therapy for pet loss
Losing a pet is a unique kind of grief.
Pets are more than just animals. They’re family, and losing a family member can be devastating. If you’ve recently had a pet cross over the rainbow bridge, or if you’re preparing to face this loss in the near future, you don’t have to go through this alone. We are here for you.
You may feel like you’re not allowed to grieve.
Your beloved pet meant the world to you. They were your best friend, your family member, your confidant.
What do you do now without them?
The reality is that you will grieve the loss of your best friend. But grief related to pet loss is not always understood in our society. We live in a society that struggles with grief in general. tends to suppress, intellectualize, or otherwise avoid the feelings associated with grief and loss in general.
There can be an expectation that you need to “move on” quickly, as if your healing is supposed to follow a specific timeline. HSPs don’t work that way. Many people find themselves struggling with grief several months or years after a loss, and that’s okay. Healing from grief is not about ignoring these intense emotions or forcing yourself to move on. Instead, therapy helps people embrace and feel the deep emotions connected to grief while finding ways to live and learn to accept their day-to-day lives again. It’s not moving on from your grief. It’s moving on with your grief.
Countless people are struggling with grief and loss right now and if you need help finding space in your life for grief while managing to take small steps back into your day-to-day life, you don't have to face it alone. Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offers therapy for grief and loss in our boutique San Diego practice. Learn more about therapy for grief and loss on this page, or by getting in touch with us to schedule a session.
“his ears were often the first thing to catch my tears.”
— ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
What to Expect From Therapy for Pet Loss
It’s crucial to recognize that grief isn’t just limited to mourning the death of a loved one, including our pets. That is just one specific kind of grief called bereavement. We can experience grief following any significant loss, including breakups and divorces, career changes, or a relocation. Any loss, even if you deem it as a positive thing, may trigger feelings of discomfort, guilt, fear, shame, and mourning that are characteristic of grief. At times, a loss might also make you feel relieved, and that emotion presents its own challenges.
When you visit Therapy for Highly Sensitive People for grief therapy, we work together to process and understand your loss. Grief therapy provides a safe and nonjudgmental environment to explore your feelings about your loss. While the goal isn’t about forgetting what was lost, you can learn how to integrate new meaning into your life. Together, we can move towards healing and find a greater sense of acceptance. When you’re ready, Therapy for Highly Sensitive People is here for you. Use the link below to schedule a consultation to determine if therapy for grief and loss in our San Diego practice is the right next step for you.
How do I know if grief therapy would be helpful?
If you are experiencing any of these challenges, therapy can help:
You feel lost without your pet
You feel like nobody understands your loss
You don't have anyone to talk to about your grief
You’re struggling to find meaning in your life without your pet
You are struggling to care for other pets
You are experiencing intense or overwhelming emotions
You’re caring for an elderly or sick pet and are expecting to have to make difficult decisions soon
How therapy for grief & loss works…
Therapy won't automatically fix or erase the intense emotions related to grief and loss. However, it can help you feel supported and validated during this vulnerable time, so you can find room to live your life again while honoring and embracing your emotional experience.
During grief, some days will inherently feel harder than others. It’s normal to fluctuate through many emotions that can change day-to-day, hour-to-hour, or even minute-to-minute. Our therapists who provide therapy for grief and loss understand that grief is a unique process that affects each person differently.
