If pets have one fault, it is that they don’t live as long as we would like them to. I’ve gone through my share of loss with my own pets and having worked at a vet hospital I’ve been there when others have gone through their own loss. I was contacted a short while ago to see if I would be interested in reviewing a copy of Karen Litzinger’s CD “Heal Your Heart- Coping with the Loss of a Pet”. Karen is a licensed professional counselor who besides being a pet lover that has experienced her own pet loss also offers pet loss counseling in the Pittsburgh area. Knowing that everyone handles their grief in different ways and having known people who had a difficult time, I am interested in different ways for people to find help and support so I said I would be happy to.
I received a copy of the Heal Your Heart Coping with the Loss of a Pet CD and Guidebook to review.
I received a copy of the CD which also has a small guidebook to use. The CD contains 9 tracks. The first 7 tracks are considered core tracks while the last 2 tracks deal with special topics- euthanasia and helping children with the loss. The total length of the CD is 49 minutes.
The Guidebook is only 18 pages but it’s packed with information that will help along with the CD. It discusses the stages of grief, things you can do that will help you remember and honor your pet, steps to help you take care of yourself (something someone may forget during their time of grief), euthanasia and how to talk to children. It mentions the importance of finding a counselor to help you through your grief if you need one. The guidebook also contains resources for finding a counselor, online support, books, helping children cope and sources for memorial items.
I listened to the CD a couple times so I could get the full effect of its use. It was very soothing to listen to with a background of harp music on each track. Kare’s soothing voice uses mediation and affirmations to help people cope and work through any guilt they may have about their loss. They are easy to understand and easy to repeat if you choose to. The euthanasia track helps you deal with having to make the decision to euthanize your pet. The children’s track talks directly to your child and help them understand it is okay for them to feel bad and for them to react.
The CD really helps get you into the mindset that you can get through this and your choices were the right ones to make.
Sadly, even though pets are more a part of the family these days than they have been in the past, there are still some people who don’t understand why or how someone would get so upset over the loss of a pet. When you have friends and family with this attitude, it can be hard to get the support you need at this time. Even if you have the support of friends and family, sometimes times you needed something more. That is where this CD and Guidebook can make a big difference. It offers the guidance and support you need in your own home. I think it’s something that every vet hospital should have for clients who are looking for something to help them when they have lost a pet.
You can find more information on pet loss and purchase the CD and Guidebook from Karen Litzinger’s website- Heal From Pet Loss
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