Dr. Elizabeth A. Mellin

Some grief has no funeral, no casserole, no card. For queer, non-binary, and trans people, some losses are not openly acknowledged or publicly mourned. It might be the partner no one recognized, the chosen family member others dismissed, the family members or faith community that turned away, the exhaustion of watching your existence be argued over, grief related to sexuality or intimacy, the pet who was your whole world, or the slow loss of a body or life changed by chronic illness. Sometimes it’s not a single loss, but many layered together — relationships, community, safety, belonging. These experiences can also be shaped by broader histories in which LGBTQ+ lives and relationships were not recognized or supported. When grief isn’t acknowledged, it can feel especially isolating. You may find yourself carrying something real that no one else seems to see. I specialize in working with this kind of grief — often called disenfranchised grief — as well as ambiguous loss, where something or someone is gone but not fully gone, or never fully acknowledged in the first place. This can include: •the loss of a partner, ex-partner, or relationship others didn’t understand or recognize •grief within chosen family, including friends who felt like home •estrangement from family or faith communities, whether chosen or not •relationships that changed or ended during coming out or transition •grief for versions of your life or identity that were never fully able to exist •changes or losses related to sexuality or intimacy, including shifts in desire, connection, or sense of self •the loss of safety, belonging, or trust in spaces that once felt supportive •ongoing losses without a clear endpoint, including chronic illness or changing capacity Therapy offers a place where this grief can be witnessed and taken seriously. My approach is grounded in compassion, existential therapy, and trauma-informed care, with attention to mindfulness and the nervous system. I pay particular attention to relationships and losses that were real, even if others didn’t see them that way. Rather than trying to fix or move grief along, I offer steady companionship as you move through loss at your own pace. As a lesbian therapist with lived experience of disenfranchised grief, I understand what it can mean to grieve without witness. I bring that awareness into the room with care and intention. I offer online therapy in Georgia and New York. Payment options vary by state, with private-pay services in New York and insurance accepted in Georgia. Reaching out during grief can feel vulnerable. If you're looking for a place where your grief can be acknowledged and supported, I am here when you are ready.