When I think of the darkest, loneliest times of my life (we all have them – it comes with the territory of being human), there has always been a pet by my side, or on my lap, or hogging my bed, or eating my snacks supporting me, and comforting me, and somehow making it better – if even just a little.
It is my great privilege to honor all of the pets by offering comfort to their humans.
At MindTree, that may happen in two ways:
You may participate in our remote Pet Loss Grief Support group
Location: Remote
Dates:
3rd Saturday Each Month
Time: 10 - 11:30am (Pacific Time Zone)
*If you are in North Carolina this is 1 pm - 2:30 EST
Cost: Donation
You may also participate in individual therapy with me. You could also do both.
Please contact MindTree Holistic Counseling and Wellness Center to schedule
Phone: 503-966-1556 Ext. 1
Email: info@mindtreeholisticcounseling.com
Any which way, we focus on:
- Normalizing all grief – and pet loss grief in particular
- Distinguishing between grief and trauma
- Coping tips and skills
- Expressing your emotions
- The tool of rituals
- Exploring creativity in your grief
- Potential pathways forward that work for you (should you get another pet or not, for example – there are no wrong answers)
If you are “not a group person”- I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that - or participating in mental health therapy isn’t feasible for you or something you care to do, please do reach out for support in some way. If you are”not a group person” but have never actually tried a group, perhaps this is a good opportunity to give it a shot. It’s all remote, so you can grab a blanket and a pillow and your favorite beverage (no alcohol please) and join us.
Some helpful links to support you:
Best Friends - Pet Loss and Grief Resources
Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Grief Center
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
A Deeper Look into Pet Loss (I helped the team write this back in my hospice social worker days)
Many of my pets are no longer at my side, or on my lap, or hogging my bed, or eating my snacks but somehow they remain in my heart supporting me, and comforting me, and somehow making it better – if even just a little.