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Pet Love - Pet Aging - Pet Loss Grief Specialist - Nationwide

Member since Nov 2022

Losing your beloved companion animal is devastating--more so than we're usually prepared for.

I’m a psychotherapist and a pet-loss grief specialist. I say “specialist” because my work with pet parents who have lost or are soon to lose a pet is a special kind of work—reflecting the special relationship we have with our companion animals. Pet love is different from other love; a thing wonderfully apart.

Just as pet love is different from human love, pet-loss is different from human loss. Society, not so wise about any kind of grief, often doesn’t recognize this special relationship that each of us has with our pets. It doesn’t validate the depth of the heartbreak pet parents feel when their beloved companion animal dies, and can make them feel embarrassed, even ashamed, when they need support. (Just try asking your boss for a day at home when your cat dies.) Friends and family often channel the disinterest of the culture, and when they say things like, “Just get on with it” or, worse, “Hey, just get another cat,” pet-parents despair of ever being understood.

Even before the actual loss occurs, the challenges involved in beginning the process of grieving can be daunting. Not more difficult, not easier, but quite different from the challenges of grieving other losses.

Many people come in feeling surprised at the intensity of their grief. It's my job to help them plan for and manage the death of their pets as carefully, knowledgeably, and lovingly as I help clients through any other devastating loss. So we create a sanctuary, a place to honor the love of pets, and to honor their loss; a place where pet parents can express whatever they feel, fully, without embarrassment or shame. The goal is not just to alleviate the pain of the loss, but to continue a relationship, albeit obviously a different one, with their beloved pet. Contrary to the common wisdom, time alone cannot do that kind of healing. (If time did heal all wounds, I wouldn’t see so many people still sad ten years later.) A loss as big as a love needs help to heal.

Please contact and book me on Petworks. Thank You.

Licensed
Certified
Insured
Online Sessions
Mobile Services

Pricing Packages

Brief phone introduction, free of charge

$ 0.00 Per 15 minutes book

Let's see if we're a fit and if I can help you.

session

$ 100.00 Per 30 minutes book

While this sounds like a short amount of time, I have found that many clients who are under duress--for example, those having to make sudden decisions about their ailing pets--appreciate it. They can be longer, of course, as needed.

45-minute session

$ 150.00 Per 45 minutes book

Consultation, support, grief counseling.

Three Grief Counseling Sessions

$ 400.00 Per Package book

Three 45-minute sessions

How do you serve precious pets?

Pet Loss Grief Counselor
Pet Bereavement
Pet Loss Support

What licensing do you have?

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

How do you help pet parents honor the lives of their pets and cope with difficult loss?

Pet Loss Grief Counseling

Pet Certifications

American Academy of Grief Counseling Certification
Certified Pet Loss Professional (CPLP)

Bonded and Insured

Insured

Proud member of...

American Psychological Association
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)

Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?

PetWorks Cancellation Policy

Pet Care Professional's Own Policy
If a pet care professional has published their own cancellation or refund policy, that policy governs the refund of the service amount only. Any PetWorks fees, including the Care Coverage Fee and Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee, are governed by this PetWorks Cancellation Policy and not by the pet care professional's policy.

Pet Parent Cancels
If the pet care professional has not published their own cancellation policy, the service amount is refundable only if the pet parent cancels at least 72 hours before the scheduled start time of the booking. Cancellations within 72 hours of the scheduled start time are non-refundable for the service amount. The Care Coverage Fee is non-refundable when a pet parent cancels, regardless of timing and regardless of whether the pet care professional has their own cancellation policy.

Pet Parent No-Show
If a pet parent does not show up for a confirmed booking, no refund will be issued for the service amount or the Care Coverage Fee.

Pet Care Professional Cancels
If a pet care professional cancels a confirmed booking, the pet parent receives a 100% refund of everything they paid, including the Care Coverage Fee. The pet care professional receives no payment for the canceled service and is charged a Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee equal to 10% of the service amount, up to a maximum of $150. PetWorks may collect this fee by deducting it from a future payout through PetWorks or by other means if no future payout is available.

Policy in Effect at Booking
The cancellation rules that apply to a booking, including any pet care professional cancellation policy on file and the Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee rate, are those that were in effect when the booking was confirmed.

Education

BA, University of Southern California; MSW, New York University

Which part of the country do you serve pets?

Serve pet-parents globally on phone, Zoom and FaceTime. In-person sessions are in my office in Fairfield, CT. 

What year did you begin serving pets?

2018

How did you hone your craft?

By working with those suffering from grief of all kinds, before working with pet parents.

What is one thing you want pet parents to know about you? It can be whatev-fur you'd like!

