Caitlin Pell, LMFT

Palliative Psychotherapy

I offer therapy and support for people coping with terminal diagnosis, serious illness and for those walking beside them. Offering a grounded space to talk about what comes next.Available for remote sessions in California and in-person sessions in Nevada City

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Receiving a Life-Limiting Diagnosis Changes Everything

Serious illness, dying, and grief can arrive in ways that feel disorienting, overwhelming, and deeply isolating. You may find yourself facing questions you never expected — making sense of what’s happening, coping with the emotional weight, talking with loved ones, or how to meet the unknown with any sense of steadiness.In a culture where death is often hidden and medicalized, many people feel unprepared for this terrain. You might feel fear, uncertainty, or a loss of control. You may be holding intense emotions while also trying to care for others.You might recognize yourself here if you are:• Living with a serious or terminal diagnosis• Supporting someone you love through illness or dying• Navigating anticipatory grief, loss, or bereavement• Searching for meaning, grounding, or a way to face mortality more consciouslyThis is tender, human ground. And while it can feel isolating, you are not meant to carry it without support.

Support that meets you exactly where you are

I offer palliative psychotherapy to individuals, families, and loved ones navigating chronic or terminal illness. My work provides steady support across the full arc of this experience, from diagnosis through the end of life and into bereavement, addressing the practical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of care.In addition to psychotherapy, I am trained to provide death doula services as part of my end-of-life support. My foundation is compassion, authentic human connection, and respect for each person’s unique path through life and death.Sessions take place one-on-one in a private, quiet setting, either online or in person. This is a space where there is no expectation to perform, explain things perfectly, or arrive with the “right” words.

My interest lies in supporting conscious living and conscious dying. This includes working with people who are facing terminal illness, as well as those who are contemplating mortality, grief, or existential questions at any stage of life.Contemplating death often changes how we live, and I believe this work is not only for those who are actively dying, but for anyone seeking deeper alignment with their values, relationships, and sense of purpose.At the heart of my work is a lived spiritual practice, grounded in awe and reverence for the Great Mystery. Throughout the years, I’ve found myself at ashrams, meditation centers, and at the feet of spiritual masters. My practice grows and evolves with me, never static and always full of surprises.Spirituality is commonly misunderstood to be a way out, to rise above, but I have found that to be truly spiritual is to become fully human. I share with you a path of spiritual understanding that is earthly, embodied, and real.