Dealing with Pet Grief: Healing After the Loss of Your Animal Companion

When we think of grief and loss, we often associate it with the loss of a person, but grief can also manifest in other forms, specifically after the loss of a pet.

It is unfortunate, however, that in our society we give little credence to the impact and weight that can accompany the death of a cherished pet.

As a therapist, I’ve spent many sessions helping clients navigate the complexity of emotion and pain that arise with the passing of an animal. And in recent months, my family experienced the loss of a pet - an adventurous and faithful dog named Oliver - eliciting my own feelings of sadness, loss, and grief.