Losing a beloved pet can leave an emptiness that words cannot describe. But what happens when we still hear their footsteps, dream about them, or feel their presence long after they've gone?

In Part Two of "The Empty Leash," Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores the deeper psychological and spiritual dimensions of pet loss.

Why do we sometimes grieve our pets more intensely than people? Why can losing an animal awaken grief from earlier losses? And what do we make of those mysterious moments when we think we hear a familiar bark, the squeak of a favorite toy, or the sound of little paws crossing the floor?

Through compassionate insights into attachment, memory, guilt, and the grieving brain, Marilyn reminds us that there is no timetable for grief and no need to apologize for loving an animal so deeply.

Whether you find comfort in psychology, spirituality, or simply the memories you cherish, this episode offers understanding, reassurance, and hope.

The leash may be empty. The favorite chair may be quiet. But the love remains.

Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief with Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C.

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Support the show

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support and hope today.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at healerzz@yahoo.com.

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future podcast, so others may feel less alone.

Thank you for allowing me to walk beside you. Until next time, be gentle with yourself. Learning to walk with this pain begins one day at a time, one choice at a time to love yourself.

Books by Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C.

For additional support, hope and healing, you can explore my books, including Lost No More: A Mother's Spiritual Journey Through Her Son's Addiction, Where Are You, God?, and Now I Lay Him Down To Rest.

View my books on Amazon

An empty leash. A quiet house. A favorite spot on the couch that suddenly feels too still.

Losing a beloved pet can leave a deep ache in our hearts and in the everyday routines we once shared. In Episode 16 of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., offers a compassionate message for anyone grieving an animal who was part of the family.

Marilyn explores the loneliness of pet loss, grief that begins before the goodbye, and the guilt that can follow difficult end-of-life decisions. She also shares gentle ways to honor your pet’s memory, support grieving children, and consider welcoming another animal when the time feels right.

Whether your loss is recent or you still miss a companion from years ago, this message offers room for your tears, your memories, and your love.

Your loss matters. You do not have to grieve alone.

Find more messages, books, and resources at:
https://hopeafterlosswithmarilyn.org

If this episode brings you comfort, please share it with someone who is missing a beloved pet.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support and hope today.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at healerzz@yahoo.com.

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future podcast, so others may feel less alone.

Thank you for allowing me to walk beside you. Until next time, be gentle with yourself. Learning to walk with this pain begins one day at a time, one choice at a time to love yourself.

Books by Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C.

For additional support, hope and healing, you can explore my books, including Lost No More: A Mother's Spiritual Journey Through Her Son's Addiction, Where Are You, God?, and Now I Lay Him Down To Rest.

View my books on Amazon

Can we experience happiness after losing someone we love without feeling that we're leaving them behind?

In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores the guilt that sometimes accompanies laughter, pleasure, and moments of happiness after a death.

Drawing on her personal experience and professional perspective as a licensed counselor, Marilyn reflects on the enduring nature of love and how our relationships continue to shape our lives even after physical loss.

From a beautiful sunset to an unexpected laugh, she invites listeners to recognize that joy and grief can coexist—and that experiencing happiness does not diminish the love we carry.

In this episode:

• Why happiness after loss can trigger guilt
• How love continues beyond physical absence
• Finding connection through memories and everyday experiences
• Understanding continuing bonds
• Giving ourselves permission to experience joy again

Finding joy doesn't mean forgetting. Sometimes it means allowing the love that remains to continue enriching our lives.

Learn more at HopeAfterLossWithMarilyn.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support and hope today.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at healerzz@yahoo.com.

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future podcast, so others may feel less alone.

Thank you for allowing me to walk beside you. Until next time, be gentle with yourself. Learning to walk with this pain begins one day at a time, one choice at a time to love yourself.

Books by Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C.

For additional support, hope and healing, you can explore my books, including Lost No More: A Mother's Spiritual Journey Through Her Son's Addiction, Where Are You, God?, and Now I Lay Him Down To Rest.

View my books on Amazon