Author Information
Yuka Miyazawa, Waseda University, JapanOsamu Yoshie, Waseda University, Japan
Abstract
This study examines the educational and social challenges surrounding counseling support for individuals experiencing grief following the death of a companion animal. While pets are increasingly regarded as family members, pet loss remains socially undervalued, often leaving bereaved owners isolated and uncertain about appropriate mourning practices and available support resources. To explore these issues, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five bereaved pet owners and four certified pet-loss counselors in Japan. Qualitative analysis revealed three key themes: (1) bereaved owners frequently experience loneliness, social misunderstanding, and a lack of safe spaces to express grief; (2) counselors face difficulties in establishing trust, responding to diverse emotional reactions, and managing their own psychological burden; and (3) both groups highlighted the absence of systematic training frameworks and clearly defined professional roles in pet loss counseling. These findings indicate the fragility of current support systems and underscore the urgent need for structured education, supervision, and professional development for counselors. Furthermore, enhancing public awareness through community education and open dialogue is essential for reducing stigma and fostering social inclusion. From an international and educational perspective, integrating pet loss counseling into professional training curricula—such as social work, psychology, and human–animal interaction studies—can contribute to the development of inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate counseling support systems.
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2026Stream: Professional Training
This paper is part of the IICE2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Miyazawa Y., & Yoshie O. (2026) Educational Challenges and Prospects for Counseling Support in Pet Loss: Toward Training and Public Awareness ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 273-281) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2026.26
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2026.26
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