Supporting You in
Pet Loss & Bereavement
Animals are often the ones we feel most valued by, loved by accepted and seen by.
They offer us a lifelong connection free from judgement and a love free from conditions.
They are, for many, the most safe, consistant and authentic relationships we have, and when that relationship ends, whether through the finality of life, theft, straying, unavoidable changes in circumstances or a multitude of other reasons, the sense of grief and loss often feels unbearable.
When I set up Holly & Fern Counselling, it was important to me that anyone trying to navigate the loss of an animal they shared their life with, has a place they could come to be truly heard and supported.
Whether the family member you have lost, had fur, feathers, hooves or scales, please be assured that this is somewhere you will be supported, as you begin to find your way in life without them by your side, or if you feel you need some support through any other emotionally difficult time during your relationship.
They mattered. The relationship you had mattered and getting the emotional support you need matters too.
In addition, the very real sense of responsibility an animal guardian carries, as the one who has to make life changing and often life-ending decisions, can be a weight that is carried long before the physical loss happens.
The worry and guilt over making the 'right' decision, trying to make the most of remaining time together after a life limiting diagnosis,
or simply the slow realisation that the animal you share your life with is approaching the end of theirs, long before you are ready to say goodbye, can be layered, delicate, complex, truly heartbreaking and often underestimated by those around us.