The loss of a pet can be devastating. Our animals are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. They're part of our routines, our relationships, our homes, and often our sense of comfort and safety. They witness different chapters of our lives, offer companionship through difficult times, and become family in ways that can be hard to put into words...

And yet, the grief that follows their loss is often misunderstood or minimized. You may feel pressure to move on, question whether your grief is "too much," or find that the people around you don't quite understand the depth of what you've lost.

There is no hierarchy of grief. The relationship mattered, and so does your loss.
 

Grief is complicated. So is love.

Pet loss can bring up a range of emotions, sometimes all at once. You might be experiencing overwhelming sadness, loneliness, anger, or guilt. You may find yourself replaying your pet's final days, questioning medical decisions, or wondering if you could have done something differently.

For some, grief begins long before a pet dies. Caring for an aging or ill animal, anticipating a loss, or navigating the decision to euthanize can be emotionally exhausting and isolating.

Grief can also stir up earlier experiences of loss, attachment, or difficult transitions. Sometimes we're grieving not only the animal we loved, but the routines, sense of security, and particular chapter of life that existed alongside them.
How therapy can help

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I approach pet grief through a relational, attachment-focused lens. Rather than focusing on "moving on" or finding closure, I'm interested in understanding what this particular relationship meant to you and how its loss is affecting your life.

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Together, we can make room for the complicated feelings that come with grief, explore guilt or self-blame, and begin to understand how this loss connects to your experiences of love, attachment, and identity.

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There isn't a right way to grieve, and therapy isn't about making you feel better on a particular timeline. It's about having a space where your relationship, your loss, and whatever feelings come with it can be taken seriously.
 

You don't need to minimize your grief here.

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