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πŸ•ŠοΈGrief & Loss

Grief and parenthood can coexist. Neither cancels the other out.

Therapists in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

"Grief doesn't pause for a pregnancy or a new baby. And no one teaches you how to hold both."
βœ“See a specialist this weekβœ“PMH-C Certified Therapistsβœ“Telehealth Β· see anyone from homeβœ“In-network in South Carolina
In network with
BlueCross BlueShield of South CarolinaUnitedHealthcareCVS HealthAetnaMolina Healthcare+9 more

No commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.

Virtual therapy for Myrtle Beach families

You live where other people vacation, and the year-round reality of the Grand Strand looks nothing like the postcards. Your job is seasonal, money is tight, and the local mental health resources that exist tend to be aimed at tourists or addiction services, not postpartum depression and perinatal anxiety. Families in Conway, Surfside Beach, Socastee, and North Myrtle Beach deal with this gap every week. Specialist perinatal care has historically been hard to find in the Grand Strand market, and paying out of pocket for private therapy is not realistic for a lot of seasonal-economy families. Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, the specialty credential in perinatal mental health, and see Myrtle Beach clients entirely by secure video. We're in-network with Aetna, BCBS Anthem, Cigna, Molina, and Tricare plans in South Carolina, so insurance covers most of the cost for most families. We specialize in postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, and pregnancy loss. No drive to Charleston or Columbia required.

Myrtle Beach neighborhoods: Conway Β· Surfside Beach Β· Socastee Β· North Myrtle Beach

You might benefit from therapy if…

  • βœ“You're carrying a major loss alongside pregnancy or new parenthood, and the two keep colliding
  • βœ“You're grieving a parent who never met the baby, or who can't be here in the way you needed
  • βœ“A previous pregnancy loss is coming back hard during this pregnancy or postpartum
  • βœ“You feel like you're not allowed to grieve because the baby is here and healthy
  • βœ“You're angry at people who don't understand why you're still struggling
  • βœ“You're afraid that grieving will hurt your bond with your baby, or that being happy will betray the person you lost
Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Psychologist & Founder

From our founder

Grief in the perinatal period is one of the most underestimated experiences I see. People expect you to be radiant, and meanwhile you're missing someone who isn't here to meet this baby. I tell my clients early that we don't make this smaller. We make space for it. That's a different kind of work, and it does bring peace.

What therapy looks like

Grief work in the perinatal period is paced and personal. There's no single modality. Many Phoenix Health therapists draw on Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), which is well-suited to loss and role transitions, alongside narrative work, somatic approaches, and sometimes EMDR if the loss is traumatic or unresolved. Most therapists hold PMH-C certification and bring training in grief. Early sessions focus on the specific shape of your loss, what feels possible to talk about, and what doesn't yet. The work isn't about getting over anything. It's about integrating the loss so that it can live in your life without taking up all of it. For loss happening now, the work also includes practical support: how to talk to other people, how to handle holidays and milestones, how to take care of yourself during a season that asks a lot. There's no fixed timeline. Some people work for a few months, some for a year or more. Grief therapy tends to deepen over time rather than resolve quickly, and what changes first is usually the day-to-day weight of carrying it.

Our Grief & Loss specialists in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification β€” the gold standard in perinatal mental health.

Real clients. Real relief.

What our clients say about their experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œ"After three failed IVF rounds, I was told to 'just stay positive.' My therapist was the first person who acknowledged the grief, the anger, and the exhaustion and helped me process what I'd been through. I finally felt seen."”

β€” hopeful mom

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œWe lost our son at 22 weeks. The world moved on immediately. I was expected to recover, try again, look forward. My therapist helped me understand that the love doesn't go away just because the pregnancy did, and that I was allowed to mourn him as the person he was going to be. That acknowledgment was everything.”

β€” loss mom

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œAfter my second miscarriage, everyone told me to stay positive for next time. What I needed was someone to sit with me in the loss, not rush me past it. My therapist gave me that space. She helped me grieve without a timeline, and taught me that grief and hope can exist at the same time. I needed to hear that.”

