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Jacqueline Forrest Japp Dip.CMA Pet Grief Counsellor
ABOUT ME
I am a qualified Bereavement Counsellor with Diplomas in Grief and Bereavement Counselling (Human) and additionally, specifically in Pet Bereavement Counselling.
I have worked in the medical field for 40 years and have extensive experience in dealing with patients and their families. Many of these patients are critically ill and, sadly, some are facing the end of their lives. I also have personal experience of this, my late husband having died of cancer 10 years ago. I cared for and supported him through his lengthy illness and then, when he died, learnt first hand what intense grief really means. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful counsellor who helped me to understand my feelings and learn to accept my new reality of life without him.
Grief cannot be fully explained in words. It can be unbearable and overwhelming. One moment you can be numb and the next, hijacked by a memory which causes raw and often lingering pain.
The grief following the loss of a beloved animal can feel just as painful as losing a beloved human, although society is only just beginning to appreciate this. People might say “oh, it’s just a dog” or “it’s just a cat” and expect you to immediately be able to move on with your life. I have had dogs for nearly 40 years and have had to put 4 of them to sleep, the last of these being our beloved Bearded Collie, Brodie in 2021, so I know exactly how devastating it is to lose a much-loved pet.
For some people their pet is their only companion and possibly their only family member - the only warm, breathing thing in their life and when their pet dies, they feel as if their life too is over, the loneliness crippling.
For others, with an elderly or sick pet, they are faced with the unbearable decision of whether to put them sleep or watch them suffer as their quality of life deteriorates. It’s heart wrenching and made so much more difficult to have to do it all alone without support.
For many years I have had a great interest in grief and bereavement and have read widely on the subject. Losing Brodie in many ways brought back to me the pain I experienced when my late husband died. My previous counselling enabled me to recognise and work through this and I was also fortunate enough to have a loving and supportive partner, now my husband. He grieved with me, and we helped each other through the pain. Not everybody is fortunate enough to have support, which is recognised as paramount in recovery from grief.
I decided that I wanted to help people suffering from the grief of losing their beloved pet and those faced with the terrible prospect of euthanasia. I can also support you through this, before, during and after.
I have created My Pet Grief Counsellor so that grieving pet lovers have a safe place to voice and explore their feelings, without judgement and, in time, work towards recovery.
If you would like to hear about my personal pet grief journey please click the button below