2023 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
Pet Loss and Grief
Friday, March 3, 2023, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Online Workshop – Two (2) CE Credits
Fee: $29/person
FREE for Active PBC Volunteer Clinicians
Featured Presenter: Jessica Kwerel, LPC
Session Description:
This workshop will give clinicians an overview and understanding around the growing area of grief support as a result of pet loss, and how to support their clients in this space. The session will cover context models beyond the “5 stages” of grief, enabling clinicians to be more equipped to identify and implement tools for coping with a pet loss in therapy sessions.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Identify the different types of grief and loss specific to pet loss
- Describe the clinician characteristics that promote emotional safety with a client
- Identify the different theories and frameworks beyond the “5 stages” of grief
- Describe the human-animal bond
- Identify tools for coping with pet loss
Presenter Bio: Jessica Kwerel, LPC
Jessica is a LPC based in the DC area, and started her private practice in 2018 specializing in pet loss grief support and veterinary mental health support. She holds a BA from the University of Mary Washington, a MS in Counseling from the University of Wyoming, and is a National Board Certified Counselor. A highlight of her work includes providing grief support to zookeepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC, and being interviewed in the Washington Post for her work as pet loss grief counselor.
Jessica has provided volunteer counseling for the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing and the Whitman-Walker clinic in Washington, DC, and has volunteered with both Capital Caring Hospice and House With A Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary. She was also a volunteer counselor for Therapy Aid Coalition, an organization that provides pro bono counseling to first responders, healthcare professionals, and those impacted by natural disasters and crises. Jessica also has a background in education and consulting. She was the school counselor at Aidan Montessori School in Washington, DC for 13 years and then served as a counseling consultant for Higher Ground Education. In addition to her private practice, Jessica is a psychotherapist at The Lab School of Washington and part of a group telehealth private practice.
Raised in Northern Virginia, Jessica returned to that area with her husband after many years of living in DC. She is an outdoors enthusiast and loves hiking, cycling, backpacking, exploring local trails with her dogs. She is also a competitive rower with her local rowing club. She and her husband said goodbye to his sweet 16 year-old Tilly in 2019, her beloved soul dog Buford in November of 2020, and their wonderful 15 year-old dog Sam in March of 2022. Jessica dedicates her work as a pet loss counselor to them. In April of2022, Jessica and her husband adopted a senior hound named Daisy and in July 2022, welcomed home a new puppy named Oliver.
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for 1.5 credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
