Pet Loss Counselling

The loss of a beloved animal companion can be profoundly painful. Animal companions often walk beside us through daily routines, major life transitions, and quiet moments that shape our sense of safety and connection. When a pet dies, their absence can be felt everywhere — in the home, in the body, and in the rhythms of everyday life.

Pet loss counselling offers a compassionate space to honour that bond and to explore what this loss means for you. Sessions are available in person in Victoria and online across British Columbia.

Pet Loss Counselling Honours a Meaningful Bond

Grief after pet loss is often misunderstood or minimized by others. You may hear comments that unintentionally dismiss the depth of your pain or feel pressure to move on quickly. Yet for many people, a pet is family — a source of unconditional presence and a steady companion through life’s changes.

In this space, your relationship with your animal companion is treated with respect. Your grief is acknowledged as real, valid, and worthy of care.

UNDERSTANDING PET LOSS GRIEF

Grief Takes Many Forms

Grief following the loss of an animal companion can include intense sadness and longing, as well as guilt, anger, numbness, or quiet disorientation. If your pet was ill or suffering, you may also feel relief alongside grief, which can feel confusing or difficult to hold. These emotional contradictions are deeply human.

The Absence Is Felt Everywhere

Animal companions are often woven into the fabric of daily life. Feeding routines, walks, familiar sounds, and shared spaces can become powerful reminders of what has been lost. Because of this, grief may surface unexpectedly, triggered by small moments you did not anticipate would feel so heavy

There Is No Timeline for Pet Loss

Pet loss grief does not follow a set timeline. Anniversaries, holidays, or the decision to welcome another animal into your life may bring renewed waves of emotion, even long after your pet has died. This reflects the significance of the bond you shared, not a failure to “move on.”

How Pet Loss Counselling May Be Used

Pet loss counselling is not about moving past your grief or replacing what was lost. Instead, it offers a steady and collaborative space where your relationship with your pet and your experience of loss are honoured.

In our work together, we may explore memories, emotions, and the changes you are navigating since your pet’s death. This can include adjusting to new routines, sitting with the quiet absence in your home, or reflecting on complex feelings such as guilt or self-blame. We move at a pace that feels right for you, guided by what feels most present and meaningful.

For some people, pet loss connects to other experiences of grief or life transitions. If this feels relevant, we can gently explore how these layers intersect, without pressure to make sense of everything at once.

My approach is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and respect for your bond with your animal companion. There is no expectation to reach closure or to grieve in a particular way.