Grief Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey

 Michelle Palmer, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and grief therapist based in New Jersey. After more than two decades living and working in Washington, DC, she returned “home” to NJ to continue her mission of supporting individuals and communities through profound loss and trauma. Beyond Grief, her private practice, reflects 25 years of experience providing grief counseling and trauma‑informed care to children, teens, and adults across the United States and internationally. 

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Traumatic Grief Support

Michelle is committed to providing compassionate, practical, and evidence-informed support that helps people navigate some of life’s most challenging moments. Her approach centers on the belief that grief is not something to “get over,” but something we learn to live alongside with greater peace and self‑compassion. This philosophy guided her leadership as Executive Director of the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, the largest grief and trauma organization in Washington, DC. Through grief therapy, Michelle helps clients honor their loved ones, reconnect with joy, and rebuild meaning—even while carrying the ongoing presence of loss.

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National Expertise in Traumatic Grief, Mass Violence Response, and Crisis Recovery

In addition to her psychotherapy practice, Michelle is recognized nationally for her expertise in mass violence response and recovery, secondary traumatic stress, complex homicide, and compassionate death notification. She has supported communities in the aftermath of local and national crises and is deeply committed to helping cities, organizations, and first responders heal.

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