Support Groups for
Pet Professionals

Your work matters to you. It's also work that takes something, day after day, animal after animal, in ways that don't always show up right away.

You may notice yourself

• Running on less energy than you'd like
• Carrying an image or a story longer than feels comfortable
• Wondering, on the harder days, if you're even making a difference

None of that means anything's wrong with you.

You're doing careful, compassionate work in a field where the finish line keeps moving — where no amount of effort, in a day or a career, adds up to every animal within reach being safe and well cared for.

That's not a reflection of how hard you're trying. It's what happens when enormous need meets limited time, energy, and resources. Of course it's exhausting.

You may have people around who care, but can they help? Friends often don’t understand the emotional burdens of your work, and, when they see the effects, often encourage you to quit. You're not ready to quit; you just don't want it to be so hard.

Your colleagues can relate—but bringing it up can feel like handing them one more hard thing to carry. And when you do talk it through with someone who gets it, they often respond with stories of their own. One story leads to another, and often you leave feeling heavier than you came.

That's the layer this group is built for — not solving what can't be solved, but making sure you don't carry the personal cost of it entirely alone.

None of this is a personal failing. Self-care tools weren't built for exhaustion that comes from a need too big for any one person to meet. And peer conversation, without any structure, can quietly turn into “trauma dumping,” more and more hard stories stacking on top of each other — not from anyone's unkindness, just from empathy without an anchor. Nobody means for it to happen. It happens anyway.

What’s needed is a place where the load can be set down for an hour a week — not solved, just shared. 

A space held by someone who knows how support conversations can tip into overwhelm, and who keeps the group anchored somewhere steadier: not stacking hard story on hard story, but asking what actually helps, and helping you notice the impact that's still there, even on the days it's hard to feel it.

You already know how to navigate your own life. What gets in the way isn't a missing skill — it's carrying weight that was never yours to hold alone. Set some of that down, and your own inner wisdom tends to come back into view.

Who This Is For

Pet professionals of any kind — trainers, behavior consultants, veterinary staff, groomers, sitters and boarders, shelter and rescue workers, and anyone else whose work involves animals and the people who love them.

What It Is

An 8-week group where the weight of this work can finally go somewhere — instead of staying with you, or spilling onto someone who's already carrying enough.

I spent over 25 years as a dog trainer before becoming a Professional Certified Coach, so I know this field from the inside — the technical work and the cost that comes with it. I've facilitated group work for pet pros for years, and I've watched, session after session, what happens when a group has real facilitation: people leave lighter, not heavier. That's not an accident. Keeping a group's focus on what helps — rather than letting empathy tip into overwhelm — is the actual job, and it's the piece most peer conversations don't have.

"It's funny. Each time I show up exhausted, and by the end, I feel less tired."


~ a participant from my last AAWP support group

What People Have Found in My Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm not much of a talker in groups — is this still for me?

Yes. This isn't built for people who love holding the floor — it's built so you can show up as yourself, including on weeks you'd rather listen more than share. Plenty introverts find real value here.

Will this turn into everyone's worst stories?

This is one of the reasons a facilitated group works differently than an unstructured conversation with a colleague. Left unstructured, these conversations can spiral, one hard story calling up another, until you leave carrying more than you brought. My role is to keep us focused on what actually helps, so understanding each other doesn't come at the cost of more to carry.

Will this feel like therapy?

This is peer support and coaching, not therapy. If something comes up that feels like it needs more clinical support, I'll help you think about where else to look.

What if I've never been part of a support group before?

That's fine — no prior experience expected, just a willingness to show up.

Will you tell us what to do? 
No one in this group — including me — is here to hand out advice or tell you what to do next. We're here to listen to what's actually going on for you, and to help you think through what you'd like to do about it. If you do want other perspectives, this is a good room to ask for them. But nothing here is unsolicited. What you do with any of it is yours to decide.

Is there a set curriculum?
This group is free-flowing, shaped by what's actually present for the group each week, rather than a fixed lesson plan. I'll bring structure and tools where they're useful, but the direction stays responsive rather than scripted.

Kindred Pricing

I believe in making transformative learning and growth opportunities accessible to pet professionals. That's why I use Kindred Pricing — a thoughtful approach that honors both your circumstances and the sustainability of my practice.

Let's be real - pet professionals are often overworked and underpaid. Yet I know your wisdom and dedication are exactly what's needed in our field right now. When clients choose higher rates, it allows me to sustainably offer lower rates to others who couldn't otherwise access this support. Every rate choice creates ripples of positive change—supporting both your growth and our broader pet professional community.

Our economic system is far from fair. Yet all of our hearts and creativity are needed now. If you could benefit from this program, I want you to have it.

What other people charge

Professional development that addresses your relationship with yourself—the foundation of how you show up professionally—typically comes with a premium price. I've seen programs like this anywhere from $400 to $700, and sometimes much more.

What is sustainable for me

It’s important to me to be honest with you and not pretend that my business and I don’t have financial needs.

• The thriving rate for this program is $400

  This rate keeps my practice thriving and allows me to welcome others at lower rates. If it feels possible for you, even as a meaningful stretch, your choice directly supports making this work accessible to more people in our community.
• The sustaining rate is $300

  This rate balances accessibility with sustainability. If the higher rate feels like too much of a stretch, but you value caring for your mental health and professional growth, this might feel most aligned for you.
• The minimum rate is $225

  This rate makes the group accessible to a wider group of pet professionals. If this feels most aligned for you right now, it holds full space for you in the group — no different than the other rates.

I trust you to choose the rate that works for your situation — no explanation needed. I bring my full presence and dedication to every session, regardless of the rate you select.

How to decide

1. Reflect on whether this group feels right for you, and what it could mean for your work with animals and clients — and especially for your relationship with yourself.
2. If you decide to join, consider what rate between $225–$400 feels right. Weigh both your practical circumstances and what feels aligned with your values.

This process invites us to recognize our connection as kindred spirits, while honoring both your reality and the sustainability of this work.

You'll choose your exact rate when you sign up below.

Signing up here means yes — if the group comes together, you're in. I'll follow up with next steps once we've reached six members.

Not quite ready? Questions are always welcome — reach out any time.