The human–animal bond is quiet but unbreakable.
It shapes who we are, even when it changes or ends.
The human-animal bond is quiet, powerful, and life-shaping.
It’s built on trust, routine, unspoken understanding. It holds us in grief, grounds us in chaos, and brings out parts of ourselves that feel truest when we’re with them.
For some, it’s companionship.
For others, it’s purpose, identity, even survival.
And when that bond is strained, lost, or shifted it hurts in ways words can’t always reach.
This connection is real. Deep. Worth naming.
And for many of us, it’s one of the most meaningful relationships we’ll ever have.
Why This Work Matters to Me…
This work is personal.
My first dog — a golden retriever now growing older — has been one of my greatest teachers. Through him, I’ve come to understand a kind of love that doesn’t need words. A bond built on trust, quiet presence, and the comfort of being fully known.
In this tender season of his aging, I’m reminded daily how much animals hold for us — the grief, the care, the stillness, the letting go. I’ve also seen, time and again, how assistance and therapy animals support mental health, offering grounding, regulation, and connection when it’s needed most.
Animals are not extras in our lives. They are companions, mirrors, guides — and sometimes, the reason we keep going. This work was born from that belief, and from a deep respect for the emotional lives we share with them.
This therapy is for…
Pet guardians grieving the loss of a beloved animal;
Animal professionals — including veterinarians, vet nurses, shelter staff, trainers, zookeepers, and wildlife carers — experiencing burnout, compassion fatigue, or moral stress;
Handlers of service, guide, or therapy animals navigating retirement, transitions, or end-of-life care with their animal partners;
Trainers of assistance and service animals seeking support for the emotional demands of their role, including stress and compassion fatigue;
First responder or military personnel who work with animals — such as dogs, horses, or other service animals — and are coping with high-stress environments, or the loss, retirement, or transition of their animal partners.
What People-Animal Therapy Is (And Isn’t)…
People-Animal Therapy focuses on the emotional experiences and relationships between people and their animals. Unlike Animal-Assisted Therapy — which involves animals as part of the therapeutic process — this work centres on exploring grief, stress, and connection through conversations and reflective practices, without animals physically present in sessions. It’s about understanding and healing the human side of the bond.
What You Carry, What We Hold Together…
You may be grieving an animal who was more than a companion — a partner, a presence woven into daily life. You may be carrying the quiet weariness of animal-centred work: compassion fatigue, moral strain, the kind of tired that seeps into the soul. There might be guilt that won’t let go, or pain tied to decisions that were necessary but still heartbreaking. Perhaps a service animal has retired, and you’re navigating the strange space that follows. Or maybe you live with a bond so deep, it's hard to explain — and even harder to grieve.
This space is here to hold all of it. Gently, with care, we explore what’s often unspoken — the complexity, the sorrow, the love, and the loss. You’re not alone here.
What Shapes This Work…
This is slow, reflective work — rooted in grief-informed, narrative, and compassion-focused approaches. Rather than pathologising your pain, we hold space for the stories, meanings, and emotions woven through your bond with animals.
Together, we may explore the layers of your experience — moral stress, unspoken guilt, shifting identity, or sorrow that’s hard to name. Healing might involve symbolic ritual, gentle remembering, or simply finding language for what once felt unspeakable.
This work isn’t about fixing or forgetting. It’s about honoring what mattered, and finding a way to carry it with tenderness and care.
Individual counselling sessions are available to support those navigating the often complex and deeply personal experiences that arise from relationships with animals. These sessions provide a compassionate space to explore emotional reconnection, build self-understanding, and begin to heal, without needing to explain or justify the depth of your bond. Sessions are delivered via secure Telehealth, offering confidential, flexible access to support from anywhere in Australia, whether you're seeking comfort from your own space or facing barriers to in-person care.
Come As You Are.