There are some who bring a light to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains.
Our pet loss grief support groups provide the opportunity to honor the light your beloved pet brought to the world. The emotions you are experiencing are natural, and you are not alone. Coming together in a group setting can be an effective way to allow you to make space and process your grief.
Losing a pet is unlike anything else
We know how hard it feels right now, and we are here to help.
Luminary Counseling, PLLC invites you to participate in our complimentary grief support groups designed and aimed at remembering, feeling, nurturing, and honoring your beloved pet.
All support groups are monthly and held on Thursday evenings online from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CDT. You are invited to participate in as little or as much as feels right for you. The groups rotate between four different topics: remembering, feeling, nurturing, and honoring.
Pet Loss Support Group dates for 2024 are as follows:
1/3/2024 - Nurturing
2/7/2024 - Honoring
3/6/2024 - Feeling
4/3/2024 - Remembering
5/2/2024 - Nurturing
6/6/2024 - Honoring
7/11/2024 - Feeling (Meeting the 2nd Thursday of the month in observance of the 4th of July holiday)
8/8/2024 - Remembering
9/5/2024 - Nurturing
10/3/2024 - Honoring
11/7/2024 - Feeling
12/5/2024 - Remembering
Meet Kelly Signer, LPC (she/they), your compassionate guide through the journey of pet loss grief. As a facilitator, Kelly brings a unique blend of warmth, curiosity, and compassion, rooted in a person-centered, trauma-informed approach. With a background in both scientific research and creative spirituality, Kelly supports individuals and families who are grieving the loss of their beloved pet. Do you have specific questions about our pet loss grief support groups?
Email kelly@luminarycounseling.com for more information.
According to research done by grief experts William Warden and Alan Wolfelt, there are different “tasks” of grief. Our four support groups will cover all of these “tasks” to help facilitate your healing.
Remembering
March 1st
August 2nd
December 5th
Tasks:
- To accept the reality of the loss
- To convert the relationship with the deceased from one of presence to a relationship of memory.
In this group, we will share a photo or object that reminds us of our beloved pet. This is a great group to start with in your healing journey. Sharing about our pet and the story of their death helps us to begin accepting the reality of the loss.
Feeling
February 1st
June 6th
November 7th
Task:
- To feel the feelings about the pet who died and about how they died. This involves experiencing the pain of grief as well as celebrating joyful memories.
In this group, we will share about unique emotions that have arisen on our grief journey thus far. We will spend time processing these emotions together, as well as discussing methods of coping with these emotions.
Nurturing
April 5th
September 5th
Tasks:
- To nurture oneself physically, emotionally, and spiritually through the process. This task emphasizes the importance of self-care.
- To reinvest in life and go on living and loving after your pet has died.
In this group, we will talk about how to heal ourselves through self-care practices and social support. We will also discuss how to move through our grief journey by engaging with our pain, distracting ourselves from our pain, and attending to our needs.
Honoring
May 3rd
October 3rd
Tasks:
- To relate the experience of the loss to a context of meaning. The experience of grief is a spiritual journey. It often involves a reexamination or shift in a person’s values, beliefs, philosophy on life, and goals.
- To adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing. Others have spoken of this as relearning to live in the world, now that the loved one is gone.
In this group, we will discuss how to use ritual and ceremony to maintain our connection to our pet. We will conduct a short candlelight remembrance ceremony for our pets as an example and to help you integrate your grief through engaging with all five senses.
We know that grief has its own timeline, if you aren’t ready to join a support group quite yet, that is okay. When you feel you are ready you can come back to this page, and the support will be waiting. In the meantime, feel free to check out the resources below if you could use some extra insight.
Still have questions?
We’re here to support.
Still have questions about a support group? Email us at contact@luminarycounseling.com
Please note: We do not have a Psychiatrist on staff, and as such we do not prescribe medication.