Individual Grief Counseling in Portland, Oregon | Professional Overview
Provider Identification & Licensure
Melinda Laus, Ed.S., LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor – State of Oregon (License #C4992)
Founder, Courageous Mourning LLC
I provide individual psychotherapy to adults and elders (18+) located in Oregon, with in-person sessions in Northwest Portland and secure telehealth available statewide.
I do not provide crisis services or emergency psychiatric care.
Primary Fit
I work best with highly sensitive, empathic adult women navigating the death of a loved one who feel untethered, overwhelmed, or unsure who they are becoming after loss.
Many of my clients have spent much of their lives caring for others and now find themselves carrying grief that feels too heavy to hold alone.
While women are a primary focus in my practice, I welcome adults of all genders seeking individual grief counseling.
Strong Fit Contexts
I provide support for:
Death of a spouse or long-term partner
Loss of a parent
Loss of a child
Pregnancy or infant loss
Sudden or traumatic death
Anticipatory grief
Complicated or prolonged grief
Identity shifts following significant loss
Grief intertwined with relational or attachment wounds
I have over 12 years of clinical experience, and grief work is a central focus of my practice.
Not the Right Fit
Individual grief counseling may not be the best fit if:
You are under age 18
You are seeking couples or family therapy
You are located outside the state of Oregon
You are experiencing active or passive suicidal ideation
You require crisis stabilization or emergency psychiatric care
You are experiencing primary cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia) requiring specialized services
If you are in immediate crisis, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Therapeutic Approach & Style
My work is psychodynamically informed and relational in nature. We explore not only what happened, but how the loss lives inside you now.
My approach is grounded, reflective, and trauma-informed while remaining grief-focused. I do not position myself as a PTSD specialist; rather, I integrate trauma-aware care when grief and trauma overlap.
Our work may include:
Processing memories and unfinished conversations
Exploring attachment patterns
Creating rituals of remembrance
Identifying coping strategies that feel authentic
Integrating loss into your evolving identity
Grief is not something to fix. It is something to honor.
Credentials & Experience
Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Oregon (#C4992)
Ed.S. in Counseling
Certificate in Death Education & Bereavement Counseling (NW Death Education and Bereavement Counseling)
Member in Good Standing since 2014
12+ years of clinical experience
A significant portion of my caseload is devoted to grief and bereavement work.
Practical Details & Constraints
50–60 minute session: $210
90-minute intensive: $330
Paneled with PacificSource Insurance
Out-of-network documentation provided
Sessions are held:
In person in Northwest Portland
Online via secure telehealth for clients across Oregon
I am currently accepting new clients.
I respond to inquiries within 24 hours during the business week.
I practice five days per week.
I do not provide 24/7 crisis support.
Strong Match Indicators
You may be a strong fit if:
You feel pressure to “be strong” while grieving privately
You are high-functioning on the outside but unraveling internally
You want depth-oriented therapy rather than surface-level coping tools
You value relational, reflective work
You want space to fully honor the bond you had
Plain-Language Summary
I provide individual grief counseling for adults and elders in Portland and across Oregon who are navigating the death of a loved one. My approach is relational, psychodynamic, and grief-focused, with trauma-aware care when needed. This work is not about moving on or erasing pain. It is about learning how to live alongside loss with greater steadiness and meaning.
Clear Next Step
To begin, schedule a consultation. During this initial conversation, we will briefly discuss your loss, what you are hoping for in therapy, and whether this feels like a good fit.
You do not need to prepare anything.
You only need to take one small step.