The loss of a beloved animal can be one of the most devastating losses we might ever experience. Sometimes the loss of our pet is as traumatic as the loss of a family member or close friend. Unfortunately, one of the challenges in trying to grieve the loss of our pet is that many people try to diminish our loss by remarking "it was only an animal, you can get another one."
I have worked in home care, hospice and as a medical social worker assisting people who have experienced devastating losses and were struggling with their grief. After my own experience with pet loss, I decided to make supporting others who have experienced the loss of a beloved pet, part of my mission as a therapist and as a compassionate survivor of pet loss. I have developed a pet loss support group in Colorado and recently gave a presentation on Compassion Fatigue to a conference of Vet Techs.
Although I want to help as many pet parents as possible, I believe those who live alone, do not have biological children and/or have had other recent losses, are especially in need of my support. Sometimes our pets are viewed as our children and as the one true relationship that we have in our lives. It feels unbearably difficult to go on without our best friend. Sometimes the grief reaction is so severe that it requires the intervention of a trained professional. I offer individual counseling and support to all who need it. All my sessions are telehealth so you can receive help from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
As a dedicated volunteer at the Denver Humane Society shelter, I received special training in cat behavior and therapy, along with managing healthy and sick animals.
Please see the listing under Grief for more information about grief.