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 Wednesday evenings online from 5:00 PM - 6.30 PM CDT for the remainder of 2023. Starting in 2024, the time for the group will be 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 2023 are as follows:
11/1/2023 - Feeling
12/6/2023 - Remembering
Pet Loss Support Group dates for 2024 are as follows:
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 2nd
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 7th
November 11th
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 6th
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 4th
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.
If you don’t find what you need in our FAQ, and still have questions, you can reach out to our Group Counseling Services Coordinator at Kelly@luminarycounseling.com
Please note: We do not have a Psychiatrist on staff, and as such we do not prescribe medication.