The Pet Loss Companion

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as they share an audience member's story of loss related to an accident. We join Laura, the person who shared her story with us, in knowing that hearing what happened will help others who are working through their own grief.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can b...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation sparked by a recent New York Times article, "How Losing  a Pet Can Make You Stronger"(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/pets-death-lessons-strength.html?smid=em-share). We'll talk about the experience of post-traumatic growth after losing a beloved animal companion.    We welco...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation that includes discussion of the concern that sharing one's grief may overburden those with whom we choose to share. We'll share the story of an audience member who voices this concern.  We'll also talk about the grief that follows a death directly related to a pet owner's error.  We welcome...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation in which they share an audience member's story that highlights the importance of having a non-judgmental approach to our own  grief and that of our loved ones.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and K...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez as we continue our conversation about embracing grief as part of our lives, sharing emails we got from audience members after last week's program.     We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When yo...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about loss as an essential part of the human experience.   We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be ok...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez as they share audience member stories and thoughts on what these stories teach us about love, loss, and resilience.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please inc...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation on the challenges and special gifts that accompany caring for an elderly pet as they move toward the end of their lives.   We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a persona...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as they discuss a dilemma shared by an audience member, a situation that has implications for everybody who has more than one animal companion in their family.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com....

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as we share stories from audience members that touch upon the experience of many losses occurring simultaneously and more.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story ple...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation in which we'll share stories from audience members that touch upon the particular experience of losing a pet as a single person and more.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. Whe...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as we talk with special guest Dr. Joanne Lefebvre Connolly. Dr. Connolly is a veterinarian and author who specializes in in-home end-of-life care and euthanasia.  She is the author of two books, Animal Teachings 1 and Animal Teachings 2, which empower families and their pets to live better and also prepare for a p...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the fear expressed by many people that their deep feelings of grief will never lessen, that they will perhaps never feel emotionally stable again. We'll share thoughts on this concern and talk about how thinking about grief as having an "ending" may not be the most helpful way to understand it....

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio.  We'll share a listener's story about their dog, who was born in torturous circumstances, triumphed over the resulting trauma, and went on to inspire those whose lives he touched. We'll talk about how each of us may find inspiration in the relationships we forge with our pets and the life stories they leave to us...

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation with animal communicator Zan Ottaway (zanottaway.com).    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would b...

One in five Americans lives with a mental illness and depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez on Thurs 1/6 at 6pm ET for a conversation about how grief differs from depression and other forms of mental illness. We'll also discuss the challenges of grieving the loss of a beloved pet when one also lives...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation sparked by a listener's note about the way her grief awakened in her vital thoughts, feelings, and questions.     We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a person...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation in which we'll share some of our listeners holiday time self-care practices and some of our own as well.    We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story pl...

We've been hearing from listeners who describe the animal companion they've lost as their "super hero," "the most cherished gift of my life," and ""the glue that holds me together." Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation that explores the depth of relationship that these and many other people experience with their animal companions and re...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation featuring listeners' stories about the challenges involved with finding the right time to adopt again, connecting with a helpful therapist, and other matters.  We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the pain of losing a very young pet, the sudden unexpected death of a pet thought to be in good health, and other matters related to grief and healing. We'll share stories from the audience members who suggested these topics.  As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions...

When we're grief-stricken over the holidays we face a special set of challenges. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation on caring for ourselves and helping those close to us who are grieving at a time of year when most people are celebrating.    As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Na...

While we respond to each of our losses in a uniquely personal way, it can be comforting to note the many commonalities in our experiences. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation that we hope will help you feel less alone in your grief. During today's discussion we'll share illustrative examples from a listener's story and our own.  &...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about how to manage when someone close to us doesn't understand what we're going through.     As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.   The Pet Loss Companion (boo...

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation that begins with discussion of an email from a veterinarian who recently lost her beloved dog. Nancy then introduces her newest family member and we talk about the pros, cons, and real life experiences of adopting a new animal companion shortly after loss.   As always, we welcome your comments,...