Grief Counseling for Older Adults and Caregivers in California

Grief Changes Us

Grow with your grief

Grief is one of the most difficult experiences we face. It touches every part of our lives, including our thoughts, emotions, relationships, physical health, and sense of identity. Whether you have lost a spouse, family member, friend, pet, or are grieving the loss of your health, independence, or the life you once imagined, grief can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward.

At Roseville Elder Services, I help older adults and caregivers throughout California navigate grief with compassion, understanding, and hope. Therapy provides a safe place to honor your loss, process your emotions, and discover ways to move forward while continuing to cherish the people and experiences that matter most.

You do not have to walk through grief alone.

What Grief Can Look Like

Grief looks different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and there is no timeline you are expected to follow.

You may experience:

  • Deep sadness or frequent tears

  • Difficulty sleeping or changes in appetite

  • Feeling numb or disconnected

  • Anger, guilt, or regret

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Anxiety about the future

  • Loneliness or isolation

  • Loss of purpose or identity

  • Physical exhaustion

  • Moments of relief followed by unexpected waves of grief

Grief often comes in waves. Some days may feel manageable, while others may feel overwhelming. Both experiences are a normal part of the grieving process.

As we grow older, grief often becomes more frequent. You may experience the death of a spouse, siblings, lifelong friends, or other loved ones. You may also grieve changes that are less visible, including retirement, declining health, reduced independence, changes in memory, or moving from a longtime home.

Caregivers often experience grief long before a loved one dies. Watching someone you love change because of dementia, chronic illness, or declining health can bring feelings of sadness, helplessness, and anticipatory grief.

While grief is a natural response to loss, you do not have to carry its weight by yourself. Therapy can provide support as you process your emotions, adjust to life's changes, and find ways to move forward while honoring your loved one and your own well being.

How Therapy Can Help

Grief cannot be fixed, and it is not something you simply "get over." Rather than becoming smaller or disappearing, grief often remains a part of your life. Over time, however, your life begins to grow around your grief. As your capacity for joy, connection, purpose, and meaning expands, grief no longer occupies every corner of your world.

Many people describe grief as feeling like waves in the ocean. Some waves are gentle, while others can feel powerful enough to knock you off your feet. Anniversaries, holidays, birthdays, or unexpected reminders can bring waves that feel just as intense as they did in the beginning.

Therapy cannot stop the waves from coming, but together we can build a sturdy raft to help you ride them. Your raft is made up of healthy coping skills, supportive relationships, meaningful routines, self compassion, and practical strategies that help you stay afloat. As your confidence grows, you may even find yourself learning to surf some of life's most difficult waves instead of feeling like you are drowning beneath them.

Together we will work to:

  • Process your grief at your own pace

  • Understand the emotional and physical impact of loss

  • Navigate difficult anniversaries, holidays, and milestones

  • Manage feelings of guilt, anger, or regret

  • Adjust to changes in identity and daily life

  • Strengthen healthy coping skills

  • Build your personal "grief raft" with tools and support you can rely on

  • Reconnect with purpose, meaning, and hope

  • Honor your loved one while continuing to live a meaningful life

Healing does not mean leaving your loved one behind. It means carrying their memory forward while discovering that it is possible to experience love, purpose, and joy alongside your grief.

My Therapy Approach

  • CBT and Solution Focused

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more balanced ways of thinking. Focuses on connecting the mind with the body, mood and behavior.

    • Solution-Focused Therapy: Focuses on strengths, goals, and practical steps toward change.

  • Mindfulness & Strengths

    • Mindfulness-Based Techniques: Helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and stay grounded in the present moment.

    • Strengths-Based Therapy: Builds on the resilience, wisdom, and life experience you already have.

  • Trauma Informed

    Trauma-Informed Care: Creates a safe, respectful environment that honors your experiences and emotional needs.

Why Choose Roseville Elder Services?

Hi, I'm Hannah Wagner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in therapy for older adults and caregivers. Grief in later life is often more complex than people realize. Along with the loss of a loved one, many older adults are also navigating health changes, caregiving responsibilities, retirement, or increasing isolation.

My practice is dedicated to helping older adults and caregivers move through grief with dignity, compassion, and hope.

I provide grief counseling for:

  • Older adults grieving the death of a spouse, family member, or friend

  • Family caregivers experiencing anticipatory grief

  • Seniors adjusting to life after a significant change

  • Individuals coping with health related losses

  • Adults navigating retirement or changes in identity

  • People seeking support after multiple losses

Sessions are available virtually throughout California, with limited in home therapy available in Roseville, Rocklin, and Lincoln.

Take the First Step

Grief changes us, and we can grow with it.

With compassionate support, it is possible to honor your loss while rediscovering moments of joy, connection, and purpose.

If you are ready to take the next step, I would be honored to walk alongside you.

Contact Roseville Elder Services today to schedule your free consultation and begin your healing journey.