I have a passion for nature, along the way, nature kept on chasing me bringing me joy and comfort with the many ways fellow creatures can. I am a professionally trained and accredited practising member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP); below more information on Relevant Professional Animal Welfare Credentials and Interests. I hold more than 10 years’ experience in the field, with extensive experience in human bereavement with a varied clientele, in 2017 I established my small practice in Romford and then in 2023 I specialised in Pet Loss and Bereavement, I have an interest in the human-pet bond. I see myself as an advocate of One Welfare Framework principles, an evidence-based approach proposing that the quality of life of all animals, humans and not, are deeply interconnected within the wider environment. In short: We Are ONE™.
What This Means to You?
Summary [AI Generated bullet points]: One Welfare + Existential Perspective: when the rainbow does not work •Beyond death-related losses • Inclusivity across all species: snakes, spiders, rats .. • Addressing Complexities • Multi-pets household: the human pain in observing pets grief • No Provision of veterinary advice • No provision of crisis intervention services.
My existential orientation, with core training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy, means that grief can be understood beyond the most immediate areas of concern such as anticipatory grief, euthanasia-related guilt, decisions regarding memorialisation or aftercare. There are many more complexities to such a personal unique experience of losing a companion. Often the transition from a life lived with a companion to their absence brings a far wider range of complex and nuanced emotions, memories, and questions about self, future, family role, spiritual new believes, or past traumatic attachment scars may emerge with symptoms consistent with anxiety, phobias, death worries, depression.
Using a One Welfare framework within my counselling practice means working from the principle that there is no hierarchy of species. Rather than viewing relationships primarily through the lens of a “human-animal bond”, I see them as relationships between fellow equal living creatures who meet, influence one another’s lives, form meaningful attachments, and, inevitably, experience separation and loss. This positions my work as counsellor not as prescriptive, but as a collaborative process: we walk the walk together as my old therapist said once.
How do I work?
In the recent years Pet Bereavement has gained mainstream acceptance with sympathy cards displayed in supermarkets, I see grief understood mostly as related to the death of a beloved pet, and an experience that the individual must ‘manage’ through memorialisation practices, rituals, and steps to ‘heal’. This can be helpful for many, but not for everyone.
My practice is open to everyone. If a discussion on rituals and other ways to honour their memories is opened I we will do thoughtfully and intentionally, in ways that genuinely reflect your relationship with your pet, values, and way of grieving.
Sometimes the exploration brings in different directions, for example I supported clients facing the implications of having been excluded from decisions on euthanasia versus their sense of self, spirituality, identity and the role within the family and identity within the wider community.
Therapy happens through thoughtful discussion, pauses, and difficult questions, I provide a space to explore grief in all its emotional complexities, including despair, guilt, anger, relief, or longing including the impact of cultural, societal pressures.
The work therefore is a collaborative dialogue between two fellow humans which explores the experience and the meaning of this fellow human in this moment for this companion, e.g. what it is now or what it was like to be together, what that means or meant. Often, naming what is no longer painfully, unwillingly, reshapes a sense of self through new routines, relationships.
I do not use a manualised, stepped approaches, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) exercises in Pet Loss and Bereavement, this can be a relief as it give us the freedom to find your answers. But it also comes with the shared uncertainty that we both do not know how our work together will evolve. As I believe that each client’s needs may change at different times in their life, and they may benefit from different types of support, I am aware that this may not be for everyone, and we will consider whether my approach is helpful given your needs at the beginning and along the way of our therapeutic encounter.
Inclusivity For Unconventional Pets
Whether your companion was a leopard gecko, dog, horse, donkey, catbird, rat, rabbit, snake, spider, rat, amphibian, leopard geckos, fish, bird, turtle, duck, Axolotl, rat, gerbil, invertebrate, or any other exotic, farm companions or service mates you define the value of that relationship.
On language: “pet” is used throughout this website. However, I will follow your preferred ways e.g. friend, child, twins, buddy, mummy, nickname. ‘Animal’ I try as much as possible to avoid human versus animals, but this is not always possible.
Why Beyond Bereavement: Losses, Separations, Missing
Anticipatory grief is now widely recognised and included in supporting services. But grief extends far beyond bereavement and many significant losses remain invisible, misunderstood, ignored or buried in shame because of societal stigmatisation. I can work and have first hand experience of the following:
Non-death losses: parting due to a relationship breakdown, divorce, moving, financial strain, or allergies. Sometimes pets simply go missing during an ordinary walk in the park, or they do not return home from their night expeditions, they fly away, or escape their terrarium.
