What is Grief Coaching?

Written By Elana Kanter

(Image Credit: Life Coach Hub)

Unfortunately, grief is a shared human experience. Everyone is going to experience a loss in their lifetime. The loss might be the death of a loved one or pet, loss of a job or divorce, or another significant life change or event. However, for something so universal, it's not always easy to find the right kinds of support.

What is Grief Coaching?

Grief coaching is a supportive, forward-focused process designed to help people navigate life after a loss. Grief coaching creates space for honoring what was lost, while exploring what’s next.

Grief coaching can help you:

  • Reorient yourself in the aftermath of loss.

  • Identify what's changed—and what still matters.

  • Explore meaning, purpose, and your identity in this new chapter.

  • Take small, manageable steps toward a life that feels good again.

It’s not about “getting over” grief. It’s about learning to live alongside it, and maybe even grow with it.

How is Grief Therapy different from Grief Coaching?

Grief therapists are licensed mental health professionals. As such, a grief coach does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Therapy helps you process the emotional pain of grief, often by looking back—uncovering patterns, beliefs, or wounds that need deeper healing.

Grief coaching, on the other hand:

  • Is non-clinical (no mental health diagnosis or treatment)

  • Doesn’t directly focus on trauma recovery or mental health symptoms

  • Looks toward the present and future

  • Works with clients who are grieving, but functioning (and not in severe crisis or danger)

“For example, if a person is struggling with the death of a spouse, a grief counselor will explore their childhood trauma and the incidents that occurred before [or after] their loss to help them heal. On the other hand, a grief coach will help them figure out how to heal, manage daily life, and set new personal goals toward their transformation.”

You might choose a grief coach if you’re not in crisis, but feel stuck, untethered, or unsure how to take your next steps. Additionally, many people find therapy and coaching beneficial for different, and often complementary, reasons. With permission and appropriate releases, Kanter Coaching provides collaborative care with client’s therapists (when applicable; not required).

How Can Kanter Coaching Help You?

Coaching can help you:

  • Explore rituals, memorials, or another way to honor your loss or life change.

  • Understand which life skills you might benefit from improving or addressing.

  • Create small, attainable goals.

  • Find strategies to support your daily needs.

  • Explore work - life - self-care balance.

 

References

Grief coaches: Life coach hub, the grief coach directory. Life Coach Hub. (2024, December 1). https://lifecoachhub.com/grief-coach/?specializations=grief-coach

How to become a grief coach. Paperbell. (2025, February 17). https://paperbell.com/blog/how-to-become-a-grief-coach/

Elana Kanter
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Coaching vs. Therapy