Support Groups
"Grief shared is grief diminished."
We at The Animal Love and Loss Network
are great proponents of the support group approach to healing the pain
and distress associated with losing an animal companion. What better place
to share these fragile feelings than among others who can validate your
experience within a safe, nurturing and nonjudgmental environment?
If you are a counselor specializing in the area of animal bereavement,
we would like to hear about the work you are doing. Please contact The
ALLN Support Group Committee Chairperson, Medea Berkman at medea@alln.org
The Pet Loss Support Group for Grieving Animal Lovers meets on the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room 1 at Hospice of the Valley,1510 East Flower Street,
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
Purpose: The Pet Loss Support Group offers a safe, confidential, structured place where animal lovers bound by the experience of loss can come together on a regular basis to share their stories, get their concerns and feelings validated, learn more about normal grief and the mourning process, express and work through their feelings, and reflect on the meaning of it all. Unlike what happens in individual telephone, email or chat room counseling, participants in the support group have the opportunity to grow by giving help as well as receiving it.
Finally, under Resources / Hotlines / Arizona, please be aware that the PGSS telephone helpline is now functioning as an information-only recording that simply refers callers to other pet loss resources. Phone messages will no longer be returned. Therefore, rather than misleading your visitors, I think it would be best if you simply delete the numbers you have listed there, both for the Companion Animal Association and for the PGSS Helpline.
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The
Rainbow Bridge Pet Bereavement Support Group
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520-271-3233
Contact: Peter Christman
email: christmanpeter@yahoo.com
Meets the First Wednesday of each month, services free. Support, education,
and visual imagery exercise offered
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CGI Counseling Center
Andrea Keith, M.A., C.E.A.P., C.A.M.F
4199 Campus Drive, Suite #E
University Tower Building
Irvine, CA 92612
914-650-2442
E:Mail: akeith@cruznet.net
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PET LOSS BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, and WORKSHOPS
Finding the right emotional support while grieving the loss of your pet is important. Our need to connect and our desire for relationships are very real. It's how we're wired. We form relationships with our family, friends, and others. We also create significant and very deep emotional attachments with our pet companions. We care for our companion and in turn, our best friend provides us with non-judgmental affection and unconditional love. Research on attachment validates what pet lovers already know; that the bond we share with our pet can be even stronger than the bond we share with people. When this special bond with our pet is disrupted, we can feel emotionally devastated. After all, our pet was the one certainty we could always count on in our unpredictable, fast-paced life. |
CVM
Companions
Supporting the Human-Animal Bond
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Small Animal Hospital Gainsville, Florida
Telephone Number: 352-392-4700 ext. 4744
Email: cvmcompanions@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Website: http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/vmth/companions.htm
Our program includes:
Individual or Family Counseling for the Pet Related
Concerns
Phone Counseling
Pet Loss Support Group(s)
Grief and Bereavement Education
Pet Loss Memorial Services
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Pet Loss Grief Support Group
Indianapolis, Indiana
Meets monthly on the second Saturday, and is free of charge. Self-help
group providing education on the loss of a pet. Offers small lending
library and a periodical newsletter. Phone support is available between
meetings. A pet memorial service is held each year in the month of September.
Contact number- 317-251-4028
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Joyful Spirit Counseling
Kimberly Cardeccia
9500 Highland Road
Suite 6A
Howell, MI 48843
Phone: (248) 330-9813
Website: www.joyful-spirit.com
The support group meets the third Monday of every month from 7-8:30 pm. There is no charge for the group, donations are accepted. I also offer e-mail support for free and individual sessions for a negotiated fee. I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling, am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. I am also a Trauma and Loss Consultant. I am also a member of APLB, AMHCA and MMHCA. |
Animal Allies Humane Society
Pet Loss Support Group
407 1/2 Michigan Street
Duluth,
MN. 55802
218- 722-5341
www.animalallies.org
Facilitator- Kristelle Miller, PHD |
St. Louis Pet Loss Support Group
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Petropolis Pet Center
16830 Chesterfield Airport Rd.
Chesterfield, MO. 63005
636-537-2322 ext. 28
Meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday each month
No charge but donations are appreciated
We also offer counseling services – inquire regarding fees.
