I’ve been asked what it means on my website when I list my service as vegetarian / vegan friendly. I often hear from people that they don’t feel comfortable attending therapy when they are concerned that the animal they are grieving may be seen as a meal by the therapist and sometimes they feel too nervous to ask.  This creates a strain on the therapeutic relationship which is the most important aspect of therapy meaning the client doesn’t feel the full benefit of the service. I also often hear that some feel they will be judged based on the species they are grieving, this is particularly true for sanctuary volunteers working with chickens, pigs, sheep etc. or animal advocates. I

Let’s talk about the loneliness that comes with pet loss and grief. Pet grief can be a very lonely time. In Ireland we have a cultural connection to grieving, it is part of our heritage.  We’re a nation that engages in public mourning through wakes and funerals.  Community members provided keening and support was offered to the bereaved. Funerals and goodbyes may have changed over the years but there are a variety of ways that we now mourn our loved ones, however, this hasn’t extended to pets.  For the most part we don’t have support of our community, we don’t have anyone paying tribute to our beloved companion, we don’t have visitors and we don’t have a public gathering. In

The bond between a cat and their owner is truly special. Cats often find their humans forming a unique bond with them. The heartbreak of saying goodbye is immensely painful. As a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact that the loss of a beloved cat can have on individuals and families. It is a grief I have experienced and live with myself after losing my beloved cat Binx last year. The grief experienced after the death of a cat is real and valid and it deserves the same attention and care as any other type of bereavement. This is where pet grief therapy can make all the difference. Understanding Cat Bereavement Grieving the loss of your

The bond between a dog and their owner is truly special. Dogs become faithful companions, trusted confidantes and members of the family. The heartbreak of saying goodbye is immensely painful. As a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact that the loss of a beloved dog can have on individuals and families. The grief experienced after the death of a pet is real and valid and it deserves the same attention and care as any other type of bereavement. This is where pet grief therapy can make all the difference. Understanding Dog Bereavement Grieving the loss of a dog involves a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anger and guilt. The intensity of these emotions can vary,

Last year I lost my cat Binx. He was my great love and I miss him more than I can ever express. Recently, I lost more of my gorgeous animals and it has been heartbreaking. Life with animals can be great but it can also bring tremendous loss. Losing an animal is deeply painful and can be as traumatic as losing a human. Unfortunately, society doesn’t always allow us the space to grieve or process our pet grief. Many of us hide our pain and heartache, making it much harder to deal with. Many of us feel lonely in our loss. In fact, dealing with pet grief was the main reason I became a psychotherapist. When my beloved dog died after 15 years together,