1. Introduction to Pet Bereavement Counselling

• Is pet bereavement counselling for you?
• What kinds of skills do you need?
• Traits of bereavement counsellors
• Objectives of a pet bereavement counsellor
• Handling client visits

2. The Bereavement Process

• The counsellor’s role in the pet bereavement process
• Exploring emotions
• The stages of grief

3. Pet and Owner Relationships

• Types of pets
• Examining the pet and owner relationship
• Benefits of owning a pet

4. The Counsellor’s Role

• What can you do to help?
• Understanding pet loss
• How far do you go with your counselling?
• Is pet bereavement counselling different from human bereavement counselling?
• Commonalities between human and pet bereavement counsellors

5. Counselling Skills

• What are the main counselling skills?
• How to ask questions
• How to listen without interrupting
• How to summarise
• How to offer advice

6. Effective Counselling Methods

• Establishing a counselling procedure
• Phrases and vocabulary to use
• Making notes during and after a consultation

7. Specific Pet/Owner Relationships

• Offering pet bereavement counselling to others
• Pet bereavement and children
• Pet bereavement and older/single people
• Pet bereavement and other animals
• Dealing with lost or missing pets

8. Pet Bereavement Arrangements and Practicalities

• Pet bereavement methodologies
• Dealing with a natural death
• Euthanasia
• Know the process
• Dealing with unexpected loss
• Disposing of the remains
• Burying the pet

9. Getting a New Pet

• Urging the client not to move too quickly
• Signs your client may not be ready for a new pet
• Signs your client may be ready for a new pet
• Understanding that the new pet is not the same as the old one
• Lowering the client’s expectations of the new pet
• Urging the client not to compare

10. Marketing your Business

• Marketing your business
• Your website
• Networking
• Leaflet drops
• PR
• Referrals from existing clients
• Advertising

11. Setting up Your Business

• A place to work
• A pet bereavement counsellor’s equipment
• Other aspects to consider
• Setting up your business on a small budget
• Putting together a business plan

12. Finance & Book Keeping

• What to charge
• Keeping Books
• Your Accountant
• Paying Tax
• Idemmity Insurance
• Keeping records safe