Coping With Pet Loss Grief

It's Okay to Cry

What you'll learn

Understand Why Pet Loss Can Feel So Overwhelming

Normalize the Wide Range of Emotions Experienced During Pet Loss Grief

Receive Guidance on Managing Guilt and Regret

Build Strategies for Responding to Negative Reactions from Others

Explore Creative Ways to Honor and Memorialize Your Pet

Find Ways to Move Forward Without Letting Go

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Description

This course is designed to provide compassionate support and practical tools for individuals grieving the loss of a beloved pet. It recognizes the deep bond shared between humans and animals and validates the emotional impact of losing a cherished companion. Participants will explore the unique nature of pet loss, learn how to navigate a range of complex emotions, and develop strategies for honoring their pet’s memory in meaningful ways.Throughout the course, participants will:· Understand Why Pet Loss Can Feel So Overwhelming: Learn about the unique role pets play in our lives and why their loss can be just as profound as the loss of a human loved one. The course will also address the concept of disenfranchised grief—when society fails to fully recognize or validate this loss.· Normalize the Wide Range of Emotions Experienced During Pet Loss Grief: Participants will be guided through the emotional roller coaster of grief, learning how to identify, process, and make peace with emotions such as sadness, guilt, anger, and even relief.· Receive Guidance on Managing Guilt and Regret: Address common feelings of guilt, such as those stemming from decisions around euthanasia, and provide tools to help participants navigate and release these emotions.· Understand the Concept of Grief Work: Learn what research shows about grief work related to pet loss and how to engage with it.· Build Strategies for Responding to Negative Reactions from Others: Learn how to set boundaries and handle dismissive comments like “It was just a pet” with confidence and grace.· Explore Creative Ways to Honor and Memorialize Their Pet: Discover meaningful ways to create lasting tributes, such as creating memory books, designing personal memorials, and writing a heartfelt tribute or eulogy. These activities help keep the love alive while offering a sense of closure and peace.· Find Ways to Move Forward Without Letting Go: The course will provide support in deciding when or if to welcome a new pet into their lives and suggest ways to transform grief into positive action, such as volunteering or supporting animal welfare causes.By the end of the course, participants will have a deeper understanding of their grief, a set of tools for coping with the intense emotions that accompany pet loss, and a personalized plan for honoring their pet’s memory while gradually moving toward healing.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Welcome Message

Lecture 2 Meet Dora Carpenter

Lecture 3 Course Overview

Section 2: Understanding Pet Loss Grief

Lecture 4 The Role of Pets in Our Lives

Lecture 5 The Human-Animal Bond

Lecture 6 Activity: Create a Memory Map

Section 3: The Unique Nature of Pet Loss Grief

Lecture 7 Why Pet Loss is Different

Lecture 8 Coping with Disenfranchised Grief

Lecture 9 Validating Pet Loss Grief

Lecture 10 Activity: Journal Your Reflections

Section 4: The Emotional Roller Coaster of Pet Loss Grief

Lecture 11 Riding the Waves of Grief

Lecture 12 Emotional Reactions to Pet Loss

Lecture 13 Physical Symptoms of Pet Loss

Lecture 14 The Non-Linear Nature of Grief

Section 5: The Concept of Grief Work

Lecture 15 Dr. Erich Lindemann's Research

Lecture 16 How Grief Work Relates to Pet Loss

Lecture 17 Engaging in Grief Work for Pet Loss

Section 6: Memorializing Your Pet: Keeping the Bond Alive

Lecture 18 The Importance of Honoring Your Pet's Memory

Lecture 19 Creating Personal Memorials

Lecture 20 The Power of Writing to Honor and Heal

Section 7: Moving Forward While Keeping the Love Alive

Lecture 21 Embracing the Future

Lecture 22 Is it Too Soon to Get Another Pet?

Lecture 23 Transforming Grief into Positive Action

Lecture 24 Living Fully Without Letting Go

Lecture 25 Reflective Exercises to Honor the Past and Embrace the Future

This class is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a beloved pet and is struggling to navigate the intense emotions that come with it. Whether your loss is recent or happened years ago, if you feel the pain is still present, this course will provide you with a compassionate space to process your grief. It’s also for those who may feel isolated or misunderstood because society doesn’t always recognize the depth of pet loss. If you’ve ever been told to “just move on” or found yourself holding back your grief because it was “just a pet,” this course is for you. Ultimately, this class is for anyone looking for support, understanding, and practical tools to honor their pet’s memory and find a path forward through their unique grief journey.