The loss of someone we love–whether human or pet–is a deeply painful experience. It is during these heart-breaking times that we can feel incredibly alone and overwhelmed by sadness. More problematic is that the people we turn to for support often don’t know how to be with us in our times of grief and say unhelpful things such as “Don’t be sad, think about the good times” or “It will get better in time”. During these moments, what is most needed is someone who can be with you during your grief, help you to work through your grief, and not minimize the depth of loss that you have experienced.