Grief Therapy in Chicago
Compassionate grief counseling for women navigating loss, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm.
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Meet Our Grief Therapists
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Allie Cromer, LCSW
Allie Cromer, LCSW, specializes in grief and loss, supporting women navigating the death of a loved one, relationship loss, and major life transitions.
Allie offers grief therapy in Chicago both in-person and via telehealth across Illinois
A Compassionate Approach to Grief Therapy in Chicago
Grief isn’t linear. It doesn’t follow predictable stages or timelines—and it doesn’t need to be fixed.
At Balanced Awakening, our approach to grief therapy honors the emotional, relational, and physical impact of loss. We create space for the full range of your experience, including sadness, anger, confusion, numbness, and even moments of relief or meaning.
Our work is grounded in:
Trauma-informed and nervous system-aware care
Whole-person, relational therapy
Emotional processing at your own pace
Compassionate support without judgment or expectation
Rather than trying to “get over” grief, therapy can help you understand it, move with it, and begin to integrate it into your life in a way that feels sustainable and supportive.
How Grief Therapy Can Support You
Grief therapy offers a space to process loss while also supporting your day-to-day functioning and emotional well-being.
In therapy, we may focus on:
Processing the loss of a loved one or important relationship
Navigating intense or unpredictable emotions
Coping with anxiety, depression, or numbness related to grief
Adjusting to life changes and new realities after loss
Working through complicated or prolonged grief
Reconnecting with meaning, identity, and self-compassion
Common Areas of Focus in Grief Counseling
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Loss of a Loved One
The death of a parent, partner, friend, or family member can bring profound emotional pain and disorientation.
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Relationship Loss and Breakups
Grief isn’t limited to death—ending relationships can carry deep loss, longing, and identity shifts.
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Miscarriage and Fertility-Related Grief
Experiences of pregnancy loss or fertility challenges can bring complex and often unspoken grief.
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Anticipatory Grief
Grieving a loss before it happens—such as during illness—can be just as impactful and deserving of support.
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Identity Changes After Loss
Loss can shift how you see yourself, your relationships, and your future.
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Grief, Anxiety, and Depression
Many people experience anxiety, depression, or trauma responses alongside grief.
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Sudden or Traumatic Loss
Unexpected loss—such as accidents, suicide, or sudden medical events—can feel especially disorienting and overwhelming.
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Life Transitions & Invisible Loss
Not all grief is visible—loss of identity, life direction, or expected futures can bring deep and often unrecognized grief.
When Grief Feels Overwhelming or Never-Ending
Sometimes grief feels all-consuming or like it hasn’t shifted over time. You might feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward.
This can be a sign of complicated grief, where the intensity of loss continues to deeply impact your ability to function or engage in life.
Therapy can help you gently explore what’s keeping you feeling stuck—without forcing change, but instead supporting gradual movement, understanding, and relief.
Grief, the Nervous System, and Emotional Overwhelm
Grief isn’t just emotional—it lives in the body.
You might notice:
Fatigue or heaviness
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety or restlessness
Numbness or shutdown
Our therapists integrate nervous system-aware approaches to help you regulate and feel more grounded, while still honoring your emotional experience.
Is Grief Therapy Right for You?
Grief therapy may be helpful if:
You’ve experienced the loss of someone or something important
You feel overwhelmed, stuck, or alone in your grief
Your emotions feel unpredictable or difficult to manage
You’re struggling to adjust to life after loss
You want support that feels compassionate, not clinical
Common Questions About Grief Therapy
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Grief can look and feel many different ways—intense sadness, numbness, anger, confusion, or even moments of relief. There isn’t one “right” way to grieve.
At Balanced Awakening, we approach your experience with curiosity and compassion, helping you make sense of your emotions without judgment or pressure to feel differently.
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Our approach to grief therapy is relational, trauma-informed, and attuned to your nervous system.
Rather than focusing on “moving on” or following a set process, we support you in understanding your grief, honoring your relationship to what was lost, and finding ways to carry that experience forward with care and intention.
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Not at all. Many people begin therapy weeks, months, or even years after a loss.
You might be functioning day-to-day but still feel something unresolved, heavy, or difficult to access on your own. Therapy can support you wherever you are in your process.
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Yes. Sometimes grief can feel all-consuming or like it hasn’t shifted over time.
We gently explore what’s beneath that experience—whether it’s emotional overwhelm, trauma, or lack of support—and work at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.
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Our therapy rate for the first two sessions is $250. After that, 55 minute sessions are $225.
Most of our therapists are in network with United Healthcare/Optum, BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance.
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Yes. We offer compassionate support for pregnancy loss, fertility challenges, and the complex emotions that can come with these experiences.
We understand that this kind of grief is often unspoken, and we create space for it to be acknowledged and processed fully.
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Talking about grief can bring up emotions—but you won’t be navigating them alone.
Our therapists are trained to support you in a way that feels grounded and contained, helping you process at a pace that feels safe rather than overwhelming.
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Getting started is flexible and designed to meet you where you are. You’re welcome to book an appointment directly with a clinician, or complete our matchmaking form so we can help connect you with a therapist whose approach and availability align with your needs.
You’re always invited to ask questions, share concerns, and take your time deciding whether therapy feels like the right next step.
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Yes. While we work with a range of clients, Balanced Awakening is a women-centered practice.
We understand how grief can intersect with identity, relationships, caregiving roles, and life transitions—and we tailor our work with that in mind.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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During our first session Hannah was proactive in creating a plan of action to properly diagnose me and address my concerns. Detailed. Office is beautiful. Love the decor, relaxing ambiance and free tea.
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She was very kind and thorough during intake and the entire office looks like something out of a lifestyle magazine.
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The office is lovely and welcoming, the in-take paperwork helped me prepare for what I wanted to talk about and gave me a starting point.
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Dr. Yang is warm and empathic, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
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Emma has been very supportive through major life changes for me. Her sweet and gentle nature made it easy for me to feel safe to open up to her. I am very grateful for her support and kindness.
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It was my first visit and she made me feel so safe. I opened up right away!
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Begin Your Grief Therapy Journey
Grief changes you—but you don’t have to navigate those changes alone.
At Balanced Awakening, we offer grief therapy in Chicago that honors your experience, your pace, and your emotional world. When you’re ready, we’re here to support you. Work with a compassionate grief therapist in Chicago who understands the complexity of loss.
Book an appointment when you’re ready.