I have spent decades listening to those whose voices are traditionally not heard. Which is how many grieving pet parents feel.

This pet loss grief counselor listing in westport, ct has been paused or closed.

BOOKINGS

dalma heyn

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LOCATION: 240 Hillspoint Rd, Westport, CT 06880

Distinction

How do you serve precious pets?

Pet Loss Grief Counselor
Pet Bereavement
Pet Loss Support

What licensing do you have?

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

How do you help pet parents honor the lives of their pets and cope with difficult loss?

Pet Loss Grief Counseling

Pet Certifications

American Academy of Grief Counseling Certification
Certified Pet Loss Professional (CPLP)

Bonded and Insured

Insured

Proud member of...

American Psychological Association
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)

Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?

PetWorks Cancellation Policy

Pet Care Professional's Own Policy
If a pet care professional has published their own cancellation or refund policy, that policy governs the refund of the service amount only. Any PetWorks fees, including the Care Coverage Fee and Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee, are governed by this PetWorks Cancellation Policy and not by the pet care professional's policy.

Pet Parent Cancels
If the pet care professional has not published their own cancellation policy, the service amount is refundable only if the pet parent cancels at least 72 hours before the scheduled start time of the booking. Cancellations within 72 hours of the scheduled start time are non-refundable for the service amount. The Care Coverage Fee is non-refundable when a pet parent cancels, regardless of timing and regardless of whether the pet care professional has their own cancellation policy.

Pet Parent No-Show
If a pet parent does not show up for a confirmed booking, no refund will be issued for the service amount or the Care Coverage Fee.

Pet Care Professional Cancels
If a pet care professional cancels a confirmed booking, the pet parent receives a 100% refund of everything they paid, including the Care Coverage Fee. The pet care professional receives no payment for the canceled service and is charged a Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee equal to 10% of the service amount, up to a maximum of $150. PetWorks may collect this fee by deducting it from a future payout through PetWorks or by other means if no future payout is available.

Policy in Effect at Booking
The cancellation rules that apply to a booking, including any pet care professional cancellation policy on file and the Pet Care Professional Cancellation Fee rate, are those that were in effect when the booking was confirmed.

Education

BA, University of Southern California; MSW, New York University

Which part of the country do you serve pets?

Serve pet-parents globally on phone, Zoom and FaceTime. In-person sessions are in my office in Fairfield, CT. 

What year did you begin serving pets?

2018

How did you hone your craft?

By working with those suffering from grief of all kinds, before working with pet parents.

What is one thing you want pet parents to know about you? It can be whatev-fur you'd like!

I have spent decades listening to those whose voices are traditionally not heard. Which is how many grieving pet parents feel.

💙 You don't have to carry this alone.

The loss of a pet can stop your world. The house feels quieter. You reach for them out of habit and they're not there. Grief like this is real — and it deserves real support.

Dalma Heyn provides compassionate, one-on-one pet loss grief counseling to help you process grief, navigate difficult emotions, and find peace after losing a pet you loved. Whether your loss is recent or happened years ago, Dalma offers a safe, judgment-free space to share memories, work through feelings of sadness, guilt, or anger, and develop coping strategies tailored to your unique situation.

Sessions are conducted online, so you can reach out from anywhere — whenever you're ready. Based in Westport, CT, Dalma Heyn serves pet parents nationwide, and also works with clients in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Danbury, Fairfield, Greenwich, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, Milford and throughout Fairfield County.

🦔 How do I book a session with Dalma Heyn?

Booking is simple and handled entirely through PetWorks. Visit Dalma's profile, review credentials and client feedback, and use 'Book Now' or 'Get Custom Quote' or 'Send Message' to initiate a conversation and request a booking with Dalma . You'll only pay when you book, and payment is handled securely — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Affirm, Link, or Klarna. Care Coverage at checkout gives you access to PetWorks' live Concierge team, full refunds if a booking is canceled through no fault of yours, and help resolving any booking issues — so the only thing you need to focus on is your healing.

What is PetWorks Care Coverage?

PetWorks Care Coverage is our satisfaction guarantee. If something isn't right with your session, we'll work to make it right — so you can focus on healing, not logistics.

💛 If you’re here, it likely means you’re carrying the weight of a loss that feels deeply personal and difficult to put into words. Grieving a pet is never simple, and there’s no “right” way to move through it—only your way, at your own pace. Working with a pet loss grief counselor can offer a steady, compassionate space to process what you’re feeling, honor the bond you shared, and begin finding moments of peace again. When you feel ready, support is here to meet you where you are, without judgment, pressure, or expectation—just understanding and care as you navigate this journey.