until after they signed up and were matched with a therapist. 

Plans & Prices

Teen counseling only has one subscription plan—four therapy sessions per month and unlimited messaging—that costs $60 to $90 per week, depending on your location. It does not accept insurance.

User Satisfaction

Our user survey responses were somewhat mixed for Teen Counseling. While 85% of users felt their experience was either “excellent,” “very good,” or “good,” only 34% reported that they felt their counselor was understanding and open-minded and only 16% felt their counselor cared about their well-being. That being said, 76% of users said that all or most of their needs were met when using Teen Counseling. 

Best for Support Groups: Circles

Key Specs

• Price: $79 per month
• Insurance Accepted? No
• Types of Counseling: Group therapy focused on a range of challenges or experiences 

Why We Chose It

Circles provides affordable, accessible online-facilitated support groups specifically for people facing similar experiences of grief and offer them a community of those who genuinely empathize. 

Pros & Cons

Overview

Parents who are grieving may have trouble finding the space to cope because of their busy, often relentless schedule. This may be especially true for solo parents who aren’t able to afford too much time away from their kids.

Virtual support grief groups are such vital resources because they make it possible to connect with others who are struggling in similar ways. Circles offers users weekly, facilitated support groups for those who are grieving. When you sign up with Circles, you share your ongoing challenges and then are assigned to a group that will meet consistently for 12+ weeks. This schedule allows you to find and give support, and ultimately build connections with other group members. 

You can access the Circles platform easily on your desktop or mobile device. After you’ve been assigned to your circle, you can access all of your group chats and group counseling sessions through the Circles app or portal on the website. Each group is facilitated by a trained, licensed mental health professional, though they tend to be driven by group members' comments and needs rather than any sort of professional agenda. 

In addition to weekly group therapy sessions, users have access to a 24/7 chat that can be used to communicate with the group’s facilitator or other members of the group. Membership also includes access to a library of content including blogs, webinars, and self-help exercises, many of which focus on things like mindfulness and the mind-body connection. 

Plans & Prices

• $79 per month for weekly group therapy sessions and unlimited chatting with other group members and the group facilitator 
• Insurance not accepted
• Free one-week trial with sign-up

User Satisfaction

Users generally felt very positive about their experience using Circles for online grief therapy. Sixty-two percent of users that we surveyed said that Circles was better or much better than other similar services and 66% stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the facilitator of their group. Forty-eight percent also said that the app is easier to use than other similar services. 

Best for Pregnancy and Infant Loss: Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

Key Specs

• Price: Free
• Insurance Accepted? N/A 
• Types of Counseling: Facilitated support groups 

Why We Chose It 

The support groups offered through Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support provide community, counseling, and comfort to those who have experienced this sort of loss. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview 

Those who’ve lost a child, either before they were born or long after, may feel like no one can understand the grief they’re experiencing, except someone else who’s been through it.

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support provides that support in the form of grief groups, both virtual and in-person around the country. Groups are facilitated by individuals trained in perinatal counseling and invite participants to share their feelings, find comfort, and offer support to other parents and caregivers who have experienced similar losses. 

The online grief groups hosted by Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support are free and meet several times per month. You don’t need to register in advance but do need to agree to confidentiality guidelines and other group rules. The groups can be accessed directly from the website or via a link you can request through email. Those seeking more continuous or on-demand peer support can join a private Facebook group for lost parents or reach out to Share Staff to connect with local resources. 

If you are interested in in-person groups, you can find state-by-state resources for local meetups and support under the Support tab on the website. 

Plans & Pricing

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support is a free resource. It costs nothing to join and participate in grief counseling groups.

User Satisfaction

While we did not survey users who have tried Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss support groups, we felt it was important to include it on this list because it offers such targeted support in a way that few other online services do. Parents who have sought the support of Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support noted in testimonials on the website that being in a community with others facing the same challenges was helpful in their time of need. This organization is well regarded and has local chapters across the nation that offer local in-person support. 

“The loss of a pregnancy or a baby is a specific kind of grief, so being able to access a support group just for this type of loss is imperative,” explains Hannah Owens, LMSW and subject matter expert. “Knowing that every person in the group has had the same experience can be bolstering and assure you that you are not alone in your grief.”

