Online in Portland and Throughout Oregon
Grief Counseling in Portland for Unacknowledged & Sudden Loss
Grief & Bereavement Counseling in Portland
Maybe you’re grieving a loss that others minimize or don't acknowledge: a job, a pet, a relationship/marriage, a pregnancy, or a dream.
Or perhaps you’re navigating the aftermath of a sudden, shocking, or violent death that has left you reeling.
This type of pain — what therapists call disenfranchised grief or traumatic grief — often requires a different kind of support.
Maybe you're walking through Laurelhurst Park and suddenly can't breathe because you used to go there with them. Or you’re at Fred Meyer and see their favorite coffee creamer, and now you’re crying in the dairy aisle.
Grief has a way of ambushing you in the most ordinary moments. As a grief counselor, I help you navigate loss without trying to “fix” it or rush through it.
Grief in Portland hits different. You're surrounded by people at coffee shops on Alberta, at Powell's, at your co-working space, yet you've never felt more alone.
Everyone seems to be living their best PNW life; meanwhile you're just trying to make it through a Zoom meeting without falling apart.
Maybe you lost someone during the pandemic and never got a real goodbye, just a FaceTime call from a Providence or Legacy nurse.
Or perhaps it's a different kind of loss: the marriage that ended, the pregnancy that didn't continue, the job at Nike or Intel that defined you for years.
Your friends try to help by inviting you to trivia night at Migration Brewing or a hike up Mt. Tabor, but being around happy people makes you feel like you're from another planet.
The gray Portland freeze makes it worse. In a city where making close friends is already notoriously hard, grief can push you even further into isolation. You don't want to be “too much” for the few connections you have.
About Grief Counseling…
Here’s what I know: grief isn’t something to overcome. It’s not a problem to solve or a phase to push through. It’s love with nowhere to go.
In our sessions, we won't try to make your grief smaller or more convenient. Instead, we’ll make space for all of it: the anger at the Holocene DJ for playing your song, the guilt about feeling okay for five minutes, the weird laugh that escaped at the funeral. We'll explore how to carry your grief rather than trying to outrun it.
You'll learn how to handle the friends who say "they're in a better place" when what you really need is someone to say “this fucking sucks and I’m so sorry — what do you need?” And we'll figure out how to honor your loss while still engaging in your life.
Grief and joy won’t be mutually exclusive forever, even when it feels like they will be.
FAqs For Portland Residents
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There's no timeline for grief, despite what people think. Eight months, eight years, your grief is valid. It can feel like something is wrong with you for still hurting, but it’s not. You're human, and you loved someone. That doesn't just go away.
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Absolutely. Pregnancy loss is profound grief, full stop. You lost a future you were already planning; maybe you'd already imagined walks at Laurelhurst Park or picked out books at Green Bean. Your loss is real, and so is your grief.
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Being functional doesn't mean you're okay. Grief counseling isn't just for people who can't get out of bed. It's for anyone whose world has been turned upside down by loss, especially when it was unexpected.
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Please contact Multnomah County Crisis Line, or dial 988 if you’re having an emergency.
For community-based support groups, please visit NAMI Multnomah County or The Dougy Center.
About your Portland Grief Counselor
Jeniffer Duncan, LPC, LAT
I combine art therapy and somatic approaches because the patterns you're trying to change aren't stored in the logical part of your brain. They’re held in your nervous system, your body, and parts of your psyche that words alone can’t reach.
I offer online therapy to all Oregon residents, which means you can process your grief from the safety of your own space; no need to hold it together on the MAX ride home.
Jennifer Duncan, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor License #C3022 · Verify with State Board
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Yes, I am currently accepting new clients. I generally work Monday through Wednesday. I have limited afternoon availability, so please contact me to inquire about hours.
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No, I only see clients online.
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My fee is $250 for 55-minutes. If you prefer to work more intensively, I offer 90-minute sessions for $375. If you’d like to schedule a half-day or a multi-day therapy intensive, please see my rates page for more information about package options.
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No, I am not in-network with any insurance company. I would be happy to provide a Superbill (an itemized receipt) for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
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I primarily use art therapy (also called expressive art therapy, or creative art therapy) and somatic therapy.
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Yes, but only when it will be helpful and effective for you. If you’ve already had a lot of talk therapy, it’s likely time to try a more body-based approach.
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I offer complimentary 30-minute consultations to prospective clients so that you and I can get a feel for what it will be like to work together. However, if that doesn’t work for you, I’d be happy to schedule your intake appointment.
Please scroll down to my contact form, or send me a message on my contact page and I will respond within 48 business hours with my availability.
frequently asked questions
Contact me for Grief & Bereavement Counseling
Let’s get started.
Contact me to schedule your first therapy appointment.
Complete this form and I’ll be back in touch via email, text, or phone within 1-2 business days.
Call or Text
503-974-4140
jduncanlpc@gmail.com
MAILING ADDRESS (Services are conducted 100% online)4207 SE Woodstock Blvd. #398 Portland, OR 97206
Serving Portland with Specialized Online Therapy…
I provide online therapy to adults throughout Oregon with focused support for residents of Portland and the surrounding area.
Find the right support in Portland:
Grief Counseling in Portland