A Team Effort…
End-of-Life is a unique time. It is the culmination of a journey between you and your pet. My role is to companion and support you, your animal, and any other members of your human family as you walk this path.
When we talk about team it is important to realise that the primary team here is comprised of you and your animal. I come to you in a role of service,
to compliment your team, and to work alongside you.
Holistic End of Life Carer
Racheal Harris, MA
A qualified End-of-Life worker, my role is to companion you and your pet through the end-of-life experience, and to empower you to make choices that honour your animal and its quality of life.
I offer quality of care for your animal, in providing you with informed choice, and in processing grief through ritual and tangible memorial creation.
The death of your animal is going to hurt, but it is important to lean into your grief.
I am here to help you.
My approach to end-of-life care focuses on the construction of narrative. In formulating the story of who our animal is, what they brought to our life, how we feel about their departure, and the continuance of their spirit after death, we are better able to position ourselves within our grief. Narrative is both our anchor and our compass, it tethers us to the moment, but also indicates the path from sadness into acceptance.
I am a life-long learner, currently undertaking a range of different training. If you are in need of services I do not offer, I have a wide range of practitioners I can place you in contact with, who will be able to assist you.
I include below my academic and training qualifications, as I find that these have deeply informed my approach to practice and my beliefs about death and the afterlife. Although I would consider myself a Spiritualist, I have a strong familiarity with Catholicism and the Christian faith communities more broadly. I am open to working with people of all (or no) religious denomination or affiliation.
Academic:
Doctoral Candidate - Deakin University, Australia
Project information available at: www.animalafterlives.com
Master of Arts (Studies in Religion) - University of New England
Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice - University of New England
Training:
End of Life Doula (Companion Animals) Certificate - University of Vermont, USA
Diploma in Spiritual Counselling
Diploma of Mediumship
Spirit Animals and Totems Diploma
Pet Bereavement Counselling Diploma**
** I do not offer grief counselling, but can place you in contact with board certified and qualified counsellors, who will be able to assist you with the specific type of grief which you are suffering.