Autumn Animals

Hi! My name is Sieske, pronounced as Sees-kuh. 

My background is in veterinary nursing, which I practised in the Netherlands before moving to the UK. After a short stint working in climate change research, I returned to animal care when I moved to London. There I set up a dog walking and palliative home-care service that grew into Autumn Animals - the UK's first holistic palliative and hospice care organisation for companion animals. Through this clinic, I have supported numerous families navigate the choppy waters around their pet's ageing and end of life phases - or as I like to call them, their pet's Autumn and Winter. 

I left behind busy London for the calm and green of beautiful Devon, in the Southwest of England, where I live on a working farm. One of the main reasons for leaving London was that my soul-cat Lewis (who you can see on my profile photo) was nearing the end of his life. I needed to take a step back from caring for other families, and focus on his quality of life - and mine.

I will now take those 20 years of professional and personal experience, and share it with you. 

My coaching style is a hybrid of mentoring and coaching. I will give you practical advice, based on experience and research, and empower you to decide what feels right for your individual situation. 
My coaching approach is built around four elements of care: physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual.
Looking after all four - for both you and your pet - supports a better quality of life, and a calmer, more confident experience for you both.

Physical
We'll start by making sure your pet is comfortable, able to move freely, stays clean, and lives free from pain. Just as importantly, we'll look at how you're doing too - whether you're resting, and looking after your own body while you care for theirs.

Psychological
From there, we'll look at the psychological side. Can your pet still express their natural behaviours, with support where it's needed? And do you feel you understand what's actually happening - the diagnosis, the prognosis, and where to turn for further help?

Emotional
This naturally leads to the emotional: watching for signs of depression or confusion, such as cognitive dysfunction, and protecting the things your pet still loves - treats, routine, time with you. For you, this is about building the resilience and stability to carry you through.

Spiritual
And finally, the spiritual: making space for whatever your own beliefs or spirituality need, as your pet ages or nears the end of their life. Knowing where to find that kind of support, and feeling confident to seek it out - even if it's not something your community shares.

You can book individual sessions with me if you feel like one sessions will be sufficient. However, I strongly advise you to book four sessions so we can explore each element fully.

Find out more at autumnanimals.com/book-coaching