Best for Spouse Loss: Soaring Spirits International Widowed Village

Key Specs

• Price: Free
• Insurance Accepted? NA
• Types of Counseling: Online forums, Zoom support groups 

Why We Chose It 

Soaring Spirits International Widowed Village is committed to supporting those who have lost a spouse or partner by providing information, a community of people with the shared experience of widowhood, and one-on-one connections which can offer support when times are tough. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview 

Soaring Spirits International Widowed Village offers support for people who have lost their life partner, no matter how recent or distant the loss was. While it doesn’t connect you with an online therapist, Soaring Spirits provides access to support groups comprised of individuals who have also lost their spouse. That type of support system can sometimes be the most comforting because it’s made up of people who’re going through a similar experience and may therefore understand what you’re feeling better than most.

In addition to offering a wealth of resources for the recently widowed, Soaring Spirits has several virtual programs that provide both information and peer-to-peer support. Widowed individuals can participate in in-person support groups (search the website to find a local meeting) or in virtual support groups that can be joined after emailing a group leader right from the website.

Soaring Spirits International also offers a Widowed Village Online Forum where support can be sought on-demand as well as a Newly Widowed Virtual Program. This weekly program combines research-based presentations on relevant topics as well as the opportunity to connect with widowed peers. 

The Newly Widowed Virtual Program program is free, with easy sign-up and enrollment on a rolling basis. Once you join the forum, you can seek support whenever you need it by posting questions, requesting information, or asking for moral support. In addition to these core programs, there are small groups that meet virtually to offer even more tailored peer support. You can view these on the website and then email the group leader (from the website) to receive an event link. 

Plans & Pricing 

Soaring Spirits International Widowed Village is a free resource providing access to both in-person and virtual support groups to those who’ve lost a life partner. It costs nothing to join and participate in the groups.

User Satisfaction

We did not independently survey users of Soaring Spirits International, so the user satisfaction data we have is from websites that rate 501(c)3 organizations and from positive reviews shared within the Soaring Spirits materials. The company is a well-regarded non-profit organization with many positive reviews noted in its annual report.

“Having a group dedicated specifically to spouse loss means that you know that everyone in the group will understand what you’ve been through,” notes Owens, “and can provide support based on personal experience. This guarantees that you won’t feel isolated in your grief.”

Best for Family Therapy: Thriveworks

Key Specs

• Price: Starts at $99 per session 
• Insurance Accepted? Yes
• Types of Counseling: Individual therapy, family therapy, couples counseling, children’s therapy, additional counseling, medication management, in-person and online therapy sessions 

Why We Chose It 

Thriveworks offers flexible and efficient scheduling, in-person and online therapy sessions, and a strong family therapy program.  

Pros & Cons

Overview 

It can be difficult to find a counseling service that will treat children under 10, especially for something as challenging as grief. Thriveworks, however, has counselors available with considerable expertise in supporting children throughout most life challenges, including grief. 

Thriveworks has over 380 in-person treatment locations and a huge number of counselors who meet with clients virtually, so you’ll be able to schedule your first session quickly. It is also known for its scheduling flexibility, something that can be particularly important if you are trying to ensure multiple family members can attend a session. You can schedule sessions in the evenings, after traditional working hours, and on weekends. 

Thriveworks has an intuitive scheduling system and its website is well-written and easy to navigate. As you search for a therapist who will meet your needs, you’ll be able to filter based on a range of criteria and view therapist bios that include their credentials, therapy approach and areas of expertise, and scheduling availability. Therapist bios do not include information about things like religious background or racial identity, so if this is important, you may need to meet with a few therapists to find one who fits your criteria. 

Most of those who reviewed Thriveworks were happy with their experience overall, though some noted that if you do not have insurance, you will end up paying quite a bit more per session than you would with other therapy companies.

Plans & Prices

Thriveworks works on a pay-per-session model and costs $99 per session if you are paying out of pocket. Many common insurance plans are accepted. There is no therapist-matching process, so you’ll need to browse and choose the best fit.

