How PhD researcher Yelda Yılmaz is helping people navigate the often-overlooked pain of losing a pet
PhD researcher and social worker Yelda Yılmaz
For many people, pets are family members. When they die, the grief can be profound – yet it is often misunderstood or minimised by society. This type of loss is known as disenfranchised grief: grief that is not always recognised, validated, or supported by others.
PhD researcher and social worker Yelda Yılmaz is working to change that. As part of her doctoral research, Yelda is developing an emotion-focused group intervention for adults who have experienced pet loss, helping individuals process their grief in a safe and supportive environment.
To support this work, she completed The Loss Foundation’s How to Lead a Grief Support Group training.
Why Pet Loss Matters
Research consistently shows that the emotional impact of losing a pet can be significant:
A large survey by the RSCPA found:
- 93% said they felt heartbroken or deeply sad after losing a pet
- 67% were shocked by how intense their grief felt
- 60% experienced guilt
- 55% experienced loneliness
Yet despite its impact, pet bereavement is often socially minimised, leaving people feeling isolated in their grief. This lack of recognition highlights the need for more specialised support and understanding, which is where Yelda’s work is focused:
“My academic and professional work focuses on grief, loss, and psychosocial interventions. In my doctoral research, I develop and evaluate an emotion-focused group intervention for adults who have experienced pet loss.”
Yelda’s research specifically addresses disenfranchised grief, a key challenge for people grieving animals:
“My study particularly addresses the concept of disenfranchised grief, as pet loss is often socially minimised despite its significant emotional impact.”
The Challenge of Supporting Pet Bereavement
Designing a grief group for pet loss presents unique challenges.
Many individuals feel their grief is not taken seriously, which can make it harder to express emotions openly.
Before undertaking the training, Yelda wanted to strengthen her group facilitation skills and ensure she could create a safe and structured environment for participants.
“Before the training, I had several questions regarding how to structure group sessions for individuals experiencing pet loss, which is often an invisible and socially unrecognised form of grief.”
She was particularly concerned with how to balance emotional expression and psychological safety:
“Participants may experience intense and complex emotions, and I wanted to ensure that the group process would remain supportive without becoming overwhelming.”
Strengthening the Foundations of a Grief Support Intervention
Through the training, Yelda gained practical tools to support the development of her intervention.
“The training has significantly strengthened the practical and clinical foundation of my intervention design.”
The course helped deepen her understanding of:
- Stage-sensitive group facilitation
- Emotional regulation in group settings
- Structured session planning
- Creating safe therapeutic environments
These skills are particularly important when working with disenfranchised grief.
“It helped me better understand how to create a safe and compassionate therapeutic environment for individuals experiencing disenfranchised grief after pet loss.”
The training also increased her confidence in designing therapeutic group experiences.
“I now feel more confident designing session flows, therapeutic exercises, and supportive group dynamics tailored specifically to pet loss bereavement.”
Why Training Matters for Grief Professionals
For professionals supporting bereaved individuals, specialist training can make a significant difference.
Yelda believes structured training is especially valuable for those working with under-recognised forms of grief.
“The course successfully combines theoretical knowledge with practical tools for leading effective support groups.
The grief support group course is particularly beneficial for professionals supporting disenfranchised grief populations, including those experiencing pet loss, as it emphasises emotional validation, group safety, and structured therapeutic processes.
Looking Ahead
Yelda’s research highlights an important and often overlooked area of bereavement support.
By developing evidence-based group interventions for pet loss, her work aims to ensure that those grieving animals receive the understanding and support they need.
“The training provides a strong foundation for designing and implementing specialised grief interventions.”
As awareness grows around disenfranchised grief, initiatives like this are helping to ensure that no form of grief is dismissed or overlooked.
📢 Support Group Courses
If you work with bereaved individuals and would like to strengthen your group facilitation skills, learn more about our training…
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Free Support Group Resources
If you are interested in setting up a support group of any kind, these free resources can help you get started.
They provide practical guidance on facilitating groups, using simple peer support activities, and creating safe, respectful environments where people feel able to share and connect.
Whether you are supporting a community, facilitating bereavement groups (including pet loss), or exploring how peer support works, these guides are designed to build your confidence in organising and leading a group.
Example support group curriculum PDF
Designed to help foster safe, supportive conversations where participants can reflect, share experiences and build connections.
Support Group Guidelines (PDF)
A simple guide outlining the key principles that help support groups run safely and respectfully.
Facilitator Self-Care Checklist PDF
This checklist includes simple prompts across physical, emotional, and professional self-care to help facilitators maintain prevent burnout and support others sustainably.
Peer Support Group Activities (PDF)
Simple activities designed to help support group facilitators encourage conversation, reflection, and connection.
FAQs about pet loss support groups
People often have practical questions when thinking about setting up a support group, including those focused on pet loss and pet bereavement, or supporting others through peer connection. These might include how to support someone grieving the loss of a pet, how to start a pet loss support group, how long grief may last, or whether specialist training or qualifications are needed to support others.
Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions, with links to more detailed guides on each topic.
To support someone grieving the loss of a pet, listen without judgement, acknowledge their grief, and avoid minimising their loss. Offer practical and emotional support, such as checking in regularly or sharing memories. Pet loss grief is real and valid, so creating a safe, understanding space is key.
To start a pet loss support group, define your purpose, choose a safe and accessible setting (online or in-person), and create clear group guidelines. Keep sessions simple, focusing on peer support rather than therapy. Promote your group locally or online to connect with people experiencing pet bereavement.
There is no fixed timeline for grieving the loss of a pet. Pet bereavement can last weeks, months, or longer, depending on the individual and their bond with the animal. Grief often changes over time rather than ending, and it’s important to allow space for this natural process.
To become a pet loss grief specialist, build knowledge in grief and bereavement through training, courses, or counselling qualifications. Experience in peer support or facilitation can also help. Specialising in pet bereavement involves understanding disenfranchised grief and supporting people with empathy and validation.
To become a pet bereavement counsellor, you typically need a recognised counselling qualification, along with training in grief and loss. While specific pet loss certification is not always required, specialist knowledge of pet bereavement and experience supporting grieving individuals is highly beneficial.
Losing a pet can be traumatic because pets often provide unconditional love, companionship, and daily routine. Their loss can disrupt emotional stability and leave a significant gap in everyday life. Pet grief is often intense but may be underestimated by others, which can increase feelings of isolation.
“She was so passionate about her work… which made learning from her interesting.” – Training Delegate
Dr. Erin Hope Thompson MBE, Founder and Director of The Loss Foundation, designed and presents our Grief Support Group course.
As a Clinical Psychologist, she has extensive experience across the NHS, private, and third sectors. In 2022, Dr. Thompson was awarded an MBE for her services to bereaved families.
