About Me

Hello, I'm Vicki Childs, a registered Counsellor,  Specialist Grief and Loss therapist, and Clinical Supervisor with the ACA - Australian Counselling Association.  I also happen to be a crazy animal lover and passionate advocate for animal welfare.

I presently own two beautiful rescue Staffies, Freya and Rainey, who are living their very best lives after both being rescued and adopted.  I also sponsor an elephant in Thailand, named Mr Moo, who was rescued from a life of absolute horror in the tourist trade.  Mr Moo passed away recently and I am now about to adopt another beautiful elephant from the same rescue organisation.

I've been counselling for 15 years in the public and private sectors. I have a special interest in pet loss counselling and am well equipped to help you on your journey through the immense grief of losing your pet and often your best friend.

As a long term pet owner (some 50+ years) and having rescued many dogs over my lifetime, I understand at a deep level as not only a pet lover, but as a highly experienced grief and loss counsellor how overwhelming the sense of loss can be.

Often, it's about having someone hold space for you while you work your way through the myriad of emotions that present after the passing of a beloved pet.

Sadly, for many pet owner's their grief is steeped in what we call 'disenfranchised' grief, which can be difficult for others to comprehend.

There is no right or wrong way to express grief. There is also no timeline to follow, other than your own.

My own pets accompany us everywhere, even on our vacations, so I understand that your pet is so much more than just a dog,  cat, rat, horse or bird.  Our pets are family, there's no question about it.

You can find out more about my love of pets on our popular dog accounts on Instagram @piedprincesses and @freyathehappystaffy  You will note a long and ongoing love of dogs in particular. In my younger years, I also experienced the joy of owning many horses. 

Please know I am here to help you process your grief for all types of creatures, big and small.

I'll meet you where you are at on your emotional journey through grief with empathy, compassion and professional knowledge to find peace through heartbreak.

You may also like to  visit my general counselling and hypnotherapy business Here

Vicki

My Rescue Girls, Freya and Rainey
Here to comfort you

“The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief.   But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.”— Hilary Stanton Zunin