Contact: Harriet Cuddy,BA,MA
or: Jon Rios 314-427-7458
email addresses: (work) groomcareer@earthlink.net
(home) harrietmaltese01@aol.com
or pugboy01@aol.com
Diane Newman, MS, LPC
TLC Counseling Services in Springfield, MO
1611 Mills Road
Ozark, MO 65721
- Ordained as a Chaplin of Pets, through The Chaplin of Pets Ministry.
- Healing
Hearts Counseling Services
- Delete
Work Number
- Home:
417-725-2908
- E-Mail: dianenewman@missouristate.edu
Licensed Professional Counselor Specializing in Pet Grief Counseling, either individual or group sessions. My main therapeutic technique is Person Centered Therapy, allowing the person or group to freely and unconditionally express all their feelings and emotions. I talk about grief as a process, explaining the different stages of the process that the individual might go through. I also provide materials on the grieving process, poems, books on pet loss, and information on pet memorialization. Healing Hearts Pet Loss Support Group meets on a weekly basis as per demand Services are free. To schedule an appointment, contact Diane Newman at the above numbers. Time and location of meeting will be announced at the time of the call.
Jeanie Ransom
Counselor St. Louis, MO
ransomink@pobox.com
636-544-1525
Offers a four week counseling/support group for pet loss in
the St. Louis Mo.
area. Meets Tuesdays for one hour, 6:30-7:30 PM, for four weeks, with
a new group starting each month. Groups are held at Creve Coeur
Counseling.
The fee is $30 per week.
Individual Counseling is also available. Please contact Jeanie
for further details or to attend.
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Paw To Heart Animal Bereavement Support Services-
Offers monthly support groups free of charge to the community. Groups are open to anyone mourning the loss of an animal companion through death or separation. We also address euthanasia, quality of life issues and 'universal grief.' Educational literature isavailable at each meeting, and we often close with a guided imagery exercise.
Paw To Heart meets at: The Long Island Veterinary Specialists Center ("LIVS")
Conference Room
163 South Service Road
Plainview, NY
The last Monday of each month. Please contact Medea D. Berkman-Group Facilitator for further details or to attend. PH: 516-785-6416
E-Mail- pawtoheart@usa.net Website- www.pawtoheart.org
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Metropolitan Veterinary Associates
Pet Loss Support Group
Valley Forge, PA
Meets once or twice a month from 7:00-8:30pm.
Facilitator: Carolyn Thomson, DVM
Phone: 610-666-1050 ext 235 to RSVP and for meeting dates
Metropolitan Veterinary Associates in Valley Forge, PA has a pet loss support group. The group is operated by veterinarians and veterinary nurses who have experience with pet loss. A board certified psychiatrist consults with us regarding the implementation of the group and attends our meetings.
Our pet loss support group meets once or twice a month. Meetings begin at 7pm and end at 8:30pm. Attendees are asked to RSVP at 610-666-1050 ext 235 in advance.
Website: www.metro-vet.com |
S.A.P.P.Y
Pet Loss/Grief Support Group of San Antonio
Contact Person- Julie Wiley, Founder/facilitator
(210)-216-0920, sappypetloss@sbcglobal.net
Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 PM (location TBA).Named in honor of founder's beloved pet "SAPPY" whopassed away on August 4, 2003 from bladder cancer.The group provides three facilitators who know first hand the pain oflosing a beloved pet companion. A special candlelighting is provided each Tuesday in memory of pets.In December an annual Christmas Candlelighting and remembrance is held.Visitors are invited to bring photos to be added to an altar, surroundedby flowers and candles (location, date & time of this unique event isannounced in October). |
'Paws From Heaven'
Meetings held the third wednesday of the month: 2pm
Contact Melody L. Hunter, AS, BS, MA
#8 Lovell Drive
Charleston, West Virginia
PH- (304) 345-8625
E-Mail- Darshawn16@aol.com
Canada
Pet
Loss Support Group Of Ottawa-Carleton
Alta Vista Animal Hospital
2616 Bank Street
Gloucester, Ontario, Canada
K1T 1M9
Attn: Dr. Lianna Titcombe |
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Disclaimer-Although we have the
ultimate trust in the ethics and integrity of our members, and feel confident
that their groups are conducted with the upmost sensitivity and respect,
we realize that at times even with the best intentions a support group
will not meet a person's expectations. The Animal Love and Loss Network
therefore absolves itself of any responsibility in the event of a disappointing
or unpleasant situation that you might encounter while attending a support
group listed on our site.
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