Pet Bereavement Counselling Diploma - Circle of Life

Our Pet Bereavement Counselling Diploma 'Circle of Life'  is intended to give those wishing to understand aspects of pet bereavement that are not taught alongside conventional counselling. It is primarily designed for those who have a counselling qualification that want to add pet bereavement to the list of speciality therapies they offer clients.

We welcome professional practitioners who want to understand the practical side of pet bereavement, for example the euthanasia process, aftercare, and memorial options. Unlike more conventional counselling, pet carers also seek support and guidance pre the death of their pet or to help them understand the euthanasia process.

Our course is written by Dawn Murray and is based on her 2 decades of first hand experience as a Pet Undertaker and a Pet Bereavement Counsellor. 

Every student will have an assigned tutor for the duration of their course who can provide guidance and direction - and more importantly someone to talk to and discuss the students learning journey.

On completion of the course you will have the basic knowledge and understanding of what is required to support clients through pet bereavement. 

The course consists of 5 modules which the student can study in their own time, at the end of each module the student will be asked to undertake a written assessment consisting of a number of questions, this is to show they have gained enough knowledge to proceed to the next module.

What will you learn?

Module 1 - The Human Animal Bond - this module covers the Human Animal Bond and why it is important as a Pet Bereavement Counsellor to understand this unique connection we have with our companion animals -

• History of Humans and Companion Animals 
• Working Dogs
• Bonds between animals and humans
• How a bond is formed
• How that bond may impact a bereavement

Module 2 - End of Life - this module covers what the pet carer needs to know at the end of their pets life, including the Euthanasia process - 

• Suffering v's Pain
• Palliative Care
• Sudden or Unexpected death
• When the time comes...
• Euthanasia
• Home Euthanasia Process
• Veterinary Surgery Euthanasia
• Expect the Unexpected
• What now?....

Module 3 - Aftercare - this module will cover the more practical aspects to consider post the death of a pet -

• Aftercare
• Making the arrangements
• Law
• Pet Crematoriums
• Understanding Cremation & Burial Options
• Understanding alternative aftercare options
• What to do with a pets belongings

Module 4 - Memorials - this module considers what a pet carer may do to memorialise their pet -

• Memorialising a pet
• Funeral Service
• Other types of memorials
• The first year
• When is it the right time to get another pet
• Spiritual guidance
• Animal Communicators
• Rainbow Bridge

Module 5 - Ambiguous Loss - this module looks at the specific issues related to ambiguous loss and how the impact pet carers

• Ambiguous Loss
• The role of the Pet Bereavement Counsellor
• Stages of Ambiguous loss
• Coping Strategies

Students will receive a Certificate from Living with Pet Bereavement  on successful completion of the Diploma course. Our Diploma is not a counselling qualification, we address the term 'counsellor' as part of the course.