danielle desrosier

Grief changes us—but even in loss, there’s room for hope and meaning.

Grief doesn’t only apply when we lose someone we love. It also shows up when life moves forward without giving us a choice in what gets left behind. When a relationship ends. When a dream changes. When you feel distant from the person you used to be.

Maybe you’ve noticed that your child has started to shut down, or their behavior feels different and unfamiliar. You’ve tried to talk to them, to reconnect, but something still feels off.

Or maybe you’re a young adult trying to find your footing after a major loss, a breakup, or a life transition that’s turned everything upside down. Whatever has led you here, one thing is likely true: something has shifted—and you’re left trying to make sense of it.

In my work, I hold space for people of all ages to grieve not only the loss of life, but all forms of loss—and to begin to finding meaning again, even in the midst of pain.

My Background & Approach

Therapy with me is a partnership. I’m compassionate and committed to creating a space where you can be fully yourself. I’m here to listen, ask the right questions, and challenge you when it’s helpful. You know your life better than anyone. My role is to meet you where you are, move at your pace, and work alongside you to define and pursue what healing looks like for you.

With kids and teens, my primary focus is on building a strong, trusting connection with your child. I work to understand them beyond their struggles—what lights them up, how they play, and what brings them joy. Therapy is tailored to their unique needs, helping them reconnect with the activities, relationships, and parts of themselves they may have lost touch with. You reaching out for support is a powerful first step—I’ll keep you informed and supported along the way, while prioritizing your child’s voice, experience, and growth to empower them to lean into their authentic selves.

For young adults, I offer a space to process the complex layers of change including grief, transition, and identity exploration. You may be holding the wight of a loss while also trying to figure out who you are and where you’re going. That’s a heavy lift. In our work, we’ll explore how your past has shaped you, how your values can guide you, and how to build a life that both honors what you’ve lost and allows you to stay connected to hope. Through compassion, insight, and gentle challenge, I’ll help you rediscover your worth and reconnect with the parts of yourself you’ve missed.

When I work with families, especially those navigating loss, I understand that even when you’re grieving the same person, your experiences can look entirely different. Our work together focuses on improving communication, honoring differences in how you each grieve, and fostering compassion and grace within your family system. There’s no “right” way to grieve—we’ll make space for all of it.

My approach blends attachment theory, psychodynamic insight, and a strengths-based perspective, using modalities like ACT to support growth and healing. When working with grief, I draw from the dual-process model, which recognizes that life and loss are deeply intertwined—and that it’s possible to move between moments of mourning and moments of living. Your experiences shape you, but they don’t define you, and together, we’ll make room for both your grief and your growth.

This work is personal to me. My own experiences with grief and therapy are what led me here, and they give me a lived understanding of what it’s like to rebuild after loss—not from a textbook, but from my own life. I’m not here to lead from a distance—I’m here to be with you through the work, honoring your process while drawing from what I’ve learned in my own journey.

I earned my Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a n emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University.  My work spans school-based mental health, peer-led grief support, and nonprofit organizations serving children, families, and young adults through trauma, anxiety, depression, self-harm, and major life changes. I’m also an active member of the Southern California grief community, offering psychoeducation and community resources for those navigating these experiences.

If you’re feeling lost, isolated, or unsure where to start, I want you to know—you don’t have to figure it all out alone. I’d be honored to walk alongside you.