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Grief & Trauma Counseling in Cayce

Grief & Trauma Counseling in Columbia

Grief and trauma counseling covers two related but distinct kinds of support: help processing a death, divorce, job loss, or other major life disruption, and help recovering from events that overwhelmed your ability to cope, like an accident, abuse, combat, or a medical crisis. Some counselors in Cayce work primarily in one lane, others handle both, since grief often carries traumatic features and trauma often triggers prolonged grief. Sessions typically involve talk therapy, and many practitioners also use structured approaches such as EMDR, cognitive processing therapy, or somatic techniques aimed at calming a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

When picking a provider from the 11 listed here, check their license type (LPC, LISW, LMFT, or psychologist), whether they name a specific trauma modality rather than just "talk it out," and whether they have direct experience with your situation, whether that's a recent loss, a childhood trauma history, or a single acute incident. Availability matters too: grief and trauma work often needs weekly sessions for a stretch, so a long waitlist can stall progress before it starts.

Our scoring weighs credentials, client feedback, responsiveness, and specialization depth so you can compare the 11 options here without reading every website line by line. For the full ranked breakdown, see the best counselors in Cayce guide, and read our methodology for how we build these rankings.

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All grief & trauma counseling in Cayce, ranked by score and relevance

11 businesses, scored on recent reviews. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is grief & trauma counseling, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist.

LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce
#1
88

LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce

4.6(221)✓ Google-verified

Reviewers consistently highlight therapists who listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and help patients navigate medication decisions. The practice runs punctually, offers stable video visits, and staff treat patients with genuine respect and care from intake through treatment.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingSubstance Abuse & Addiction Counseling
Maggie Malaney, Counselor
#2
67 low data

Maggie Malaney, Counselor

5.0(3)✓ Google-verified

Reviewer found Maggie Malaney clear and approachable, delivering mental health support that inspired trust and confidence.

Child & Adolescent CounselingMental Health & Anxiety CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
Debbie Maxwell, Counselor
#3
73 low data

Debbie Maxwell, Counselor

4.8(12)✓ Google-verified

Maxwell earns 4.8 stars on 12 reviews, with most praising her warmth, knowledge, and practical session techniques. One patient noted she moves interventions forward rapidly even with new trauma cases, which can create resistance rather than progress.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
Heather Gates, Counselor
#4
66 low data

Heather Gates, Counselor

5.0(2)✓ Google-verified

Heather Gates is praised for creating a welcoming, judgment-free environment where both adults and children feel heard and safe. Review evidence is limited (based on 2 five-star ratings), but mentions her professional approach and range across individual and family work.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
Karen M Smith, Counselor
#5
71 low data

Karen M Smith, Counselor

5.0(6)✓ Google-verified

Karen Smith earns consistent praise for her calm manner and real-world advice grounded in experience rather than textbook solutions. Clients report meaningful breakthroughs with grief, relationships, and life stress. Review evidence is limited to six responses, all five-star, so depth on specific outcomes and limitations is sparse.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingGrief & Trauma CounselingCareer & Life Coaching

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Lynn Gilderhus, Counselor
#6
70 low data

Lynn Gilderhus, Counselor

5.0(3)✓ Google-verified

Lynn has a gift for making people feel heard in the first meeting and building trust quickly, even with those skeptical of therapy. His work with couples on shared trauma and communication shows concrete results within weeks.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingGrief & Trauma CounselingCareer & Life Coaching
Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC
#7
70 low data

Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC

5.0(19)✓ Google-verifiedPublishes prices

LaRaine Jenkins earns universal five-star ratings over years. Clients describe feeling heard, safe, and supported through major life changes. Her straightforward style, sense of humor, and genuine care help people-especially anxious introverts and children-open up and make progress.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
Robert Karpe, Counselor
#8
69 low data

Robert Karpe, Counselor

5.0(3)✓ Google-verified

Robert Karpe brings a relaxed, caring style to therapy. Reviewers consistently mention his patience, humor, and ability to make them feel comfortable discussing difficult topics while prompting genuine reflection.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
High Hopes Mental Wellness Associates
#9
54 low data

High Hopes Mental Wellness Associates

5.0(1)✓ Google-verified

One reviewer praised Stewart for listening closely and genuinely caring about his clients' wellbeing. Limited review data available.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingGrief & Trauma Counseling
Cayce Counseling Services, LLC
#10
46 low data

Cayce Counseling Services, LLC

5.0(1)✓ Google-verified

Not enough recent reviews yet to synthesise a reliable sentiment read for this business.

Mental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent CounselingSubstance Abuse & Addiction Counseling
Domestic Abuse Center
#11
54 low data

Domestic Abuse Center

4.3(6)✓ Google-verified

Most clients find the batterer intervention groups useful and look forward to sessions. One reviewer reported a negative staff interaction and questioned the facilitator's honesty.

Substance Abuse & Addiction CounselingMental Health & Anxiety CounselingChild & Adolescent Counseling

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Common questions about grief & trauma counseling

How much does grief or trauma counseling cost in Cayce?
Individual sessions commonly run $100 to $200 out of pocket, though rates vary by license type and experience. Many counselors accept insurance, which can bring your cost down to a copay, and some offer sliding-scale fees for clients paying directly.
How often do I need to go, and for how long?
Weekly sessions are typical at the start, especially in the first few months after a loss or traumatic event, tapering to biweekly or monthly as symptoms ease. Straightforward grief support might wrap up in 8 to 12 sessions, while trauma work, particularly with a longer history, can take several months to over a year.
What should I expect in a first session?
The counselor will usually ask about the event or loss, your current symptoms (sleep, mood, flashbacks, avoidance), and your support system, then outline a general approach. You're not expected to recount every detail immediately; pacing that disclosure is part of the therapist's job.
How do I judge whether a counselor is actually good at this?
Look for clear communication about their methods and how they'll measure progress, not just a warm demeanor. Ask directly about their experience with cases like yours, and pay attention to whether they check in on how sessions are landing for you rather than sticking rigidly to a script.

Last updated 2026-07-17