ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR, REIKI PRACTITIONER, AND PET LOSS BEREAVEMENT SPECIALIST IN NYC 

Get to know the human animal behind the business

polaroid of woman and black dog looking happy

I’m Olivia (she/they), person to dogs Lucy and Milo.

I understand that your companion isn’t "just a pet," that your relationship is real and meaningful, and that your grief isn't "too much."

Our animal companions change us forever, and that bond deserves to be honored—especially during challenging times.

You don't need to explain or justify the depth of your connection here.

polaroid of woman placing hand on belly of golden dog

I understand because I’ve been there.

I’ve had my share of struggles with my animal family.

Every day, I help animals and their people reach new levels of understanding and healing through animal communication, Reiki, grief companioning, and education.

But it hasn’t always been this way. For most of my life, I didn’t see myself as an animal communicator or an intuitive person.

Maybe you can relate to some of what I’ve experienced…

  • …the frustration of not understanding how to help my dogs through challenges (hello anxiety and reactivity!)…

  • …the disappointment of working with trainers whose advice went against my gut feelings and put more stress on our relationships…

  • …the helplessness of sitting with a sick companion, wishing they could tell me what was wrong and if they were in pain…

  • …the anguish of feeling like a piece of me died along with my animals, but not being able to fully express my grief or know how to hear from them again…

  • …the confusion of sensing what might’ve been communication from animals and spirits and not knowing if it was real…

  • …and the shame of being told I’m “just too sensitive” instead of learning to embrace who I am and my natural gifts.

Developing my animal communication, healing, and intuitive abilities has brought me so much more confidence, understanding, and peace of mind in everyday life with my dogs.

It has also strengthened my relationships with them, with myself, and also with my animals in spirit.

That is what I hope to help you achieve, too, in our work together.

I’ve built my business on values I hold dear. 

These values will guide our work together.

  • I believe connecting with animals and nature is our birthright—one that colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, and other oppressive systems have tried to take from us. My work is an act of resistance against the forces that have disconnected us from our intuitive abilities and the natural world. Reclaiming these connections supports our personal and collective healing and liberation. 

  • I believe our animal companions are so much more than pets—they're our teachers, healers, friends, and soulmates. Every being deserves to be seen and honored in their fullness, whether human or more-than-human. This reverence guides how I show up for both animals and their people, especially during times of transition and grief.

  • I believe in nurturing deep, ongoing relationships rather than just providing services. This shows up in how I support the bonds between animals and their people, how I build lasting connections with my clients, and how I help maintain sacred human-animal connections even after death. True healing and growth happen through relationship and genuine companionship. 

  • I believe that this healing work flourishes in community, through local rescue networks, mutual aid organizations, and communities of practice. While our society preaches “independence,” interdependence is the way of the natural world. Together, we can create resilient networks of care that help both animals and humans feel seen, supported, and understood. 

  • I acknowledge that I live and work on Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. I also acknowledge that for many indigenous people around the world, communicating with animals and nature is a way of life. I hold the complexity that as a white person living in the so-called U.S., some of my ancestors have participated in the erasure, theft, and oppression of indigenous people and ways. As an act of reparation and gratitude, I contribute monthly to the Mana-hatta Fund. 

More ways to get to know me:

My path to becoming an animal whisperer:

(The short-ish version.)

As a highly sensitive little girl in central New York state, I played in the dirt, talked to snakes, and made friends with fairies. I was open to what many perceived as impossible, I trusted my intuition, and I believed in the unseen. 

But eventually, after a series of traumatic pet deaths combined with the desire to fit in—and a bunch of other baggage that comes with growing up—I felt as if I had lost my connection with animals, nature, and the spirit world.

cover of handmade book with child's handwriting and girl standing in front of greenery

It wasn’t until I adopted my first dog on my own, Milo, that I began to feel that connection again.

He eventually led me to animal communication…by pooping on the floor.

(Seriously.) 

I desperately wanted to find out why he was doing it, and a friend and teacher suggested that I just ask him. So I did, and it opened up a whole new world to me—one where I already had everything I needed to communicate with animals.

I realized I could use this ability to not only better understand my own animal companions, but help other people do the same.

But there’s more to the story….

woman wearing black sweater with black dog looking over shoulder

Although Milo helped me awaken my ability to communicate with animals, my experience with Reiki was a major catalyst, as well.

By the time I first communicated with Milo, I had already begun to immerse myself in the world of healing arts and intuitive development and had started practicing Reiki professionally.

That part of my journey was spurred by several painful events: Among other things, I was grieving the tragic death of a dear friend (and sensing her spirit). And I was becoming increasingly unhappy in my soul-sucking corporate career as an editor and content strategist. 

I wanted to try something beyond the talk therapy I had been doing for years, so I tried Reiki for the first time. I immediately began feeling more connected with myself and the world around me. (Some might call it a spiritual awakening.)

I soon began listening to my soul’s whispers and following breadcrumbs from the universe toward my true calling.

polaroid of woman in winter holding black dog and golden dog at feet

I’ve had many amazing teachers along the way.

Animals are my favorite ones, of course. They were and still are my greatest communication teachers and also taught me most of the best practices for Reiki with animals that I use in sessions to this day.

I’d also like to acknowledge my human teachers:

A peek into my life beyond work:

Spoiler: It still includes a lot of animals!

  • woman and alpaca smiling in selfie

    I’m a nature (+ alpaca) lover.

    I’m a little bit of a homebody these days. But when I do go out, I love hiking with my partner and the dogs, and visiting a nearby alpaca and llama farm at least a couple of times a year. (I do love going to see live music, too.)

  • woman with blue hair standing in home office

    I have an artistic side.

    I’ve created lots of pet portraits, but I’m taking a break from that to focus on illustrating the children’s book I wrote about pet loss and drawing visuals from my sessions with animals. (I share some of my artwork in my blog and newsletter.)

  • woman in car with scruffy dog on lap

    Volunteering brings me joy.

    My partner and I volunteer to transport dogs for our local rescue. I also learned so much of what I know about practicing Reiki with animals from dogs and cats while volunteering at another rescue.

My animal spirit guides include rabbit, horse, fox, bear, snake, spider (and countless others). The quetzal—the bird in my logo—also played a pivotal role in my spiritual journey.

My “big three” astrological signs: Sagittarius sun. Virgo moon. Aries rising.

Feeling a nudge to work together?

Let’s connect!

  • Work With Me

    Are you looking for animal communication sessions, Reiki (energy work), or gifts for your loved ones?

    START HERE

  • Learn With Me

    Do you want to learn how to communicate with animals yourself through classes, practice, mentorship, or self-study?

    START HERE