ONLINE THERAPY FOR PET LOSS & ANIMAL CAREGIVERS BASED IN CHICAGO, SERVING IL, MI, & WI
Support from a fellow animal lover who really gets the depth of the human-animal bond.
As someone who has loved countless pets throughout my life, volunteered in animal welfare for 13+ years, and fostered hundreds of dogs in my home, I understand that most people’s view of human-animal relationships doesn’t scratch the surface of how meaningful these bonds can be.
That’s why I specialize in helping people whose love for animals impacts their daily lives and giving them the space to feel without judgment or minimization.
I provide support to people who…
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Maybe you…
Are struggling with overwhelming grief, sleepless nights, a loss of appetite, or not knowing how to go through your daily routine without them.
Keep replaying their last moments, searching for what you could have done differently or feeling angry at those who were involved in their care.
Feel misunderstood by the people around you who don't seem to get why this loss is hitting you so hard, leaving you feeling isolated in your grief.
Aren’t sure how to move forward—whether that means honoring your pet’s memory, finding ways to cope, or even considering another pet in the future.
Feel an emotional void that nothing seems to fill, as if a piece of your life is missing.
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Maybe you…
Love your pet, but their behaviors leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and questioning if you’re doing the right thing.
Are frustrated by the judgment and advice from people who don’t understand what you’re going through, especially when they suggest giving up your pet.
Feel isolated, struggling to relate to other pet owners who don’t have to plan their lives around their pet’s needs or behavior challenges.
Have lost patience with the ups and downs, wondering if things will ever get better or if you’re stuck in this cycle forever.
Sometimes take out your stress on the people around you, not because you want to, but because carrying this weight alone is exhausting.
Feel a mix of love and resentment—loving your pet deeply but grieving the easier, more carefree life you thought you’d have together.
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Maybe you…
Feel like you’re constantly running on empty, giving every ounce of yourself to the animals in your care with nothing left over for yourself.
Carry the weight of every loss, every tough decision, and every moment where you did your best but it still wasn’t enough.
Are exhausted by the unrealistic expectations—there are never enough resources, time, or hands to do the work that needs to be done.
Feel like no one outside of this field understands what you’re going through, and traditional advice about “self-care” feels impossible to follow.
Catch yourself snapping at others or shutting down emotionally because there’s nowhere safe to put the frustration, grief, and stress.
Keep saying yes to just one more case, one more rescue, one more shift—because if you don’t, who will?
How we’ll work together
Giving you the space & understanding to work through your very real feelings about the animals in your life.
Therapy with me isn’t about following a rigid process or trying to “fix” emotions—because grief, stress, and love for animals aren’t things that need fixing. Instead, it’s about creating a nonjudgmental space where you can process your experiences in a way that makes sense for you.
Whether you’re navigating the loss of a pet, struggling with the challenges of a reactive animal, or feeling the emotional toll of working in animal welfare, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Together, we’ll explore what healing looks like for you, whether that means finding ways to honor a pet’s memory, learning how to bond with the animal you have, or building a support system that understands what you’re going through.
Beyond individual therapy…
I also offer spaces where people can connect with others who truly understand their experiences, including:
Pet loss support groups – A safe space to process grief and honor your pet’s memory with others who understand.
Anticipatory grief groups – Support for those facing the impending loss of a pet due to age or illness.
Workshops for pet parents of behaviorally challenged animals – Helping you navigate the emotions of loving a pet who struggles.
Support for animal professionals – Therapy, crisis response, and training to help those in animal welfare manage the emotional weight of their work.
Emotional support animal evaluations – Assessments for those seeking certification for their pet as an emotional support animal.
If you have questions about any of these services, I’d be happy to answer them on a free consultation call.
I know firsthand how invalidating people can be around the topics of pets and animal welfare. You’ll never get that from me—that’s a promise.
SPECIALIZED THERAPY FOR ANIMAL LOVERS CAN HELP YOU…
Navigate the grief of losing a pet.
Find ways to honor your pet’s memory while learning to carry their love with you instead of just the pain.
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Forgive yourself for what you couldn’t control.
Let go of guilt, regret, or self-blame you carry with you.
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Feel more confident caring for a pet with behavioral challenges.
Learn how to advocate for your pet, manage frustration, and build a bond in ways that work for both of you.
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Find a sense of community and support.
Connect with others who understand what it’s like to grieve a pet, struggle with a difficult animal, or feel the weight of caring for animals professionally.
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Set healthy boundaries in your work with animals.
Learn how to say no, ask for help, and recognize when you’re heading toward burnout before it takes over.
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Create balance between your love for animals and your own wellbeing.
Develop self-care strategies that actually fit your life, so you can keep showing up for the animals you care about without losing yourself in the process.
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What you’re going through is welcome here—and we can get through it together.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely. Pets aren’t just animals—they’re family, routines, comfort, and unconditional love. Losing them can leave a hole that others might not understand, and that can make grief even lonelier. If you’re struggling with pet loss, therapy can give you a space to process the grief without judgment and figure out how to move forward while still honoring the bond you had.
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I work with veterinarians, volunteers, foster pet parents, and people with pets who challenge them daily. Whether it’s compassion fatigue from the work you do, the heartbreak of rescue work, or the frustration of loving an animal that doesn’t fit the “perfect pet” mold, I get it. You don’t have to figure out how to navigate it alone.
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I’ve spent 13 years volunteering in animal welfare, I’m a Certified Pet Grief Counselor, and I have firsthand experience with what it’s like to love a “problematic” pet. I understand the frustration, the guilt, and the deep love that comes with caring for animals—especially the complicated ones. I don’t just talk about this work, I live it.
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Behavioral euthanasia grief refers to the grief that follows making the difficult decision to euthanize an animal because of severe behavioral or emotional issues that affect safety or quality of life.
This type of grief is often complicated by guilt, shame, self-blame, judgment from others, second-guessing, trauma, and isolation. Many pet parents deeply loved their animals and exhausted extensive emotional, financial, and behavioral resources before making the decision. In many cases, daily life had become deeply centered around the pet’s emotional, behavioral, or medical needs before the decision was made, so the loss can create an especially noticeable disruption in routines, identity, emotional connection, and everyday functioning.
Many people also feel they cannot openly talk about the loss because they worry others will criticize the decision. Therapy provides a space to process these emotions honestly without judgment or minimizing the relationship with the animal. It will help people process the grief, trauma, and emotional conflict that often follow behavioral euthanasia.
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Compassion fatigue happens when prolonged exposure to suffering, crisis situations, euthanasia, neglect cases, high emotional demands, and caregiving stress begins to emotionally overwhelm a person’s ability to cope.
Symptoms can include:
emotional exhaustion
irritability
numbness
hopelessness
anxiety
intrusive thoughts
guilt
burnout
difficulty disconnecting emotionally from work
Compassion fatigue is common in veterinary medicine, rescue work, shelter environments, fostering, and animal advocacy work.
Compassion fatigue can impact a person’s overall mental health, their relationships, or their choices related to their future in the field. Therapy can provide support to underlying mental health issue that may be impacting the ability to cope with compassion fatigue. It can also help those experiencing compassion fatigue before it leads to burnout.