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Pet Loss and Grief

Pet Loss & Grief Counselling
Compassionate Support for Pet Loss and Grief

Compassionate Support for Pet Loss and Grief

The loss of an animal companion can be deeply painful and life-altering. Pets are family, companions, sources of comfort, routine, safety, and unconditional connection. When they die, many people experience profound grief that is often misunderstood or minimized by others.

You do not have to carry that grief alone.

When a beloved pet is aging or living with a serious illness, grief can begin before a loss has occurred. You may find yourself holding hope and heartbreak at the same time—treasuring each moment together while preparing for what lies ahead.

Anticipatory grief can bring feelings of sadness, worry, guilt, and emotional exhaustion. You don't have to carry these feelings alone. Counselling offers a compassionate space to process difficult emotions, navigate decisions with care, and find support as you move through this deeply personal journey.

I offer compassionate pet loss counselling for individuals navigating

  • Anticipatory grief

  • Sudden or traumatic loss

  • Euthanasia decisions

  • Feelings of guilt or self-blame

Grief can affect the nervous system, sleep, concentration, emotions, and sense of stability. There is no “right” timeline for grief, and healing does not mean forgetting your bond.

Counselling can provide a supportive space to

  • Process emotions without judgment

  • Explore the meaning of your relationship

  • Understand trauma responses connected to loss

  • Develop coping tools and grounding strategies

  • Honour your pet’s memory while continuing forward

Anticipatory Grief
  • Emotional numbness or overwhelm

  • Loss of routine, identity, or companionship

  • Anxiety, panic, or difficulty coping after loss

A Gentle, Trauma-Informed Approach

My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in trauma-informed care. Sessions move at your pace, with space for both emotional processing and nervous system support.

EMDR therapy may also be incorporated when grief is connected to traumatic images, distressing memories, guilt, or sudden loss experiences.

Available In-Person & Online

Pet loss counselling sessions are available:

  • In-person in Vancouver, BC

  • Online 

You are welcome here exactly as you are.

Personal Journey
A Personal Understanding of Pet Loss

As someone who has experienced the love and loss of a beloved companion animal, I understand that pet grief is not "just losing a pet."

The bond we share with our animals can be profound, and the grief that follows can affect every part of our lives.

 

In Loving Memory of Niki & Chloë

Run free my sweet little monkeys!

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Monique Verhoef RTC, MTC 

Pet Loss and Grief | Trauma | Dental Anxiety

200-1892 W Broadway | Vancouver, BC

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Gratefully Situated on Coast Salish Lands: Acknowledging the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/Selilwitulh
(Tsleil-Waututh) Nations

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