Susan Dawson
PhD MEd MBPsS MBACP
Psychologist and Grief Counsellor
Animal Kind UK
Course Synopsis
This programme provides essential knowledge and skills to enable ethical bereavement care in veterinary practice. Insights into the psychology of human-animal relationships (HCARs) are also included, as to understand loss, we must understand attachment. Case study examples illustrate how the strength of the HCAR, personal loss histories and owners' current circumstances influence grief reactions. The most current theories applied for understanding of pet bereavement will be introduced through examples from practice and discussion, enabling identification of how gender, access to support networks and health status may impact on grief. Safe strategies for working with clients experiencing grief arising from euthanasia will be introduced, along with practical considerations for how to set up and run nurse facilitated continuing care-clinics (a fusion of palliative and bereavement care).
Specific areas to be covered
The human-companion animal relationship: its influence in pet bereavement
Understanding pet bereavement as a disenfranchised loss
Establishing boundaries to ensure safe and ethical bereavement care
Models of grief and how these can be applied to understand and work with grieving clients in practice
Continuing care clinics: methods for supporting clients through anticipatory grieving and responsibility grief
Pre-euthanasia discussions
After-death body-care options and memorialisation
Self-care, safe practice and support
£100 +vat (total £120.00)
Kindly supported by
Unable to attend this course?
Why not try an online tutorial instead?
Pet Bereavement - 30 minute tutorial £10
Coping with Stress in Veterinary Practice - 45 minute tutorial £15
Understanding the Human-Companion Animal Relationship - 60 minute tutorial £20
Supporting Clients through Equine Bereavement - 60 minute tutorial £20
Communication Skills - 60 minute tutorial £20
The Role of the Head Nurse in Practice - 20 minute tutorial £10