Our team thought this was such a profound statement, we had to reach out to Karen in what was an enriching and informative discussion about Pet loss and grief counselling.
We wondered if there was a common thread in her sessions… Karen says that many of her clients struggle with a “light at the end of the tunnel” and often wondered “If they would ever feel the same again”. The short answer is, No and here is why.
Loving and caring for a pet changes the very person you are, and the shared experiences create a unique connection. Karen says, “Your pet see’s you as you truly are, there are no masks when it comes to your pet”. This level of openness and acceptance creates an incredibly strong bond with our fur family.
When the bond is broken it can create an equally overwhelming feeling of grief and loss.
There are many layers of grief and after trauma and shock, there is often unnecessary guilt as well as remorse if pet owners have had to euthanise. Considering there are also different types of loss including surrendering or re-homing a pet due to a change in circumstance or move to aged care, a pet that gets lost as well as accidents resulting in death of a pet can all attribute to an owner’s unique grief experience.
Karen points out that it is also the profound “loss of a future”. The loss of ongoing companionship, routine, plans you may have made and the ongoing companionship that heavily impacts pet owners.
If you are experiencing or preparing for the loss of your beloved pet, don’t be afraid to reach out to a service specialising in this area.
Karen is one of only a few Counsellors in Australia that is certified in Pet Loss and Bereavement with APLB (Assoc. of Pet Loss and Bereavement – USA) and offers advice and counselling to pet lovers from across the globe who have lost or anticipate losing their beloved pet.
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