Losing a loved one can leave you feeling overwhelmed, disoriented and distressed.
A Christian grief counselor can help you process these painful emotions, drawing on both psychological tools and spiritual resources—such as prayer, scripture, and the hope of eternal life.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to find a Christian grief counselor, what qualities to look for in a therapist, and what to expect during the process of getting help.
1. BetterHelp
BetterHelp is an online platform that connects you with licensed therapists who have at least three years of experience—including many Christian counselors who specialize in grief and bereavement.
These professionals combine research-backed therapy approaches with an understanding of your faith, helping you work through loss in ways that strengthen both your emotional and spiritual well-being.
When you sign up, you’ll complete an intake questionnaire where you can indicate that you’re seeking a Christian counselor. You can also share the main concerns you’d like to work on—such as grief, anxiety, family struggles, or spiritual doubt.
In addition, there are further preferences you can specify, such as the therapist’s counseling background or gender.
A BetterHelp plan includes one live therapy appointment per week (usually via a video call, if that works for you), plus unlimited messaging with your counselor in between sessions.
This structure makes it easier to share difficult emotions as they arise by texting your counselor, rather than having to wait for your next appointment to discuss these issues.
For example, you might message your counselor during a wave of sadness or when questions about faith and loss come up. Then, you can explore these concerns more deeply in your scheduled session.
If the first Christian therapist you’re matched with doesn’t feel like a good fit, BetterHelp makes it simple to switch counselors at a later stage.
The exact cost of BetterHelp depends on factors such as your location and therapist availability, but it is generally cheaper than seeing a therapist in person once a week.
Health insurance plans are not accepted on the platform, but financial aid options are available if you would struggle to afford paying out of pocket.
2. Mental Health Today Therapist Directory
Our Mental Health Today Therapist Directory makes it easy to connect with licensed mental health professionals by filtering based on specialty—allowing you to find Christian counselors in your state that specialize in helping with grief.
If you’re facing bereavement-related challenges—such as overwhelming sadness, loss of purpose, strained relationships, or crises of faith—and want to bring God into your healing journey, the directory can help you find the right counselor to do this.
Many mental health professionals listed in the directory also bring additional expertise—for example, in marriage and family counseling or trauma recovery—so your care can address grief while also supporting your relationships and overall well-being in a faith-based way.
You can choose to meet with a counselor face-to-face, or select a therapist who offers the flexibility of online sessions, depending on what fits your needs best.
For instance, in an online session, you might process painful emotions while your counselor offers prayer or reflects on scripture to bring comfort.
Because each provider sets their own rates, you’ll need to contact them directly about fees, insurance coverage, and availability. You won’t be matched with a therapist automatically, like you are on BetterHelp.
3. Christian Counselor Directory
The Christian Counselor Directory is an online platform dedicated to showcasing professional and pastoral therapists who integrate clinical training with Christian faith.
Counselors listed in the directory must hold at least a graduate degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field, and most are board-certified or state-licensed.
You can search for a counselor by ZIP code, state, or distance to find providers near you.
Each therapist profile highlights key details about them, including their credentials, areas of focus (such as grief, trauma, or marriage counseling), and how the counselor integrates Christian faith into their practice.
Sessions are available by phone, video, or in person, depending on the therapist you connect with.
Depending on your needs, therapy may emphasize evidence-based counseling techniques, faith-based support, or a blend of both.
For example, a grief counselor may integrate prayer and scripture alongside approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic methods to help with depression or anxiety.
Payment is arranged directly with providers, and can vary significantly depending on your state, and the counselor’s experience.
The problem is, in some areas, you might struggle to find a Christian counselor who specializes in grief on this platform. The directory doesn’t have as many Christian therapists available as BetterHelp does at the moment.
What to look for in a Christian counselor
When choosing a Christian grief counselor, it’s important to find someone who blends clinical expertise with faith-based care.
The right counselor will help you work through the painful emotions of grief using an evidence-based approach, while honoring your Christian values and beliefs.
Qualifications and credentials
Start by confirming that your counselor is licensed. Common types of qualified therapists include Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and psychologists (PhD/PsyD).
Most mental health professionals also hold a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or psychology, sometimes with additional training in grief support.
Experience and approach
Experience matters—especially when it comes to bereavement. Ask about the counselor’s background in helping people with grief, complicated grief, or trauma.
Explore how they integrate faith: do they lean more toward biblical counseling, or do they combine prayer and scripture with approaches like CBT or psychodynamic therapy?
Finding a style that resonates with you can make the process more meaningful and effective.
Integration of faith and psychology
Christian grief counseling blends spiritual and clinical tools. This may include prayer, scripture, or simply having a faith-informed perspective while using evidence-based techniques.
A good counselor respects your beliefs and lets you determine to what extent spirituality is emphasized.
Building a therapeutic relationship
Credentials matter, but the relationship is what brings real healing. Choose a counselor who helps you feel safe, heard, and respected.
Trust, empathy, and compassion are key—if you sense judgment, it’s likely not the right fit.
Practical considerations
Check whether the counselor’s location, hours, or mode(s) of therapy work for you. For example, you may prefer online counseling if you’re busy with work or family responsibilities.
