C Kearns Therapy Services

07/01/2026

Congratulations Elaine Richmond Pet Bereavement Support
An accredited member of the Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors and as the others, an asset to this profession.

Elaine Richmond, a pet bereavement counsellor says she has seen an increase in people seeking support as more owners speak openly.

06/01/2026

I have been round again this week dropping off some of my new flyers at some of the shops and vets. I have emailed some to be distributed too.

They have been very well received (thank you so much!) and it’s so encouraging that people are helping me spread the word.

If I can’t help for any reason then there will someone else in The Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors that can help. Working together to provide the very best care for those experiencing pet loss.

05/01/2026

As routines resume and many people return to work, grief can begin to show up in new ways.

The structure of daily life, schedules, responsibilities, and expectations- all can feel harder to carry & manage when you are grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
Energy may be lower, concentration more difficult, and emotions closer to the surface.

The Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors encourages bereaved pet carers to approach this time gently.

Helpful ways to support yourself may include:
• Keeping expectations realistic
• Taking breaks where possible
• Allowing yourself to say no more often
• Creating small moments of comfort or remembrance
• Focusing on the day you are in, rather than the whole year ahead

There is no correct pace for grief.
Always remember that returning to routine does not mean leaving love behind. 🤍

If you are struggling, we encourage you to seek support. Reaching out to a trusted friend, a support group, or one of our trained professional counsellors can make a significant difference. You do not have to navigate this alone. 💜

02/01/2026

As we step into the New Year, the first few days can feel unexpectedly heavy after the loss of a beloved pet.

Once the busyness of the celebrations fades and routines begin again, the absence can feel louder, the quiet becomes more noticeable, and the reality becomes harder to avoid.

If today feels tender, slow, or overwhelming, please know this:
Nothing is wrong with you. Grief often deepens when the world returns to normal.

If you need support, please reach out to one of our trained professional counsellors, located on our website.

16/12/2025

I will be as flexible as I can outside of these times and dates but this is the availability so far.

Thank you

07/12/2025

Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors

National Grief Awareness Week

Anticipatory Grief - Looking back have you experienced this, or are you currently experiencing it?

➡️Anticipatory grief is grief that occurs before a death. It is common among people facing the eventual death of a loved one, this can include their pets.

➡️Especially if our pet is diagnosed with a life limiting condition, we may experience stress, anxiety and other emotions relating to worry over their eventual death - this can in combination be defined as anticipatory grief.

➡️You may feel embarrassed to admit that you are feeling such emotions before the loss of a pet, but the truth is that due to the wonderful bond between people and their pets, the feelings you experience are valid and you absolutely should feel supported through them.

💙Please do not suffer alone, if you are experiencing mental health burdens in the lead up (and following) the loss of a pet, please seek help and support.

There are support services that you can be signposted to if you need help.

This included:

🔵Pet bereavement helplines
🔵Email Support
🔵Face to face counselling

➡️As much as we would all like our pets to die and painlessly in their sleep at a great age, this is rarely the case. Euthanasia is typically the most humane option to prevent prolonged pain and suffering.

➡️It may seem morbid to talk about it before it happens, but the fear of the 'unknown' and not knowing when the time is right can be a major source of worry.

➡️If this is an issue that’s worrying you, have a chat with your caring veterinary team in advance. We can talk you through the options, the euthanasia process and what to expect. For some people, this takes a weight off their mind for when the time comes.

➡️Quality of Life ⬅️

When we have a pet who is old, terminally ill or has a life limiting condition it can be hard, with our love and emotions to think objectively about their health and when to make the decision to euthanase.

Your veterinary team won't expect you to make rational decisions when faced with such a huge decision.

That is why they are there to support and guide. Quality of life discussions can be very difficult, for everyone, but are often an essential conversation to have.

Talk about quality of life, use quality of life scales, and be guided by the support of your knowledgeable team to know when the time is right.

If you need support or recognise any of these signs in yourself currently please do seek support.

If you are an owner please look to a trained bereavement or pet bereavement professional or contact the Blue Cross

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

If you are a Vet or RVN please contact the above or Vetlife

https://helpline.vetlife.org.uk/

06/12/2025

Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors

National Grief Awareness Week

Grief in companion animals – is it the same as losing a human?

Grief is a natural reaction to loss, which manifests itself in emotional pain or sadness. It can occur when you lose someone or something that you care about.

The grieving process affects everyone differently. Grief is a personal experience that can be complex and unpredictable.

You may experience different stages of grief, that is not always linear. These are denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance.

Experiencing the ghosts of the departed is a common, cross-cultural experience of grief; such interactions are part of so-called ‘externalized continuing bonds’ and represent an ongoing relationship with the departed.

Some people feel unsupported in their pet's loss, unable to verbalise how much it is impacting them.

The human-animal bond shows that many feel that pets are the same as members of their human family, and in some cases where there has been a caregiving component, a companionship in an isolated individual or in many other circumstances, the loss of a pet can be more impactful on someone's life as a loss of a human friend or family member.

Furthermore, it is very rare that members of the public, have to make a decision to euthanase. It is an experience that may only occur a handful of times in their life and can be a decision that brings immense pain and other emotions such as guilt – even if it is the right decision to peacefully relieve pain and suffering.

