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Grief counselors and therapists in San Mateo, CA


Top grief and loss counseling therapists in San Mateo, CA
San Mateo residents facing bereavement can find compassionate grief therapy with Headway's 5,610 licensed providers. We offer evidence-based support including Complicated Grief Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and specialized counseling for loss of spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Virtual and in-person sessions are available with flexible scheduling to support your healing journey.
I believe the best work happens when you feel comfortable, understood, and supported. My goal is to create a space where you can be yourself—no pressure, no judgment, and no need to have everything figured out before you start. We’ll work together to explore what’s bringing you in, what matters most to you, and what you’d like to change or better understand.
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approaches. Each person is different, so our work will be tailored to your needs, your goals, and your pace. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, going through a transition, or simply wanting to better understand yourself, I’m here to help you move forward in a way that feels manageable and authentic.
What I Bring to Our Work
- A welcoming, nonjudgmental space
- Thoughtful listening and honest, compassionate feedback
- A balance of insight and practical tools you can use outside of sessions
- Support that’s personalized to you, not a preset formula
If you’re looking for someone who is easy to talk to, genuinely supportive, and invested in your growth, I’d be glad to work with you and see if we’re a good fit.
As a highly compassionate and empathic therapist, I am able to provide the space you need to process on a deeper level to cultivate self-awareness and insight so that you can fully understand yourself, experiences, their implications in your life and world, with development of genuine self-love and self-care. I am passionate about helping others find happiness in themselves, their relationships, their everyday lives, and in their world, and love the work I do.
Melinda Fay is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in Art Therapy. I received my MA in Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute in 2002 and I have been licensed since 2008.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward, you don't have to figure it out alone.
I help adults work through anxiety, ADHD, depression, and the stress of big life transitions so you can move forward with more clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of direction.
I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over a decade of clinical experience, and I bring a calm, grounded presence to the work.
My background spans trauma-informed care, support for college students building self-advocacy and success strategies (especially those with learning differences), and extensive work with the military community — including wounded warriors and their families.
Whether you're navigating a career or life change, managing attention or focus challenges, working through anxiety or depression, or facing relationship stress, I offer a safe, collaborative space where real growth is possible.
Clients often describe me as warm, real, non-judgmental, and direct in a supportive way. I'm LGBTQIA+ affirming and welcome people from all backgrounds with a spirit of inclusion and care.
Hi! My name is Rachel. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I’m here to start with where you are at. We will work collaboratively to help you heal from past hurts and the negative scripts that are running your show. I offer a non judgmental space for you to come, slow down, breathe and just be. My approach includes EMDR, Somatic Therapy and a values- based approach that helps you handle tough thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them.
About our therapists located within 20 miles of San Mateo, CA who help people navigate grief and loss



- 100%Grief or loss
- 92%Stress management
- 92%Anxiety
- 92%Relationship issues
- 92%Depression

- 100%Aetna
- 58%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 46%Providence Health Plan
- 46%Curative
- 42%Carelon Behavioral Health

- 100%English
- 12%Spanish
- 8%French
- 8%Hebrew
- 8%Russian

- 85%In-person or online
- 15%In-person only

- 58%Woman
- 35%Man
- 8%Non-binary

- 50%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 19%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 12%Clinical Psychologist
- 12%Nurse Practitioner
- 4%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 23%Child or adolescent therapy
- 23%Couples therapy
- 19%Family therapy
Frequently asked questions


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Headway makes it easy to find a therapist who can support you through loss — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
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