The loss of a companion animal can bring grief, guilt, anger, regret, and questions about what could or should have happened differently.
And sometimes, the grief begins long before the loss itself.
Understanding & Resolving Pet Grief is a 6-hour training examining companion-animal loss, anticipatory grief, and the processes that can contribute to ongoing emotional distress through the Rapid Resolution Therapy® perspective.
Participants will explore approaches for addressing grief-related distress while recognizing the significance of the relationship between a person and their companion animal.
“Dr. Connelly’s ingenious and radically different approach provides a total paradigm shift that transforms and resolves grief rapidly, often within hours and without re-traumatization! After 36 years of psychotherapy practice, I am thrilled to discover this breakthrough in healing the suffering of grief...A gift for therapists and laypeople a like.”
- Jag Aurora, MD, CCFP, Physician & Psychotherapist
What Makes This Training Different?
Many approaches to grief focus on supporting individuals as they cope with emotional distress. This training explores how the processes contributing to ongoing distress can be identified and addressed.
Participants Will Explore:
How guilt, anger, and regret can contribute to ongoing pet grief
How anticipatory grief can occur during an animal’s illness, decline, and expected loss
How beliefs about what should or could have happened can intensify grief
How communication can influence perception and emotional experience
Methods used to facilitate shifts in perspective related to companion-animal loss
How grief-related distress can be addressed without requiring prolonged discussion of painful events
How emotional distress can change while love, connection, and cherished memories remain
Rather than focusing solely on coping with grief, participants will explore how shifts in perception can change the emotional response to loss while preserving the significance of the relationship.
What Participants Will Experience
This is interactive and immersive training at it’s finest. Throughout the day, participants will observe and analyze real examples of pet grief resolution. Attendees will see how communication, reframing, and perspective-shifting techniques are applied in actual cases and will have opportunities to discuss and explore the processes involved.
This Training Includes:
Live and Filmed Demonstrations
Observe examples of pet grief-related guilt, regret, and loss being resolved through Rapid Resolution Therapy® methods.
Practical Clinical Insights
Learn specific communication approaches that facilitate shifts in perception and reduce emotional distress.
Guided Discussion and Analysis
Examine the mechanisms that contribute to ongoing grief and review intervention strategies used to address them.
A Fresh Perspective on Loss
Explore how beliefs related to responsibility, fairness, permanence, and unfinished business can influence grief experiences.
Immediate Application
Gain practical concepts and strategies that can be integrated into clinical work and supportive conversations.
Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for social workers and other mental health professionals interested in expanding their understanding of companion-animal grief and anticipatory loss.
It may be particularly relevant for professionals who encounter:
Grief and bereavement
Companion-animal illness or loss
Anticipatory grief
Guilt and regret following loss
End-of-life concerns
Clients experiencing distress associated with the loss of an important relationship
Educational Level: Beginning
Prerequisites: None. This training is open to all who are interested in understanding pet grief and the RRT perspective. Mental health professionals, social workers, RRT practitioners, and individuals with a personal or professional interest in companion-animal loss are welcome to attend.
Registration Information
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Location: Live Online via Zoom
Registration: $197
RRT Members: FREE
BONUS!!
Register today and receive FREE!!
A 3-hour self-paced training on Ethics & Malpractice Issues
Presented by: Cathy Hoort, JD & Alan Bader, PhD
Can't join us live? No problem. Registered participants may access the training recording through September 4, 2026. CE credit is available for live attendance only.
