Assessing Which Clients May Need More Emotional Support When Pets Die

Several variables can help you predict which of your clients may have more intense grief responses when their companion animals die. This can be important information as cases involving intense grief can often require more of your understanding and time. The following 'red flags' may also alert you to clients who may benefit from referrals to grief support programs or mental health professionals for further counseling and ongoing support.

Cases that involve young children
Clients who anthropomorphize (assign human characteristics to) their pets, referring to them as they would refer to another human being
Clients who have invested significant amounts of time, energy, and money in their companion animals' treatment
Clients who have recently experienced other significant losses and/or stressors (e.g., death of a family member, major illness, divorce, loss of a job, recent move, birth of a child)
Clients who identify their companion animals as their children, best friends, or primary source of support
Clients who live alone and cannot identify other sources of emotional support
Clients who may be clinically depressed or those who make references to suicide, homicide, abuse, or violence
Clients who symbolically link their pets to another person, relationship, or time in their lives. Symbolic links often develop from previous losses and grief that is still unresolved.

If clients seem to meet two or more of these criteria, educate them about the emotional support services available in your area as early in your relationship, as possible, rather than waiting until after their pet dies. Clinical experience shows grief counseling and emotional support can yield the greatest benefits for pet parents when they take place before the death of a companion animal.

*Adapted from Morehead D., Lagoni L., et al. Guidelines for Bond-Centered Practice, 2001. (Out of print.)

Click here for a printable version of this article.