Pet Bereavement Counselors:
Virginia
There are literally hundreds of people who are now counseling in pet bereavement, and it is not possible for the APLB to register them all. Some hesitate to be listed in any directory, others are first discovering the benefits of this wonderful service, and many more are still unknown to us. We welcome all new applicants to contact us directly by mail or online at aplb@aplb.org. This listing is arranged according to geographical location. We are pleased that every counselor registered here is a member of the APLB.
Newport News
Pam Paré, Ed.D.
Rock Landing Psychological Group
11825 Rock Landing Drive
Newport News,
Virginia 23606
Phone:
(757) 873-1736
Email:
dr_pare@yahoo.com
I am a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology with emphasis on behavioral medicine, and I am also a student affiliate member of APA. My training is in agency counseling and school psychology. I have over 15 years of experience in counseling adults, adolescents and children, and over 200 hours of specialized training in trauma, loss, and bereavement therapy (especially pet bereavement). I am also a trained hypnotherapist, certified by the National Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy as well as a trained EMDR therapist. My specialties are trauma-related issues, dissociative disorders, and chronic pain. I am presently in private practice as a psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist with Rock Landing Psychological Group, PLC, in Newport News.
My therapy emphasizes the client-therapist relationship, with a client-centered approach, particularly in bereavement counseling. My approach may also include solution-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (with goal-setting when appropriate), EMDR, and hypnotherapy. I counsel individuals as well as groups, and also have facilitated support groups for trauma, abuse and loss. I am also a certified on-line therapist with www.MyTherapyNet.com, where I may be accessed through clicking on e-care.
Richmond
Martha Ann Spruill, LCSW
Practice Address:
5610 Grove Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
Mailing Address:
PO Box 7002
Richmond, Virginia 23221
Phone:
(804) 405-0939
Email:
MarthaAnn@mspruill.com
Website:
www.mspruill.com
I am a licensed clinical social worker with a special interest in working with people who are grieving because of the loss of a pet. Pets become important members of our families and it is a significant loss when they are no longer with us. I have been providing pet loss support services for over 4 years. When I meet with a client about pet loss, we review typical reactions to grief, what makes pets so special, what impacts the intensity of the loss and tips for managing grief. I encourage clients to bring photos of the animal they are grieving. I also provide handouts that can be taken home and shared with other family members.
Yorktown
Susanna M. Horner, LCSW
6515 George Washington Memorial Highway, Suite 100
Yorktown, Virginia 23692
Phone:
(757) 788-9636
Email:
walkersus@gmail.com
Website:
PetLossCounselors.com
I am a licensed clinical social worker with a great respect for the Human-Animal Bond for Life. As a grief counselor specializing in loss of an animal companion, I realize the grief reactions associated with human or animal death are many times identical. Yet sadly there are many pet owners who grieve alone, thus adding to and prolonging the intensity of the grief.
During the past decade while facilitating Pet Remembrance workshops and Pet Loss support groups, I have found that many people in our society have little knowledge about how to help support someone in mourning. Many pet owners find the initial visit to see a pet loss counselor is very helpful. This first session will usually last approximately 90 minutes and can be held at your home or in my office; insurance billing is available.