My Journey

Everyone always asks me, “How did you decide to become a Certified Pet Loss and Bereavement Counselor?” The answer is always the same, “My Callie lead me on this journey.”

In late September 2016, our family had to say a very tearful goodbye to our sweet Miniature Schnauzer, Callie. Callie was nearly 13 yrs. old and for the last three years of her life, she dealt with a few major health issues. Callie was quite intelligent, a bit stubborn, very comical, but most of all, she was sweet and loving and we all loved her so.

After Callie’s death, I was experiencing intense emotional pain and consumed with sadness. My first instinct was to visit my personal physician, who was able to temporarily ease my sorrow, but I knew that was only a temporary fix. I even searched for a psychologist who could possibly help me with my pet loss grief. I could not find anyone who specialized in Pet Loss and Bereavement.

I searched for other resources to help me cope and try to understand that if what I was feeling was normal and how long would this terrible pain last. I found a wonderful book, “The Loss of a Pet”, authored by Wallace Sife, Ph.D. Dr. Wallace Sife, Ph.D. is a nationally renowned authority on Pet Loss and Bereavement. I found great comfort in reading this book, but I felt like I needed more. I had a wonderful support system, my husband was wonderful to talk with, but he too was suffering the loss and I felt guilty depending on him for emotional support. I needed to find someone who could solely focus on me. I was fortunate that I have a wonderful family and friends who were always willing to listen to me, but they had lives of their own. One of those friends, who is and has been a veterinary professional for over twenty years suggested that because I had learned so much from my research and personal pain, I should investigate the possibility of becoming a counselor for those who are suffering with the loss of their pet. I wondered if this profession even existed. Well, I did my research and found it certainly does exist.

I researched and found many schools, organizations and associations that offer classes and courses in Pet Loss and Bereavement Counseling training. I was very impressed with the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement and the integrity that surrounded this prestigious association. I was fortunate to be accepted into their counselor training program and was trained and certified as a Pet Loss and Bereavement Counselor in September of 2017. I began this journey as a tribute to my sweet Callie and as a way to help myself learn how to cope with the unrelenting pain and sadness that you feel when you lose a beloved pet. I continue this journey with determination to help other grieving pet owners who are suffering with the loss of a beloved pet. There is no reason you should ever suffer alone, I am here to help you.

“The helper seeks to help, because she knows what it is like to be helpless.”