My Services
01.
***CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS***​
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Whether you’ve experienced pet loss through sudden death, long-term illness, old age, disappearance, theft, loss of custody, relinquishment, or any other event, the loss can send our emotions spinning. If or when we do not feel acknowledged in our grief, we end up feeling as if our pain is dismissed or minimized.
This experience is inclusive of anticipatory grief, where you may find yourself struggling to live out your animal’s final days mindfully, constantly anticipating the end. I can provide the space to unpack what’s coming up and help you prepare for their final days/weeks/months.
My role can involve showing up with curiosity, bearing witness to the pain that is losing your beloved animal, and helping with the transition from a relationship of presence to a relationship of memory. Our time can be a chance to reflect on how this experience has changed who you are and explore what steps might be useful in finding ways to live with grief and joy simultaneously.
Support may look like:
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Processing, expressing, and coping with difficult emotions
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Working through secondary losses; routine, identity, sense of purpose, emotional security, the future you won't have
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Exploring simple ways to care for yourself and manage other responsibilities
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Finding ways to ask for and receive support from others
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Remembering conversations, needing someone to hold space for you
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Learning to articulate needs/wants with others
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Creating a bucket list for your animal
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Planning for a death with dignity
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Planning a celebration of life, funeral, memorial, etc.
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Mourning activities as well as ideas for memorializing, remembering, and honouring the relationship​
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Working through triggers
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Planning for “firsts”
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Exploring questions about the afterlife, one's own mortality
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Navigating additional complexities like mental illness, other losses, substance use, life stressors, unhelpful support, etc.
Specialties: pet loss, grief and loss, interpersonal difficulties, emotion regulation, life transitions, self-concept (self-esteem, ideal self, self-image).
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$165/ 50-minute session
Virtual care only
Ontario wide
13 years +
Covered by most extended healthcare plans
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02.
Your dedication to animal welfare and client support is invaluable, yet it can come with significant emotional challenges. Balancing the needs of pet parents while managing your own well-being can be complex, especially given the demanding nature of your work. Recognizing the importance of self-care and professional development in this field, I offer the following services to support your team:
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Providing your workplace with education and/or training on the following (but not limited to):
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What clients may be contending with during your interactions
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Recognizing when someone may benefit from a referral to a professional
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How to offer support without feeling trapped in the interaction or practicing outside the scope of your role
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Simple ways to empathize, validate, and normalize the client experience
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How to navigate conversations with clients who struggle with the cost of end-of-life services or after-care services.
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How to cope after difficult appointments while tending to ongoing responsibilities in the workplace and beyond.
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Collective grief and how to support oneself and one another
This approach may enhance staff confidence in their interactions while optimizing protection against empathic strain and moral distress.
I work with your clinic to develop a training that meets the needs of your staff in a digestible way.
Fees:
Starting at $425/hour - virtual workshop
Starting at $600/hour - in person workshop
The option to request an in-person workshop is available to residents in Ottawa, ON. Otherwise, workshops will be offered virtually.
2. Through my private practice, I offer individualized support to veterinary professionals who are:
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Managing personal pet loss while supporting grieving clients
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Navigating grief associated with long-term patient care
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Experiencing difficulty with self-care and emotional regulation in the workplace
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Struggling to process and cope with intense emotions
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Balancing personal needs with feelings of guilt about prioritizing self-care
The hope with these offerings is to enhance your emotional resilience and professional capabilities, enabling you to:
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Better meet your personal needs
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Maintain high standards of patient care
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$165/ 50-minute session
Virtual care only
Ontario wide
Covered by most extended healthcare plans
03.
As a dedicated professional in the field of pet loss support, I am passionate about providing education and raising awareness to assist individuals and groups facing similar challenges. My approach is rooted in the understanding that our society often lacks the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively support those experiencing pet loss, a situation that can be even more complex than human loss.
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In collaboration with Beacon Hill Fur Family Grooming & Training, I offer two in-person gatherings:
1) Navigating Pet Loss (2-hour sessions, held 2-3 times annually)
• Different perspectives on pet loss and grief
• Effective tools and strategies for coping
• Valuable resources for ongoing support
• Opportunities for connection with others sharing similar
experiences
2) Pet Memorials (1.5-hour sessions, held 2-3 times annually)
• PowerPoint presentations honoring beloved pets
• A communal mural for sharing pet names and personal messages
• Facilitated discussions for sharing stories and memories
These events are low-barrier gatherings, with proceeds directly benefiting Community Veterinary Outreach, a national charity dedicated to providing pro bono veterinary and human health care services to marginalized pet parents. As an advocate for the human-animal bond, I believe it is crucial to ensure that all pet parents have access to affordable preventive care, thereby supporting the preservation and strengthening of the meaningful relationships they share with their animals.