Unwanted separations when pets are painfully and reluctantly relinquished to institutions because of life events such as relocation to hospice, financial burdens – I wondered often about pedigree dogs left in shelter – sudden financial constraints, mental health issues, for example severe emotional regulation issues, may lead to such painful decisions which are superficially them stigmatised and easily put under the umbrella of ‘ careless owner’.
These experiences can create loneliness, shame, uncertainty, guilt, and isolation precisely because they are often not recognised by wider society sometimes leading to profound mental health issues and suicidality.
Grief in Multi-Pets Households
Often the belief that the the relationship between pet* and their human companion* exist in isolation is implied. In my practice, my approach invites to consider how other pet-companions in the household may grieve too displaying ‘problematic behaviours’ and how those are experienced giving the opportunity to explore how such aspects seldom unseen may instead have an impact on all humans in the household. My practice incorporates an awareness of common behavioural expressions of fear, distress, and grief in most common companion animals – cats and dogs- but also some exotic species, such as leopard geckos and snakes, recognising that behavioural expressions of grief or emotional pain are present across species and that they bear consequences for everyone.
Theoretical Underpinning, Relevant Qualifications, Scope Of Practice
In 2023, I was awarded a 30-hour CPD-accredited Certificate in Pet Bereavement Support delivered by the Blue Cross, then in 2026 I attended a 4 Hrs refresher Certificate. This training the same training undertaken by staff in many veterinary practices accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS), a voluntary accreditation programme operated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The scheme recognises veterinary practices that demonstrate high standards of clinical care, patient safety, medicines management, hygiene, facilities, and professional governance. [rcvs.org.uk]. The training was important to me as it included familiarisation with veterinary practices as euthanasia, palliative care, and counselling skills scenarios including decision making around end of life care. The course also increased my awareness of the emotional demands placed on veterinary professionals.
Fear Free Certified Professional Program (FFCP L1)
A Certification promoting evidence-based approaches to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals during care, handling, and veterinary interactions. This learning complements my One Welfare perspective and informs my understanding of emotional wellbeing in pet-human relationships. This covers mostly cats, dogs and small mammals. 4
Member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC)
An international organisation dedicated to advancing animal hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care through education, certification, guidelines, and professional collaboration
Member of the Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN)
A UK-based network supporting collaboration, research, and evidence-based animal welfare practice
Scope of Practice
In line with the BACP Ethical Framework, maintaining knowledge of relevant client contexts helps foster informed, ethical, and effective therapeutic practice while remaining firmly within my professional competence and boundaries as counsellor and psychotherapist .
Some of the Themes & Dilemmas I encountered in my work:
Feelings of grief experienced before the death of a pet
Euthanasia: when is the right time, how, home or veterinarian
After-death body care options
Missing pets
Pet loss in the middle or mature age
Having to separate from your pet: divorce, moving, financial issues, allergy, etc.
Difficult memories or triggers from other losses raised following the death/loss of a pet
A new pet?
Feelings of guilt and shame after euthanasia
Anxiety induced End-of-life Decisions
Keeping the memory – memorialisation practices
Difficulty in experiencing the aging of your pet
Persistent, raw feelings many years after the loss of a pet
Anticipatory grief before an expected death.
A missing pet whose fate remains unknown.
When they do not return home – cats dogs but also when rats get out their carrier
Rehoming due to financial hardship, illness, housing difficulties, relationship breakdown, or allergies.
Loss following divorce or relationship issues.
Relocation to supported accommodation, care homes, or hospice settings.
Cognitive Behavioural changes in an aging, sick companions or simply companions displaying new behaviours similar to social anxiety, aggressive behaviour, restlessness, protest behaviours.
Loss of contact with a pet after separation from a partner or family member.
If you are escaping from Domestic Abuse and you have nobody to turn you may try to find help with your pets here:
Cats Protection: Paws Protect is a specialist cat-fostering services helping families with cats escape domestic abuse: 0345 260 1280 / pawsprotect@cats.org.uk
Dogs Trust: Freedom Project is a dog fostering service for anyone fleeing domestic abuse and going into refuge: freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk
Refuge4Pets: specialist animal fostering Devon and Cornwall: 0300 4000 121