If you have found your way to this page, you may be going through one of the most difficult times in your life.
Perhaps you have recently experienced a loss, are anticipating one, or have been carrying grief for some time. You may be feeling sadness, loneliness, anger, confusion, or simply trying to understand how to move through each day. Whatever you are feeling right now deserves care, patience, and understanding. There is no right way to grieve and no timeline you are expected to follow.
We offer grief counseling in Encinitas, Del Mar, and throughout North County San Diego, with telehealth available anywhere in California.
When you’re ready, reach out for a confidential conversation about how we can support you.
Grief is often associated with the death of someone we love, but loss can take many forms. Some losses are sudden, while others unfold gradually. Some are recognized by the people around us, while others feel deeply personal and harder to explain. You may experience grief after:
Your experience does not have to fit neatly into a category to deserve care and support.
Grief can affect much more than your emotions. It can influence how you think, sleep, connect with others, and move through everyday life. Everyone experiences it differently, but you may notice:
Grief can also change over time. A day that feels manageable may be followed by one that feels unexpectedly difficult, and that is okay.
You don’t need to have the right words. Share a little about what brings you here and we will be in touch.
Prefer to talk? Call (760) 635-3310 ext. 1
Many people gradually adapt to loss with time and support from family, friends, community, or spiritual resources. Others find that grief continues to feel overwhelming or begins interfering with everyday life. You may consider grief counseling if you are:
You do not have to wait until grief becomes overwhelming to seek support.
Grief therapy is not about forgetting the person you lost or trying to “move on.” Instead, therapy offers space to understand your grief, express difficult emotions, and learn how to carry your loss while continuing to participate in your life. Depending on your needs, counseling may help you:
Grief does not always begin after a death. People caring for an aging parent, spouse, child, or loved one with a serious illness may grieve while that person is still alive — changes in the relationship, loss of independence, uncertainty about the future, or the life you expected to have together.
Caregiving can also bring exhaustion, guilt, resentment, fear, and conflicting emotions. Having a place to speak openly about these experiences without judgment can be an important source of support.
For some people, intense grief persists for a long period and significantly interferes with everyday functioning. Prolonged Grief Disorder is a recognized mental health condition involving persistent and intense grief following the death of someone close. It is different from simply grieving for a long time.
Experiencing grief months or even years after a loss does not automatically mean something is wrong. A qualified mental health professional can help determine whether additional treatment may be beneficial.
Christine Mason is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (CA AMFT #164677), practicing under the supervision of Veronica Solaris, Psy.D. (CA PSY #34522).
She works with adults experiencing grief and loss, caregiving stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and major life transitions.
With more than 15 years of experience in hospice settings, she brings deep experience supporting individuals and families through illness, caregiving, death, and bereavement. Her approach is collaborative, integrative, and grounded in compassion and authenticity.
There is no universal timeline for grief. Some emotions may become less intense over time, while certain dates, places, memories, anniversaries, or life events can bring grief back to the surface. The goal is not necessarily to stop grieving, but to gradually find ways to live alongside the loss.
No. Grief itself is a normal human response to loss, and not everyone needs therapy. However, counseling can still be helpful if you want additional support, are struggling with certain emotions, or simply want a private place to process what you are experiencing.
Grief and depression can share symptoms, including sadness, changes in sleep, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in activities. They are not the same, although depression can occur alongside grief. A psychologist or other qualified mental health professional can help evaluate your symptoms and determine what kind of support may be appropriate.
Anticipatory grief can occur when you know that a significant loss may be approaching. It is common among people caring for loved ones with serious, progressive, or terminal illnesses. People may experience sadness, fear, guilt, anger, helplessness, or anxiety about what lies ahead.
Yes. Sudden, unexpected, or traumatic losses can involve both grief and trauma-related responses. Therapy can provide a structured and supportive environment for processing the loss and its impact.
Yes. People may grieve after divorce, illness, loss of physical abilities, infertility, major family changes, career changes, relocation, or other significant transitions. Therapy can help you understand and adjust to many forms of loss.
Your first session is an opportunity to talk about what brought you to therapy, your loss, how you have been coping, and what you would like support with. You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation or tell your entire story at once. Your therapist will work with you to understand your needs and develop an individualized approach to treatment.
In addition to individual therapy, San Diego County has bereavement counseling and community resources for people and families coping with loss.
San Diego County Bereavement Center provides information and support following sudden and traumatic deaths, and connects families with counseling and other bereavement resources.
The Elizabeth Hospice offers grief support for adults, children, and families, including counseling, support groups, children’s bereavement programs, and Camp Spero for grieving youth.
2-1-1 San Diego is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day that connects county residents with community, health, and mental health resources.
The San Diego Access & Crisis Line offers immediate mental health crisis support 24/7 at 888-724-7240. If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
The Halliday Center for Psychotherapy & Wellness offers grief and loss counseling in a supportive environment where you can talk openly about loss without pressure to grieve in a particular way or on someone else’s timeline. Whether you are looking for grief counseling in San Diego, grief therapy in Encinitas or Del Mar, or telehealth from anywhere in California, sessions may be available depending on clinician availability and your needs.
Grief often touches other parts of life, too. You may also find support through individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, or our Connection Circle online group.
Loss can change your life in ways you never expected. When you’re ready, we’re here to listen.
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