Dealing with Grief During Holidays and Anniversaries
When You've Lost An Animal Loved One

 

CONTENT AND PURPOSE:

For many people, animals are important if not equal members of the family--sometimes their closest loved ones--and their loss is felt acutely especially at times of holidays and celebration. The loss of a beloved animal is as painful as losing any important member of the family. Because of the unconditional love we have with our animals, our grief may be all the more distressing.

Holidays, birthdays and anniversaries are times when we are supposed to be happy, but these are also times when we are acutely aware of the absence of ones we have loved.  This class will review some strategies to make these occasions somewhat easier.  These suggestions won’t eliminate your grief, but they can help soften it. The class will help you not only survive through these special seasons and days,  but also how to find solace and meaning. You will receive practical help, hope, loving comfort and the knowledge that you are in the company of others who also walk this pathway in their healing.

This two hour class covers the list of bulleted content issues below, and also includes exercises:

Identifing and seeking supportive people, animals, places and ideas to help you through the challenges of these times

Planning meaningful ways to memorialize and honor your animal during holidays and anniversaries

There will also be time for questions and answers and an ending meditation that you can listen to again and again to fill you with courage and love to not only "get through" these special seasons and days but to find meaning and connection with the spirit of your animal loved one.


  Issues that are addressed in the teleclass

• • The Three C's:  Choose, Communicate and Compromise
  • Be Kind to Yourself
  • Express Your Feelings
  • Create Support for Yourself
  • Ask for What Your Need
  • Appreciate Your Other Loved Ones
  • Help Another Person in Need
  • Don't Compare Your Life with Anyone Else's
  • Making the Best of Tough Circumstances
  • Modify Your Expectations
  • How Not To Be A Victim of Your Pain
  • Resolving How or Where to Spend the Holidays or Anniversaries
  • Including Your Beloved Animal Who Has Died in Your Holiday Plans
  • Avoiding the Holidays
  • Doing Something New and Different
  • Meditation for Solace and Connection
    
    
    
    
•  
•  

We discover our own courage by our
willingness to face, feel,
live through,
 and recover
from difficult events
such as the loss of a beloved pet.
                               ~ Judy Tatelbaum

Judy Tatelbaum, M.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and inspirational speaker, is a popular keynote speaker, workshop leader, and professional trainer. She grew up in Rochester, New York, and is a graduate of Syracuse University and Simmons College, School of Social work. She worked at Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, and Payne Whitney Clinic of the New York Cornell Medical Center in New York City before starting her private practice in California. She now lives in Carmel Valley, California, with her husband, Allan Marcus, and her dog, Honey.

She is the author of the best selling books, The Courage to Grieve and You Don't Have to Suffer. A foremost authority on overcoming grief and emotional suffering, Judy encourages people to face and recover from life's inevitable crises courageously. She has many years experience working with individuals in therapy facing issues of grief, loss and and life transitions. A pet lover and owner, she also works with issues related to pet health concerns and pet loss. She works extensively with mental health professionals, hospitals, hospices, bereavement groups, funeral directors, and AIDS programs.

Judy appears on television and radio, and lectures across the country. She recently produced the award winning DVD The Courage to Grieve, The Courage to Grow and audio tapes, The Caregiver Series: Caring for the Caregiver, Enhancing Self Estem, The Power of Saying Good-bye, and The Special Grief of HIV and AIDS. Her most recent book is The Journey From the Land of Forever Flowers, A Fable About Afterlife.
She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and www.judytatelbaum.com.

COMMENTS FROM CLASS PARTICIPANTS

I felt that I wasn't alone. There were people in exactly the same situation as I was. I LOVED the meditation afterwards.  Wonderful handouts, wonderful exercises, WONDERFUL MEDITATION. And I certainly feel that I have more options than I did in the past. The give and take between Teresa and Judy was perfect. They worked seamlessly with each other. When one stopped, the other moved in gracefully.    ~ Elizabeth Randall, California


I loved knowing and understanding that I’m not alone, that the experience of others is similar to mine. The support and kindness of the teachers holding the class was very valuable. I came away with the feeling that I can celebrate the time my furry family was in my life and that holidays are a good time to do this.   ~ Linda Kirsch, California


The handouts and exercises were very valuable and the tone of the class very much made me feel lovingly supported.   ~ Jill Gamble, California


The material gave me tangible ideas of how to honor my beloved Zeus and my beloved Teaka. Prior to the class I would hurt too much on my own to "be" with Zeusy's ashes. The class allowed me the safety to think about and feel into what he would most like to have with regard to his ashes; as well as contemplate some lovely memorials I could create for both of these amazing beings who took feline form. It was as if Judy and Teresa bestowed upon me the know how and ability to transform the energy of grief into the energy of creativity to honor my beloveds.

These handouts are so helpful. The layout is easy-to-follow (not to mention gorgeous) and the content is rich. The information given helps me to understand the grief process. The exercises and meditation help me to get un-stuck in the grief energy. Thank you Teresa and Judy!

What I liked the most was Teresa's presence. When I hear her voice, it's not only the valuable content that comes through and heals me, it is her presence that is like no other. I feel as though Divine flows through Teresa. I always feel 100% safe, genuinely cared for, understood, and held...I feel very blessed to be able to commune with her and my wish is to be able to interact with her as much as possible. If it's in the highest good for all, I would LOVE to be a lifelong student of hers...and would LOVE to engage with her on a regular basis.
~ Jane Brown Smith, California


It was perfect, including the meditation at the end. It reinforced what I already new and gave me additional info which I can use for myself and others.    ~ Donna Kahora, New Jersey

Photo of snow on leaf at top is by unknown photographer

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save