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Lara Kennerly, PsyD
Grief Therapy for Pet Loss in Sacramento, CA
Pure, unconditional love. Constant companionship. A comforting presence through life's ups and downs. When that bond is gone, the emptiness can be felt in countless moments throughout the day.
The loss of a pet can bring profound sadness, loneliness, guilt, and heartbreak. The house may feel quieter, daily routines suddenly change, and the absence of a constant companion can be felt everywhere.
Therapy provides a supportive space to process your grief, honor the bond you shared, and navigate the difficult days ahead.
You Loved Them with Everything. Of Course This Hurts.
The bond with a pet is built through thousands of ordinary moments that slowly become part of daily life. When that presence is gone, the loss can be felt in ways that are often unexpected.
The house feels different. You still catch yourself listening for familiar footsteps or glancing toward the door expecting a greeting that never comes. Sometimes you reach for a leash, a food bowl, or a favorite toy before remembering there is no need anymore.
The hardest moments are often the ordinary ones. Coming home after work. Waking up in the morning. Sitting in the same spot where a loyal companion always curled up nearby. You may even find yourself at the grocery store thinking about what to pick up, only to remember that routine is gone.
The guilt can be just as heavy as the sadness. You may replay the final days, question decisions, or wish for more time. Those thoughts can be exhausting to carry alone.
What you are feeling is grief. Deep, painful grief that deserves compassion, support, and space to be felt.
Pet Loss Grief Therapy in Sacramento, CA
Losing a pet can leave you carrying emotions that feel difficult to make sense of. Some days may be filled with sadness and longing. Other days may bring guilt, anger, relief, gratitude, or even moments of joy when remembering happy memories. Grief is rarely predictable, and there is no right or wrong way to move through it.
Pet loss grief therapy provides a space to talk openly about your loss without feeling rushed, judged, or expected to "move on." Together, you can explore the emotions surrounding the loss, process difficult memories, work through feelings of guilt, and find ways to carry the relationship forward while adjusting to life without your companion's physical presence.
Dr. Lara Kennerly provides pet loss grief therapy for adults in Sacramento and nearby communities, including Elk Grove, Natomas, West Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, and Carmichael. Sessions are also available online for adults throughout California, allowing you to receive support from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Whether your loss was recent or happened months or even years ago, therapy can help you make space for your grief, honor the bond you shared, and navigate the path forward with compassion and support.
Many people carry pet loss grief alone, unsure of where to put the sadness, guilt, questions, and memories that follow. Therapy provides a place to explore those experiences with compassion and support. It can also help you make sense of what this loss means for your life, your routines, and the relationship that remains important to you.
Pet loss grief therapy may help you:
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Work through guilt surrounding medical decisions, euthanasia, or questions about whether you did enough.
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Navigate intense sadness, loneliness, and the emotional impact of life without your pet.
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Work through memories of the final days, difficult veterinary conversations, or moments that continue to replay in your mind.
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Adjust to changes in daily routines, responsibilities, and life after loss.
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Make sense of conflicting emotions, including relief after suffering has ended, gratitude for the years you shared, or regret about things left unsaid.
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Talk about your pet and your grief in a space where the relationship is respected and understood.
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Find meaningful ways to honor the bond you shared and keep cherished memories close.
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Move forward at your own pace without feeling like you have to "get over" the loss.
Healing does not mean forgetting your pet or leaving the relationship behind. Therapy can help you carry the loss with greater self-compassion while preserving the love, memories, and connection that made the relationship so meaningful.
How Therapy Can Help After the Loss of a Pet
Meet Dr. Lara Kennerly, Pet Loss Grief Therapist in Sacramento
As a life-long animal lover and having personally experienced the loss of pets under both sudden and more expected circumstances, Dr. Kennerly understands how deeply these losses can impact individuals, and many of the complicated feelings and thoughts that linger after you say your last goodbyes. Having been on both sides of the grief and healing journey, these personal experiences have helped Dr. Kennerly become an even stronger support and therapist for those going through the loss of a beloved pet.
Dr. Kennerly provides in-person therapy in Sacramento and online therapy throughout California.
Every Pet Loss Story Is Different. Your Grief Deserves to Be Treated That Way.
Sudden and Unexpected Loss
When there was no time to prepare, the shock can be just as overwhelming as the grief itself. One day everything felt normal, and the next it didn't.
Many people find themselves replaying events, searching for answers, or struggling to accept how quickly life changed.
The sudden loss of a pet can leave you feeling disoriented and emotionally exhausted.
Grief After Euthanasia
Making the decision to end a pet's suffering is one of the most difficult decisions a person can face. Even when the decision is made with love and compassion, guilt often follows.
You may find yourself questioning the timing, replaying conversations with veterinarians, or wondering whether you made the right choice. These thoughts are incredibly common and deserve space to be explored with care and understanding.
Anticipatory Grief
Sometimes grief begins long before a loss occurs. Watching a pet age, managing a serious illness, or knowing that time is limited can bring sadness, worry, and heartbreak long before saying goodbye.
Anticipatory grief is real grief, and carrying that emotional weight while continuing daily responsibilities can be incredibly difficult.
Grief After Losing an Elderly Pet
People sometimes assume that losing an older pet should be easier because the loss was expected. For many pet owners, the opposite is true. Years of companionship, shared routines, and daily connection become deeply woven into life.
When that presence is gone, the adjustment can be far more difficult than others realize.
Grief Without Closure
Not every loss comes with a clear ending. A pet that went missing and never came home. A situation where rehoming was the only option because of housing, health challenges, a relationship ending, or other major life circumstances.
These experiences may not fit neatly into the way people often think about loss, but they can be every bit as painful. It is still grief, and it deserves compassion, care, and support.
Online Pet Loss Grief Therapy Throughout California
Dr. Lara Kennerly offers online pet loss therapy to clients throughout California, allowing you to access support from wherever you feel most comfortable.
Online sessions are available to clients across California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, Stockton, Irvine, Chula Vista, and throughout the greater Sacramento region.
Accepting new clients. Contact today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward support and healing.
