Grief Counseling in California and Colorado

Grief is one of the most disorienting experiences a person can go through — and one of the most misunderstood and overlooked. Whether you're mourning the death of a loved one, processing a divorce, navigating life after receiving a terminal diagnosis, or grieving a job loss, identity, or chapter of your life, grief doesn't follow a timeline and it doesn't look the same for everyone.

I work with adults who are stuck, overwhelmed, or simply exhausted by the weight of loss. Together we'll create space to feel what you're feeling without judgment, develop tools to move through the harder days, and find a way forward that honors what you've lost while rebuilding what's next. I draw on evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavior therapy, EMDR, narrative therapy, and somatic awareness to meet you where you are.

In-person grief counseling is available at my Studio City and Encino offices. Online grief therapy is available throughout California and Colorado. Sessions are offered in 60 or 90-minute formats.

EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Grief and Stress | Studio City & Encino

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most well-researched trauma therapies available — endorsed by the WHO, the American Psychiatric Association, and the VA for treatment of PTSD and trauma. It works by using bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye or tapping movements) while you briefly focus on a distressing memory, helping your brain reprocess that memory so it no longer hijacks your nervous system.

I completed EMDR certification through the Ohio Institute of Creative Mindfulness and have used this approach with grief survivors, disaster survivors, first responders, hospice patients, and adults carrying years of unprocessed trauma. EMDR is effective for a wide range of experiences — not just single-incident trauma. If you've tried talk therapy and feel like you're going in circles, EMDR often gets to places words alone can't reach.

EMDR sessions are available in 60, 90, and 180 minute formats, in-person at my Studio City and Encino offices and online throughout California and Colorado.

Couples Therapy — In-Person & Online

Loss and trauma don't just affect individuals — they ripple through relationships. Grief can create distance between partners who are each processing differently, communicate in different ways, or feel like they're carrying the weight unequally. Couples therapy with me focuses on rebuilding connection, improving communication, and creating a shared language for navigating hard seasons together.

I work with couples in both short and long-term formats depending on your goals. Whether you're in crisis, feeling disconnected, struggling with intimacy and sex issues, or simply want to strengthen a relationship that matters to you, couples therapy offers a structured space to be honest with each other with support. Sessions are available in-person at my Studio City and Encino locations and online for couples anywhere in California or Colorado.

Disaster Mental Health & First Responder Support

I hold a master's degree in International Disaster Psychology from the University of Denver — one of the few graduate programs in the country dedicated entirely to the psychological impact of disasters and humanitarian crises. I've worked with wildfire survivors, refugees, hospice patients, and first responders, and I've been actively involved in disaster response and recovery following the 2025 LA wildfires and 2026 eastern sierra winter avalanches.

Disaster grief is different from other grief. It often involves loss of place, community, and safety alongside the loss of people and possessions. Survivors often experience complex or complicated grief from multiple losses and usually need to address the trauma/s before getting to deeper level grief processing. First responders and disaster workers carry an additional layer — witnessing others' trauma repeatedly while rarely having space to process their own. I understand this world and I'm comfortable sitting with the weight of it.

If you're a survivor, a first responder, or a disaster mental health professional looking for your own support, I'm accepting new clients. In-person sessions in Studio City and Encino, online throughout CA and CO.

Virtual Grief and Loss Process Group

Many adults were never taught how to grieve, how to ask for help, or how to sit with difficult emotions without pushing through them. The Virtual Grief and Loss Process Group is a space to change that — a small, confidential online group where adults can talk honestly about what they're carrying without performance or pretense.

Group therapy offers something individual therapy can't: the experience of being witnessed and understood by other adults going through their own versions of the same thing. Topics vary by group but commonly include grief and loss, relationship stress, identity, purpose, and navigating major life transitions. Groups meet virtually, making them accessible from anywhere in California or Colorado. Reach out to ask about current availability and upcoming start dates.

Life & Career Coaching

Sometimes the work isn't therapy processing — it's figuring out what you actually want and building the habits, clarity, and momentum to get there. Life and career coaching with me integrates coaching and performance insight with practical goal-setting, focusing on career transitions, optimization, purpose, and overall wellbeing.

Coaching is distinct from therapy — it's forward-focused and action-oriented rather than clinical. It's a good fit if you're in a stable place emotionally but feeling stuck, unfocused, or ready for a significant change. Sessions are available virtually and can be done parallel to your existing therapy work depending on your needs and goals.

Insurance & Payment

Reed-Fier Therapy Services is private pay and out-of-network with all insurance providers. While I do not bill insurance directly, many PPO plans offer out-of-network benefits that may reimburse a portion of your session cost — it's worth calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits before your first session.

Upon request, I provide detailed superbills (itemized receipts with the necessary billing codes) that you can submit directly to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Payment is due at the time of service. I accept major credit cards, HSA, and FSA cards, Zelle, and Venmo.

For questions about rates or payment options, reach out at counselingwithzack@gmail.com or (818) 860-1892.

Group Therapy Options

• Grief and Loss Process Groups - Connect with others who understand your pain. Our professionally guided groups create a safe, compassionate space to process loss, share experiences, and discover collective healing.

• Outdoor Adventure Grief and Trauma Support Groups - Transform grief through shared experiences and nature's restorative environment. Rebuild connection, learn coping skills, and find hope alongside others on similar healing paths.

• Clinical Consultation Groups - for licensed therapists in California and Colorado: currently free.

• Group Session Rate: $65 per 50-60 minute session

Specialized Groups

Men’s Process and Support Group

• Virtual via HIPPA video software

• Thursday nights for 6 weeks from 7pm to 8:15pm start August 28th.

• $75 per group session

• Safe space for processing Men’s issues and remaining distress and anxiety from LA fires/disasters.

• Topics covered will include feeling alone, burned out, stuck, angry, work and relationship stress, and unhealthy coping patterns.

Coaching for Creatives, Artists, and Tech Industry Professionals

Overcome creative blocks, manage professional challenges, and align your personal and professional goals. Tailored support for writers, musicians, filmmakers, artists, activists, and digital professionals navigating complex career landscapes.

Coaching Packages Offers:

• Initial Consultation: $300 (60 minutes)

• Follow-up Calls: $150 (30 minutes)

• Ongoing Support Options Available
  
  Coaching is separate from clinical therapy services

Workshops & Speaking

Workshop Topics

• Disaster Mental Health - Preparedness, Response, Relief, Recovery.

• Trauma-informed Care

• Grief & Loss Coping

• Workplace Wellness

• Crisis Intervention

• Refugee & Asylum Seeker Mental Health

• Burn Out Prevention

• First Responder and Health Care Worker Coping Strategies

Speaking Engagements

• 30 and 60-minute segments available

No Surprises Act - January 2022 - You have a right to a “Good Faith Estimate” of the cost of services. (Click Here).