Therapy for Pet Grief
Pet Loss Grief Support & Counseling Services
One of the main reasons I entered the profession was because I felt there was a hole in the field for therapists who specialize in pet bereavement. This is certainly a disenfranchised category of grief and one that not enough therapists understand. I won't pathologize your sadness. Losing someone you love is hard. Period.
The manner in which you grieve is strongly dependent on the relationship you had with your pet. I firmly believe that the human-animal connection can be as meaningful as that with another person. Pets often know us better than friends do. They provide us with unconditional love on a day-to-day basis. When they're gone, there is an energy that is missing from the household. Their death can re-activate a flood of other buried fears, emotions, and guilt. When grief is not normalized, shame and depression often follow.
The circumstances around their death may also be difficult to endure. Perhaps you had to make the decision to euthanize and you are experiencing intense feelings of guilt? Maybe you suffer from depression and your dog provided you with routine, a sense of purpose, and
connection to your neighborhood. Grief over a pet, like that of a human, is as complicated and unique as you are.
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I provide Pet Grief Support for...
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Intense Depression Activated by Death or Loss of a Pet
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Anticipatory Loss
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Euthanasia & End of Life Decisions
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Elderly Pet Loss
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Runaway or Lost Pets
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Loss Through Divorce or a Separation
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Traumatic Loss
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Early or Unexpected Loss of Young Pets
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Disenfranchised Grief by Friends & Families
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Unexpected Attachment to Animals Raised for Meat Consumption (Livestock, 4-H, FFA)
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Veterinary Professionals (Vicarious Trauma & Compassion Fatigue)
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Loss through rehoming / aggression issues
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Terminal Illness
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Losing a pet is a deeply personal experience, and as a pet loss grief counselor, I am here to support you in navigating your emotions and finding healing. My services are tailored to help you process the loss, whether it was sudden, anticipated, or connected to complex circumstances. Together, we will honor your pet's memory and build a pathway to understanding and acceptance. Reach out today to connect with a dedicated pet grief therapist and start your journey towards recovery.
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About
Pet Grief & Loss Therapist Marina Resa LMFT
I was initially inspired to pursue a degree in psychology when I recognized a significant gap for qualified pet grief counselors. The back-to-back deaths of my own pets, coupled with the absence of mental health professionals offering the necessary services when I was seeking support, motivated me to go back to school and fill this void.
After earning my master's degree from Antioch University and obtaining my LMFT license, I had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. Wallace Sife, the author of "Loss of a Pet" and founder of the Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB). I later became a board member and co-creator/instructor of the Pet Loss Grief Specialist course.
Currently, I offer online therapy to grieving pet parents across California and provide coaching services globally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Grief Therapy
What can pet grief therapy help me with?
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Processing complex emotions such as intense depression, guilt or anger
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Working through traumatic endings
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Deciding when and if to get another pet
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Making end of life decisions
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Managing day to day life
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Caregiver fatigue
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Adjusting to a new normal
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Improving self care
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Identifying underlying issues or attachment trauma. *Preexisting anxiety, depression, or trauma are often intensified after the loss of a pet.
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Finding acceptance
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Changes in routine or identity outside of your role as a pet parent
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​Is it normal to feel this sad after the loss of a pet? My grief feels really intense?
Yes. Grief is a normal & healthy response to losing someone you love.
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How do I know if I need pet grief therapy?
First of all, if you have found my website, you probably could use support. Pet grief therapy is beneficial if you are experiencing any of the following:
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Intense and complex emotions, such as guilt or crying spells
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Numbness or disassociation.
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Relying more on substances to numb the emotional pain
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Changes in relationships
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Difficulty focusing
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Eating more or less than you used to
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Oversleeping or sleeping less
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Isolation
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Preoccupation with finding fault for your pet's death
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Changes in self care
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Thoughts of self harm or desire to die
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Panic attacks
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Depressive episodes
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You are feeling misunderstood or judged by others
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Replaying of traumatic memories or images in your mind
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How long does pet grief last?
The duration of grief varies, just as it does with human loss. The grief reaction you experience is impacted by your particular relationship & individual processing style.
How long does pet grief therapy last? How many sessions will I need?
Some people prefer to just meet briefly to work through the acute pain leading up to or immediately following the loss of their pet while others stay on much longer. This depends on many factors, including whether or not you are dealing with complicated grief. Additionally, pet grief therapy can take place concurrently with "regular" therapy.
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Can I work on other issues with you as well? I've been meaning to get back into therapy anyhow.
Yes! Absolutely. Many of my clients have started out with me to process the pain following the loss of their beloved pet, but have chosen to stay on to work through other things as well. I'm a trained psychotherapist and have experience treating a plethora of presenting issues outside of pet grief.
What is the difference between a pet grief therapist, counselor, specialist, and coach? I'm confused about who to turn to for help.​ ​
It can certainly be difficult to suss out the difference between all of these pet loss helpers, as some careers require formal training and/or licensure while others don't. I've explained in more depth in this article. Click here.
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What types of interventions does pet grief therapy include?
Here are a few different goals and interventions that will take place in pet grief therapy, however your particular treatment plan will be tailor made for you.
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Validation: Pet grief is often a disenfranchised form of grief. It is important that you work with a therapist who will provide an affirmative space for you to process your loss​
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Identifying and processing complex emotions
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Creating personalized exercises or rituals to help move you through guilt, regret and pain​
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Learning coping tools​
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Finding a way to honor the continuing bonds
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Identification of preexisting mental health challenges, trauma or diagnoses that may be amplifying your grief
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Increasing resourcing skills
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Improving the capacity for positive emotions
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EMDR therapy
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Identifying and working through additional stressors and relationships
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What could I do to memorialize my pet? Do you have any ideas?​
Absolutely! How you memorialize your pet is a deeply personal decision, but I've found that most of my clients find comfort in honoring the bond you shared through a memorial of some sort. Click here for a list of ideas.
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My pet is terminally ill & I'm considering euthanasia. How do I prepare? I don't want to make the wrong choice.
This is one of the most difficult decisions a pet parent has to come to terms with. When is the right time? How do I emotionally prepare to say goodbye? You probably have several questions and concerns. In this article, I provide resources to help you as you navigate end of life decisions. Click here Guilt is often a major component of euthanasia, and through therapy I can help you find peace with this difficult decision.