Ask about their fees, insurance coverage, and financial aid options (such as sliding-scale pricing, based on your income).
Use the first session as a consultation to ask questions and learn about their treatment approach, faith integration, and communication style.
This not only clarifies expectations, but also gives you the chance to decide if the counselor feels like the right companion for your healing journey.
What to expect from grief counseling
Grief counseling is not about “fixing” your pain—it’s about supporting you as you move through loss at your own pace.
Grief often generates a mix of emotions—sadness, anger, guilt, even moments of relief—that can feel overwhelming without guidance.
One helpful framework is Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning.
These aren’t rigid steps, but touchstones you may return to during your journey:
- Accepting the reality of loss: facing the fact that your loved one is gone.
- Working through the pain of grief: allowing yourself to feel and express deep emotions instead of suppressing them.
- Adjusting to life without your loved one: finding new roles (such as in the household), routines, and sources of support.
- Maintaining a connection while moving forward: keeping memories alive in healthy ways while re-engaging with life.
Different therapeutic approaches can help with these tasks. For example, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can help to ease feelings of guilt or self-blame.
Narrative therapy helps you reshape your story in a more neutral/positive light, and existential or meaning-centered therapy encourages you to find new purpose in life.
Art therapy or psychodynamic therapy may also open other paths of expression. Social models of grief can also remind us that healing isn’t only individual—your relationships, community, and faith play a central role.
If you work with a Christian grief counselor, you may also encounter different styles of Christian counseling:
- Biblical counseling relies heavily on scripture and prayer as primary therapeutic tools.
- Pastoral counseling, often rooted in church contexts, blends spiritual care with emotional guidance.
- Christian psychology integrates evidence-based techniques with faith-based insights.
For example, you might reflect on a biblical passage about comfort in mourning and explore how it speaks to your situation.
Research shows that integrating faith in this way during counseling can strengthen your resilience during bereavement, offering meaning and comfort as you work on moving forward through grief (Murchison, 2024).
Online vs in-person Christian counseling
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Americans receiving psychotherapy has risen by 30%, as virtual sessions have become a lot more normalized.
This shift raises an important question: can online counseling truly match the benefits of sitting with a counselor face-to-face—especially for the sensitive and spiritual work of Christian grief counseling?
In-person Christian counseling offers the advantage of physical presence. Being in the same room allows your counselor to notice nonverbal cues such as facial expressions or body language, which may reveal emotions that are hard to express verbally.
A dedicated space outside your home can also feel like a sanctuary, and for some, praying or reflecting on scripture in person carries a deeper sense of intimacy.
However, in-person counseling isn’t always practical. Christian grief counselors may be hard to find in rural or underserved areas, and barriers like travel time, work schedules, or childcare responsibilities can make regular attendance difficult, making the therapy process ineffective.
Online Christian counseling helps to overcome many of these challenges. It allows you to connect with a licensed counselor from home, with options for video, phone, or messaging-based counseling sessions—though video calls are the most common approach.
For example, you might schedule weekly video sessions for in-depth conversations and send a brief message midweek if a wave of sadness or spiritual doubt rises.
Online sessions are often cheaper than seeing a therapist in person, especially on platforms like BetterHelp, and many providers offer financial aid to make therapy more affordable.
Still, online therapy has its limitations. Platforms like BetterHelp are generally not covered by insurance, and in moments of severe distress or crisis, in-person support may feel safer and more grounding.
Cost of Christian grief counseling in the U.S.
Like most types of therapy in the U.S., the cost of Christian counseling can vary widely, depending on several factors.
While the average price of private sessions has been rising in recent years, Christian counseling itself is not inherently more expensive than other forms of therapy.
Typically, you can expect to pay $100-$250 per session for grief counseling in the U.S., with therapy normally occurring once a week.
Factors that influence the cost of therapy
- Experience and credentials: more experienced counselors or those with advanced training (such as psychologists) may charge higher rates.
- Type of counseling: individual sessions cost less than couples or family counseling.
- Mode of delivery: online counseling is often more affordable than in-person sessions, particularly on subscription-based platforms.
- Insurance coverage: some Christian counselors accept insurance, lowering out-of-pocket costs, while others are private-pay only.
- Location: urban areas tend to have higher rates than smaller towns or rural settings.
- Intern programs: some counseling centers offer reduced-rate sessions with supervised interns, making counseling more accessible.
Examples of options
- BetterHelp offers weekly plans, billed every four weeks. While insurance isn’t accepted, financial aid—including support for veterans—is available, which can make therapy more affordable.
- Mental Health Today Therapist Directory—costs are set directly by each therapist, so you’ll need to contact providers to confirm their fees and insurance they accept. Some also offer sliding-scale pricing, meaning the cost is based on your income.
- Christian Counselor Directory—each counselor profile lists payment details, which may include whether they accept insurance or provide sliding-scale options. For more specifics, you need to reach out directly.
Conclusion
Christian grief counseling offers more than emotional support—it nurtures your faith and strengthens your connection with God during times of loss.
By drawing on scripture, prayer, and proven therapeutic tools, a counselor can guide you toward healthier ways of coping and help you replace painful thoughts and emotions with more healthy perspectives.
If you’re still not sure how best to find a Christian counselor to help with your grief, leave us a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
