Grief and Pet Loss

There’s a hole in your heart.

The bed is empty. There’s no one to hold or talk to. It feels like a sizable part of you is missing.

People talk about grief as a concept, but it is far more painful than you could have ever imagined. Thinking of grief as a concept is not you anymore.

So much of who you are is intertwined with your loved one; now, they are gone.

How can I possibly recover from this and ever be happy again?

It feels like you will never be able to escape from this pain when everything around reminds you of them.

Losing someone you love creates overwhelming grief.

You thought you would feel ‘better’ by now. People tell you the passing of time helps. But it hasn’t helped you.

You still feel incredibly stuck in the anger, injustice, and sadness of it all.

You think they would have wanted you to heal and be at peace. But you aren’t sure how to do that without a road map.

People are complicated, and grieving is too.

Many variables can affect your experience of grief, like how your loved one died, your culture, your beliefs, past unresolved grief, and so on.

We will peel apart all these factors while honoring your beloved in therapy. I will sit with you while you go through all the “stages”* of grieving and be your trusted guide through the most painful moments.

You can feel at peace again; let’s walk together in that direction.

The loss of a pet can create grief.

Other people don’t get it, and you feel embarrassed to tell them about the depth of your grief over your beloved companion. So, you quietly mourn in isolation.

It’s been almost a year, and you still miss your pet’s presence in your life acutely.

Can I ever feel carefree again? How can I fill the hole in my heart?

Honoring the life of your pet will be our goal.

In therapy, I will help you do the grief work that will get you to the other side while honoring your pet. You will share your favorite memories with me and tell me how meaningful your companion was.

We will examine your thinking about their death and what parts hold you back. Perhaps it was a special connection you fear you will never find again or bringing up the unprocessed grief of loved ones years ago.

Whatever it is, we will figure it out together, and I will help you find a way out of the pain you currently feel.

At some point, you will need to recover and live life again.

Losing someone close to you creates a hole in your life. You will never forget and stop loving them, but you do have a future without them.

Therapy is a judgment-free space for you to be comforted in your grief, no matter who you are grieving or how long it’s been.

Upon request, my therapy dog Gizmo can be brought into session to provide extra comfort in your grief.

It would be my honor to take the journey to find a life worth living again.