Is it normal to grieve a pet as much as a person?

Yes. For many people, the bond they share with their pet is incredibly strong.Pets are often part of our families, routines and emotional lives, so losing them can be deeply painful.You don't need to compare your grief with anyone else's or feel embarrassed about how much you're struggling.

I feel guilty about having my pet put to sleep. Can counselling help?

Feelings of guilt are very common following the decision to have a pet euthanised.You might find yourself questioning whether it was the right time, whether you could have done more or whether your pet suffered.Counselling can give you space to talk through those thoughts and feelings with compassion, without judgement.

hat if other people don't understand why I'm so upset?

Unfortunately, pet loss isn't always recognised or understood in the same way as other types of bereavement.You might have heard comments that minimise your feelings or suggest you should simply get another pet.In our sessions, you won't need to explain or defend the importance of your relationship with your pet.

Can I have counselling if my pet died a long time ago?

Absolutely.You might have lost your pet recently or many years ago. Sometimes grief resurfaces unexpectedly, particularly around anniversaries or changes in your life.There's no time limit on grief, and you're welcome to seek support whenever you feel you need it.

Can counselling help if my pet is still alive but seriously ill?

Yes. You don't have to wait until your pet has died to seek support.If your pet is elderly, has a serious illness or is approaching the end of their life, you may already be experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety and anticipatory grief.Counselling can provide somewhere to explore those feelings and talk through the emotional

How many counselling sessions will I need?

There's no set number of sessions.Some people find that a few sessions help them work through a particular difficulty, while others prefer ongoing support.We can discuss what feels right for you and review things as we go.

Do you offer online pet loss counselling?

Yes. I offer face-to-face counselling in Ipswich, Suffolk, as well as online and telephone sessions for people across the UK.

Golden retriever looking at a sunset, symbolizing pet loss

Pet Loss Counselling in Ipswich, Suffolk

Compassionate support when you're grieving the loss of a much-loved pet. Because they're family too.

Book a free chat

When losing a pet leaves a huge space in your life

Losing a pet can be heartbreaking.

They might have been by your side for years, part of your everyday routine and there through some of life's happiest and hardest moments.

And then suddenly, they're not there.

You might still expect to hear their paws on the floor, find yourself looking for them in their favourite spot or feel the silence when you walk through the door.

Perhaps you're struggling more than you expected. Or maybe you're finding it difficult to explain to other people just how much they meant to you.

I'm Kate, a grief counsellor based in Ipswich, Suffolk. I offer a safe, understanding space where you can talk openly about your pet, your memories and how you're feeling, without worrying that anyone will think you're making too much of it.

Because the love you had for them was real. And so is your grief.

When the people around you don't understand

You don't have to explain why your pet meant so much.

Perhaps someone has said, "It was only a dog" or "You can always get another one." They might mean well, but those words can really hurt.

Your pet wasn't something that could simply be replaced. They had their own personality, their own little habits and a place in your life that belonged entirely to them.

You might be feeling:

Heartbreak. You miss their presence, their companionship and all the little things you shared.
Guilt. You wonder whether you did enough, spotted something too late or made the right decisions about their care.
Loneliness. The house feels empty, and everyday routines no longer feel the same.
Anger. At what happened, at how unfair it feels or at people who don't seem to understand.
Anxiety. You might worry about your other pets or find yourself struggling with the changes to your daily life.
Confusion. You know they were an animal, but the depth of your grief has taken you by surprise.

You might also feel guilty about how much you're grieving, particularly if you think other people have experienced what they would consider a more significant loss.

But grief isn't a competition.

You don't have to minimise your feelings or justify why losing your pet has affected you so deeply.

Book a free chat

Understanding pet loss and grief

For many of us, pets are part of the family. They offer companionship, comfort, unconditional affection and a sense of routine. They're there when we wake up, when we come home and during the ordinary moments that make up our lives.

So when they die, we're not simply losing an animal. We're losing a relationship and a familiar part of everyday life.

Pet bereavement can be especially difficult when other people don't recognise the significance of that relationship.

You might feel that you should be coping better or that talking about your loss will make people uncomfortable.

And sometimes, the circumstances surrounding your pet's death can make the grief even harder.

Perhaps they became ill suddenly, you had to make the decision to have them put to sleep, or you spent months caring for them as their health declined.

You might find yourself questioning decisions, replaying their final moments or wondering whether you could have done something differently.

If your pet was elderly or had been unwell for some time, you may have started grieving before they died. And even when you knew the end was coming, that doesn't necessarily make the loss any easier.

There's no right or wrong way to grieve a pet, and no timetable for when you should feel better.

How I can support you through pet bereavement

You don't have to carry everything on your own.

Sometimes it helps simply to have someone who understands that your pet wasn't "just a pet".

Someone who won't dismiss your feelings, suggest getting another animal or expect you to have moved on by now.

Counselling gives you a space where you can talk about your pet and what they meant to you.

You can share your memories, talk about the difficult moments and explore whatever feelings come up, without worrying about being judged.

Together, we might work on:

Making sense of the emotions you're experiencing following your pet's death.
Exploring feelings of guilt, particularly around illness, treatment or euthanasia.
Talking about the bond you shared and why their loss has affected you so deeply.
Finding ways to manage the loneliness and changes to your everyday routine.
Coping with difficult reminders, anniversaries and memories of their final days.
Finding ways to remember and honour your pet while adjusting to life without them.

There isn't a particular way you should be feeling, and I won't tell you when it's time to move on.

My aim is to help you feel heard, understood and supported as you find your own way through your grief.

Sailboats at a waterfront harbor during a pink sunset

You don't have to grieve the way other people expect you to

Maybe people have already suggested getting another dog, cat or companion.

Perhaps you've thought about it yourself.

For some people, welcoming another pet into their life feels comforting. For others, the thought is unbearable, particularly in the early days of grief.

You might worry that getting another pet would somehow mean replacing the one you've lost.

Or perhaps you feel guilty because part of you would love to have that companionship again. There's no right answer.

Every relationship we have with an animal is different. The bond you shared with your pet was unique, and nothing can take that away.

You can love another animal without loving the one you've lost any less.

And you can decide never to have another pet.

You don't need to make those decisions now, and you don't need to grieve according to anyone else's expectations.

A personal approach to grief counselling

I'm Kate, an integrative grief counsellor and grief coach based in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Through my counselling work, I've seen how differently people experience loss and how important it is to have somewhere they feel genuinely heard.

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

Some sessions might involve talking about your pet, sharing memories and exploring how you're feeling. Other times, we might focus on the challenges you're facing right now or find practical ways to help you cope with everyday life.

I draw on different counselling and coaching approaches depending on what you need.

You don't have to decide whether counselling or coaching is right for you before we meet. We can talk about what you're experiencing and work out together how I can best support you.

More about me