The loss of an animal family member is a significant loss. The grief that comes with it, including the grief that starts before death during illness, treatment decisions, or end-of-life planning, is real and clinically meaningful. BLUE dog provides individual support grounded in clinical expertise in grief and the human-animal bond.
These sessions provide structured, clinically informed support for processing grief after the death of an animal family member, including grief that others in your life may minimize or not understand.
Sessions provide space to work through the decision of whether and when to euthanize an animal, and the grief and guilt that often follow it.
When an animal family member receives a serious diagnosis, these sessions can help you understand your options, manage anticipatory grief and caregiving stress, and identify a support plan while your animal is still with you.
Grief after animal loss is frequently minimized by the people around you. These sessions provide a space where the relationship and the grief are taken seriously from the start.
Support for people navigating pet loss, anticipatory grief, difficult medical or end-of-life decisions, and caregiving stress. BLUE dog offers a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether services are a good fit.
Consultation sessions are available in 30-, 45-, and 60-minute formats with a clinician who specializes in grief and the human-animal bond. Sessions include time to review your situation in clinical terms, ask questions, and identify the most useful resources and supports.
The grief associated with pet loss and end-of-life decisions is frequently minimized in standard clinical settings. These sessions provide a structured space where the clinical weight of that loss is taken seriously.
Session details
Clinician background
Cōlleen O'Brien, LMSW, has specialized in pet loss and grief counseling since 2009 and has facilitated the pet loss support group at the Humane Society of Huron Valley since 2010.
Ongoing therapy is a separate service from the consultation sessions above. The resources page includes pet loss hotlines, support groups, and therapist directories for finding a clinician who specializes in animal loss.
View resourcesThe resources page compiles free, open resources for individuals navigating pet loss. Pet loss hotlines with trained volunteers, support groups (in-person and online), therapist directories for finding a clinician who understands animal loss, and professional organizations doing work in this area.
All resources are free and available without scheduling.
Go to resourcesContact us to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Consultation sessions are available nationwide in 30-, 45-, and 60-minute formats.
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