Somatic Therapy in Carefree: Quiet Ways Adults Process Pet Loss

Pet loss can hit the nervous system hard. You may walk into a quiet home and feel your chest tighten. You may reach for the leash, expect to hear paws in the hallway, or find yourself crying at bedtime when everything slows down. You may also feel numb, irritable, anxious, or strangely disconnected. If your grief feels bigger than other people expect, I want you to know that your response makes sense.

In my experience, the loss of a beloved animal can affect far more than mood. It can disrupt routines, attachment, sleep, appetite, and a basic sense of comfort in the body. I do not see this as overreacting. I see it as grief moving through the nervous system. Hearts do heal.

How Pet Loss Can Show Up in the Body

I often help clients notice that grief is not only emotional. It is physical too. After pet loss, I may see:

• tightness in the chest or throat
• stomach discomfort or a heavy feeling in the belly
• trouble sleeping or vivid dreams
• racing thoughts or sudden waves of panic
• numbness, shutdown, or feeling far away from yourself
• guilt that loops around the last day, last decision, or what you wish had gone differently

From a nervous system perspective, these reactions are understandable. When the sympathetic system is more activated, you may feel panic, fear, anger, anxiety, or urgency. When a more shut down state takes over, you may feel numb, hopeless, depressed, ashamed, or frozen. When the social engagement system is more available, you are more likely to feel grounded, curious, connected, and compassionate toward yourself. Trauma and grief can dysregulate these systems. Healing helps restore flexibility, regulation, and the ability to move in and out of these states with more ease.

How I Use Somatic Experiencing for Grief

One modality I may use in this work is Somatic Experiencing, or SE. Somatic Experiencing was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and is a body oriented approach that looks at how stress and trauma are held in the nervous system. Rather than requiring you to retell everything all at once, I focus on helping your system gradually come out of fight, flight, or freeze so your body can feel safer and more settled over time. 

In session, I may help you track:

• your breathing 
  
• muscle tension
• a lump in the throat or pressure in the chest
• the urge to collapse, brace, or pull away
• small signs of settling, warmth, support, or relief

This work is slow, supported, and nervous system informed. I do not require you to relive trauma. I do not push for fast closure. Instead, I help you notice what is happening inside while also staying connected to the present moment. That may include feeling your feet on the floor, sensing the support of the chair, or noticing one place in your body that feels just a little less distressed than the rest.

Why Gentle Pacing Matters

Many people try to think their way through grief. Sometimes that helps, and sometimes the body still stays braced. When that happens, the mind may say, “I know my pet is gone,” while the nervous system still reacts as if something is terribly wrong right now.

That is why pacing matters. Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes, and I pace the work based on your current resilience, the intensity of your grief, and the supports already available to you. I pay close attention to consent, capacity, and the therapeutic relationship because healing often happens best when you do not feel rushed, judged, or pushed past what your system can handle.

What I Hold in Mind as a Trauma Therapist

Pet loss can stir up more than sadness. It can activate older attachment wounds, earlier losses, helplessness, or unresolved trauma. If that happens, I work carefully and directly, helping you stay grounded while making sense of what your body is carrying.

I am Michelle Gallagher, LPC, LIAC, CT, SEP, CGRS, DARe, and I am the owner and sole psychotherapist at Around the Corner Counseling, PLLC. I work with adults who are struggling with grief and loss, anxiety, depression, low self worth, relational trauma, substance use disorders, and other trauma related concerns. I primarily see clients virtually through a HIPAA approved platform and also offer a limited number of in person sessions. With over twenty years of experience, I use a customized approach that may include Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, DARe, CBT, mindfulness, creative processes, humor, and traditional talk therapy.

Start Feeling More Present And At Ease In Your Body

If you are ready to explore gentle, body-based support, I am here to work with you. Working with a carefree somatic therapist can help you release tension, reconnect with your inner calm, and respond to stress in new ways. Reach out so we can talk about what you are looking for and how I can support your next steps.