User Satisfaction

Overall, Thriveworks received positive reviews—90% of the users were satisfied with the Thriveworks experience and 80% of users would be very likely or likely to recommend Thriveworks to a friend. Seventy percent would start their search again with Thriveworks if they needed to find a new therapist, and 88% said their therapist's qualifications were good to excellent.

Best for Insurance: Amwell

Key Specs

• Price: $109–$129
• Insurance Accepted? Yes
• Types of Counseling: Individual, couples, and family therapy 

Why We Chose It 

Amwell prioritizes accepting insurance and currently takes over 126 plans. Since insurance coverage is a “must” for many families to make therapy financially accessible, it makes the company an excellent choice for online grief counseling. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview 

Those coping with grief may also be facing financial struggles, so the idea of spending more money on grief counseling may not seem like an option. Amwell is a telemedicine company that recognizes that financial strain can be an obstacle to mental health, and it accepts a large spectrum of insurance plans—over 126 insurance companies to be exact.

Amwell also provides targeted support for grief counseling, along with other conditions that are considered “life transitions” that interfere with your day-to-day life. While life transitions like grief and loss are typically short-term, their effects may be long-lasting, and it may be difficult to cope with without support, like counseling.

While one of Amwell’s biggest draws is the large number of insurance plans it accepts, you can still pay out of pocket if you need to, however, the cost per session is on the higher end of teletherapy options on this list. Expect to pay between $109 and $129, depending on your therapist's level of education and expertise.

Signing up with Amwell is easy—you’ll need to first create an account and enter your personal and insurance information. Then you’ll be shown a directory of therapists and can then select the one you want to work with and book an appointment. Therapist bios include information about their education and experience as well as their availability. While therapist availability is a priority for Amwell, you may have to wait a few days to a few weeks to meet with the therapist of your choice.  

Plans & Prices

There is no subscription to use Amwell; you pay for each therapy session individually which runs between $109 and $129. Insurance is accepted (over 126 insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid).

User Satisfaction

Overall, reviewers of Amwell’s services felt they had a good experience—91% shared that their experience was either good, very good, or excellent. Eighty-eight percent of users said that their overall experience was better than other services they’ve used in the past and 24% said that Amwell’s therapists had better qualifications, experiences, and specialized training than services they have used in the past. Seventy-three percent of users had no trouble navigating the company’s website.

Best for Kids (under 12): Little Otter

Key Specs

• Price: $90–$200 per session 
• Insurance Accepted? Very limited 
• Types of Counseling: Children’s therapy, teen counseling, couples therapy, and family therapy

Why We Chose It 

Little Otter specializes in mental health services, including grief counseling, for children up to age 14. 

Pros & Cons 

Overview 

When a child is struggling with grief, it’s important they have support from their family, but it also may be helpful to have them speak with a counselor who excels at providing children with a safe space to process complicated feelings. Little Otter specializes in children’s mental health and has a robust onboarding process that helps ensure that families have the support they need. This company prioritizes whole-family involvement and offers individual counseling sessions for children and parents as well as parent coaching and couples counseling. 

When you sign up with Little Otter you’ll be assigned to a care lead who will talk with you and your child and match you with a counselor. While this process is intentional and thoughtful, some users do report a lack of diversity among counselors which can make matching with someone who you feel is a strong fit more difficult. 

Sessions are conducted via video chat and messaging takes place on a secure app (which requires a $30 per month subscription). While there are discounts if you purchase a bundle, this pricing is still much higher than many other companies. This, in conjunction with the fact that Little Otter only takes one type of insurance (Kaiser Permanente) and is only available in some states, may make it a less-accessible option for some.  

Plans & Prices

Little Otter is a pay-per-session plan. It costs $90 for a 30-minute welcome session and then $200 per 45-minute session after that, plus a monthly $30 subscription to the app. It only accepts the Kaiser Permanente insurance plan, however, bundled options are available for a multi-session discount. 

User Satisfaction

Seventy-five percent of users reported the quality of service great and 79% considered therapists' qualifications either “excellent,” “very good,'' or “good.” However, 62% (which is less than most other services we reviewed) felt that Little Otter was better than other services they have used in the past, and 70% of those we surveyed reported that all or most of their needs were met.