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The Lived Experience of Grief After the Death of a Long-Term Companion Animal

Reilly, Melissa
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1527018092359502

Abstract Details

2018, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology.
This study of the lived experience of grief aims at a deep understanding of the experience of loss through an analysis of the themes that emerge across personal interviews. This researcher used this study of loss to look more closely at the relationship between humans and animals. By expanding on current literature this study offers a comprehensive qualitative analysis of this grief experience following the death of a beloved animal companion. This study has three goals: (1) highlight the universal aspects of this phenomenon, (2) expand upon the literature examining this powerful cross-species relationship and gain a deeper understanding of the bereavement process, and (3) offer clinicians and veterinarians the opportunity to better understand the grief experienced by pet owners and how to better help the pet owners prepare and cope with their loss. Previous research indicates the grief process following the loss of a companion animal is both complex and delicate. There is no one size fits all approach to grief. Understanding the variety of ways in which individuals grieve is the first step in aiding individuals to move forward into acceptance. This dissertation advances the understanding of this multifaceted bereavement process. This researcher conducted six in-depth interviews designed to draw upon the grief experience after the loss of a long-term companion animal. The findings from the interviews show the impact of grief can be complicated for some depending upon additional life stressors and previous experience with pets and grief. Additionally, each individual has a distinct and unique experience with grief. This Dissertation is available in Open Access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu and OhioLink ETD Center, http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd
Elizabeth Bates Freed, PsyD (Committee Chair)
Chris Howard, PsyD (Committee Member)
Brenda Murrow, PhD (Committee Member)
115 p.
Animals; Psychology; Psychotherapy
Grief; Companion Animals; Qualitative study; Pets; Loss; Death; Human Animal Bond; Bereavement; Grieving Process; Veterinarians

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reilly, M. (2018). The Lived Experience of Grief After the Death of a Long-Term Companion Animal [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1527018092359502

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reilly, Melissa. The Lived Experience of Grief After the Death of a Long-Term Companion Animal . 2018. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1527018092359502.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reilly, Melissa. "The Lived Experience of Grief After the Death of a Long-Term Companion Animal ." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1527018092359502

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1527018092359502
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.