End of life and grief counseling in Boulder
For anyone who is dying or caring for someone who is dying, and for anyone who has experienced a loss. In person at my Boulder office, or online for people located in Colorado or California.
I'm Lori Beth Goldman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Boulder, Colorado. I offer individual end of life and grief counseling, one to one rather than in a group. I trained in end of life care and hospice, and have volunteered at Trailwinds Hospice for the last three years. We start with a free 20-minute call.
Losing someone you love, or caring for them as they die, can change your whole life. Grief has no rulebook. It can be quiet or messy, numb or overwhelming. However you move through it, there's no wrong way, and you don't have to go through it alone.
When you are the one who is dying
Facing the end of your own life can bring up fear, grief, anger, tenderness and sometimes relief, often in the same day. I offer a steady place to say what is true for you and to talk about what matters most now, including what you want for the people you love. If coming to the office is hard, we can meet online.
Grief support when someone you love is dying
Watching a loved one decline can be heartbreaking and disorienting. It often stirs up guilt, fear, sadness, and even old family dynamics that resurface under stress. The grief often starts long before the death.
I help you through this time by offering:
Support for the complex, anticipatory grief that comes before a loss.
Help with decisions, including medical systems, hospice, and honoring your loved one's wishes.
Support for family relationships, so everyone can communicate and care for one another under the strain of caregiving.
Together, we can find some steadiness and connection, even in the middle of uncertainty.
Support after a loss
When someone you love dies, the world can feel unfamiliar. Grief can be quiet one moment and unbearable the next. You might feel numb, overwhelmed, or unsure of who you are now.
In our sessions, I help you:
Feel emotions like sadness, guilt, anger or relief without judgment.
Make meaning of your loss and begin to carry it into your life.
Understand how each person in your family is grieving in their own way.
Connect with community or spiritual resources that can hold you.
Finding meaning after a loss
Death has a way of opening deep questions about life, love and purpose. While painful, these moments can also invite tenderness and a renewed sense of connection, both to the one you've lost and to yourself.
My role is to walk beside you with warmth and steadiness, and to help you face what's here with compassion, honesty and care.
When should you see a therapist after a death?
There is no set time. Some people come while someone they love is still dying. Others come months or years after a death, when the grief has not eased, or has turned into numbness, anger, or trouble getting through the day.
If you are wondering whether it is time, that is reason enough for a 20-minute conversation.
What type of therapist is best for grief?
Someone licensed, with real experience of death and dying, whom you feel steady with. Grief is not a problem to be fixed, so look for someone who will stay with what is here rather than hurry you through it.
My background: I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Colorado and California, with 18 years in practice. I trained in end of life care and hospice, and volunteer at Trailwinds Hospice.
What type of counseling is best for grief?
It depends on what you need. Individual counseling gives you one-to-one time with someone focused only on you and your loss. A grief group gives you people who are living through the same thing. Many people use both, at different times.
Where can I get free grief support in Boulder County?
TRU Community Care runs grief support groups that are open to the community, and most are free. You register before your first group.
If the person who died was in hospice care, ask that hospice. Hospices offer bereavement support to families after a death.
I am a private practice, so I am not the free option. I am glad to point you to these if cost is what stands in the way.
Questions people ask
Can we meet online?
Yes, if you are located in Colorado or California. See online therapy in Colorado and California.
Is there a walk-in crisis center in Boulder County?
Yes. Mental Health Partners runs a 24/7 walk-in crisis center at 1107 West Century Drive in Louisville. You can also call or text 988 at any time, or call 911.
What does it cost?
I am a private pay therapist and am not on insurance panels. You will pay me directly at the end of each month. If you have PPO insurance, I can give you a superbill and you will be able to work with your insurance company to get some out-of-network reimbursement. We talk about fees on the free consultation call, and you can ask me any questions you have then.