In this blog, we used real life experiences of our community to view insights into pet bereavement, have a read to help understand how the grief process is not linear and that we need to be supported through the loss of an animal:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/grief-in-companion-animals-is-it-the-same-as-losing-a-human

If you feel you need support, please have a look at pet bereavement support:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

In this podcast we hear Carrie Kearns, a Pet Bereavement Counsellor, passionately advocates for those experiencing pet bereavement. In conversation with Robyn Lowe and Danny Chambers MP, who bring their experiences of small animal and equine euthanasia’s, Carrie Kearns ACC Dip PBC, MHS provides compassionate insight into owner experience after pet loss giving useful tips and advice to support our clients through animal euthanasia, including making the decision, the actual procedure and coping afterwards.

We discuss subjects such as disenfranchised grief, where society doesn’t allow us to validate our grief and how this can relate to losing our animals. We have a unique and special codependent relationship with our pets and part of ownership is a caregiving role, ensuring their needs are met, often bringing us closer together.

We talk about approaching the decision to euthanise an animal, and how members of the veterinary team can support owners so they do not feel alone in this. We also cover simple things like dressing a catheter can make a big difference to the owner's experience.

🎧https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/Bereavement-How-the-Loss-of-an-Animal-Companion-can-Impact-Us-e2p1kn4

Carrie also highlights her role as a pet bereavement counsellor, and how she may be able to assist both clients and veterinary staff. Carrie is a member of the newly launched Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors: a self-regulating body setup to acknowledge the relevance and value of pet bereavement counsellors, who can provide niche client support. To become an accredited member, individuals must fulfil specific criteria, and they are listed with details of their location and credentials, so clients can pick a counsellor tailored to their needs.

Please follow the following link to view this:
https://apbcounsellors.co.uk/find-a-counsellor

03/12/2025

Thank you All on the Board

Anybody who has ever lost a pet knows how heartbreaking it can be. If people say “it’s just a pet”, they really don’t understand.

01/12/2025

Your First Christmas Without Your Pet: APBC Seasonal Guidance

For many bereaved pet carers, this Christmas may feel profoundly different.
The Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors has released a new national press statement offering support for anyone facing their first festive season without a beloved companion animal.

Christmas often highlights the empty spaces in our homes and routines.
This contrast can intensify grief, and that is completely natural. And we want you to know that you are not alone.

Our guidance includes:

✨ gentle ways to adjust traditions
✨ simple remembrance ideas & ways to honour a pet's memory during the festivities
✨ coping strategies for emotional overwhelm
✨ supporting children through grief
✨ understanding anticipatory anxiety as Christmas approaches
✨ protecting your energy throughout December & the festive season

“Above all, be gentle with yourself,” says APBC Co-Founder Lucy Cussen. “There is no timetable for grief.”

If you are grieving this Christmas, please know that you are not alone.
We will be sharing supportive posts throughout December to help you feel held, understood, and supported.

The Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors
Compassionate, ethical support for anyone grieving the loss of a pet.

01/12/2025

Throughout the year, but more notably in the lead up to Christmas, clients tell me they are dreading their first Christmas without their pet.

26/11/2025

💜 Meet Our Counsellor: Elaine Richmond
Pet Bereavement Support

Today, we are honoured to introduce Elaine Richmond, a compassionate and dedicated member of the Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors. Elaine offers support that feels both reassuring and real, the kind of support that comes from a life spent walking alongside others during their most vulnerable moments.

💟 Who Elaine Supports

Elaine specialises in helping people through many different layers of pet loss, including:
• End-of-life choices & decision-making
• Pre- and post-euthanasia support
• Euthanasia-related guilt
• Ambiguous or disenfranchised grief
• Traumatic or sudden loss
• Supporting older clients
• Surviving pets
• Memorials & remembrance rituals

Sessions are offered in person (locally), online, by phone, email, or message, offering flexibility and gentle support when it is most needed.

🌱 Elaine’s Approach
With over 20 years’ experience as a midwife, and nearly two years working in funeral care, Elaine has supported families through some of life’s most heartbreaking moments. Her experience has shaped an approach grounded in empathy, steadiness, and genuine care.

She is passionate about supporting those facing disenfranchised grief, particularly where feelings around pet loss are dismissed or misunderstood by others.

“If I ever feel I am not the best person to help, I will do my best to connect you with someone who can.”

🐾 What Inspired Her Path
Much of Elaine’s strength comes from her life experience.
For 20 years, she worked as a midwife, supporting families through some of the most delicate and heartbreaking moments imaginable. She later worked in funeral care, continuing to guide people through grief with dignity and compassion.

And alongside all of this, her lifelong love for animals shaped her personal world. Through saying goodbye to three beloved dogs — Johnny, Louis, and George — she felt grief in its many forms: sudden loss, ambiguous loss, anticipatory grief, and peaceful home euthanasia.

Each experience deepened her empathy and shaped her understanding of how differently we can grieve… and how much it hurts.

Today, she shares her home with Ralph and Ada, two joyful black Labradors who keep life busy and her heart full.

💬 A Message from Elaine

“Your feelings are so valid. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved companion animal. If I can help at all, I will.”

She believes every pet, from a tiny mouse to a large horse, is a cherished member of the family, and their loss is deeply felt.

✨ A Favourite Quote

“Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.”
— W.R. Purche

🌿 Find Support
If you are navigating the loss of a beloved animal and would like to speak with a trained, compassionate professional, you can find Elaine and other accredited counsellors in our directory.

💜You don’t have to walk this path alone.