Pet Bereavement Counselling Diploma

Our Pet Bereavement Counselling Diploma has been written following many requests to provide a Diploma style course designed to cover all the essential aspects of a pet carers bereavement journey. The Diploma is an ideal introduction for those wishing to provide Pet Bereavement Counselling services either as an 'add on' to their current role in the pet industry or as a new career in this field. 

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. The Diploma not only covers bereavement, but you will also learn the many practical support aspects that we know pet carers seek as they go through their own bereavement journey and which are seldom taught collectively in any other similar courses.

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 - Pre the loss of a Pet - this module covers all aspects of Pet Bereavement Support and Counselling that a pet carer needs prior to the death or euthanasia of their pet - 

• Suffering v's Pain 
• Palliative Care
• When the time comes to say goodbye
• Lost & Stolen Pets
• Safeguarding a Pet

Module 2 - During Loss - this module covers what the pet carer needs to know at the time of Euthanasia, including the Euthanasia process - 

• Euthanasia
• Home Euthanasia Process
• Veterinary Surgery Euthanasia
• Expect the Unexpected
• Do Pets Grieve
• What to do with a pets belongings
• When to get another pet

Module 3 - Post the loss of a pet - this module will cover all aspects of Pet Bereavement Support and Counselling that a pet carer needs post the loss of their much loved pet - 

• Aftercare
• Understanding Cremation & Burial Options
• Memorials
• Spiritual Guidance

Module 4 - Counselling (part 1) - this module delves deeper into the specific aspects of counselling which will help you support bereaved pet carers -

• Pet Bereavement Counselling
• The Human Animal Bond
• Grieving
• Stages of Grieving

Module 5 - Counselling (part 2) - continuing our look at counselling we further examine -

• Children & Elderly
• Supporting a Pet Carer
• Well meaning comments
• Complementary & Alternative Therapies
• Counsellor Fatigue

Students will receive a Certificate from Living with Pet Bereavement on successful completion of the Diploma course.