β€” after two losses

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œMy dad died eight weeks before my daughter was born. Everyone at her christening kept saying she looked like him. I couldn't breathe. My therapist helped me find a way to hold the joy and the missing in the same hand. It took time, and it was worth it.”

β€” Joelle, first-time mom

Expert care.
Covered in South Carolina.

  • βœ“Aetna (incl. CVS Health, First Health, & Meritain)
  • βœ“BCBS (incl. Anthem, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, & state plans)
  • βœ“Cigna / Evernorth
  • βœ“United Healthcare (UHC) / Optum (incl. UBH, UMR, Surest, Oscar, & Oxford)
  • βœ“Molina Healthcare
  • βœ“Tricare (East, Prime, Select)

Most clients pay less than $20 per session.

Accepted Insurance Networks

Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
Cigna
Anthem
+9 more

Ready to start Grief & Loss therapy? Here’s how it works.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes. We handle insurance β€” you just show up.

  1. 1

    Book your free call

    A quick 15-minute chat to hear what you're going through, answer your questions, and make sure we're a great fit for your needs. No cost, no commitment.

  2. 2

    Get matched

    We'll pair you with the right specialist for your specific situation. We'll also check your insurance, so you know your exact cost per session before moving forward.

  3. 3

    Start your first session

    Meet your therapist from the comfort of home. No commute, no waiting rooms, no judgment. Most clients notice a real difference within just 2 to 3 sessions.

No commitment Β· Most insurance accepted Β· Available this week

Common questions

  • Yes, and it's also worth treating. Many parents feel that loving the baby means they aren't allowed to grieve. That's not true, but the guilt itself can become its own layer that needs care. Therapy gives you permission, and a structure, for holding both.
  • Previous losses often resurface during a new pregnancy or birth. Anniversary reactions, body memories, and the contrast with a current healthy pregnancy can bring it all up again. That's not a sign that earlier work failed. It's a sign that this stage is asking for its own round of processing.
  • Talking about it in a structured, therapeutic way tends to help, not hurt. Avoidance is what tends to make grief heavier over time. Your therapist will pace the work so it never floods you.
  • It varies. Some people see meaningful shifts in 3 to 6 months. Complicated or traumatic grief often takes longer. The goal isn't to be done. It's to find a way to carry it that doesn't take up your whole life.
  • Yes. Phoenix Health provides telehealth therapy to residents of South Carolina. Sessions are conducted via secure video from your home, office, or anywhere private β€” no commute required. All Phoenix Health therapists are licensed and authorized to practice in South Carolina.
  • PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) is awarded by Postpartum Support International (PSI) to clinicians who have completed advanced training in perinatal mental health β€” covering postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and related conditions. It represents the gold standard of specialization in this field.
  • If you're struggling β€” with your mood, your thoughts, your relationship, or just how you're coping β€” that's enough of a reason to talk to someone. You don't need a diagnosis. A free consultation is a low-commitment first step.

From the Phoenix Health resource center

Articles and guides about grief & loss

Navigating the Pain: How to Cope with Due Dates and Anniversaries After a Loss

You may have been having more good days than bad. The initial, raw shock of your loss has softened into a dull ache. And then you look at the calendar and realize it's coming: the day your baby was supposed to be born. Or the one-year anniversary of the day you lost them. Suddenly, the grief comes r…

Read article β†’

What to Say to Someone Who Had a Miscarriage: Words That Help

Read article β†’

Pregnancy After Loss: A Complete Guide to Anxiety and Fear

Read article β†’

Trusted by leading voices in parenting and mental health

OBs, doulas, and pediatricians refer their patients to us because we specialize in maternal mental health.

  • Parents.com
  • Postpartum Support International
  • Healthline
  • HuffPost
  • Fatherly
  • Choosing Therapy

The sooner you start,
the sooner you'll
feel like yourself again.

You've been surviving. It's time to start healing.

No commitment Β· Covered by insurance Β· Available this week

Learning resources

πŸ•ŠοΈRead our Grief & Loss guides β†’

Often goes alongside

🌻Pregnancy After Loss🌱InfertilityπŸ’”Birth Trauma