Animal-Assisted Therapy

Sometimes we need a little extra comfort

from a furry companion.

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is a complementary type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. AAT is especially helpful in reducing the symptoms of psychological disorders in order to increase the effectiveness of the therapy offered by the clinician. The interaction between clients and therapy dogs also aids in reducing stressful and anxious feelings patients have. Due to those benefits, canine assisted therapy is used as a complement to other therapies to treat diagnosis such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adjustment disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Skills My Therapy Dog Brings to Session

  • Had a particularly rough day or feel nervous coming into sessions? Henry’s cheery personality can break that tension putting you at ease and allowing you to open up more in therapy.

  • Henry loves to give kisses. He can do so on demand or when he joins you on the couch. Don’t like kisses? Let me know and Henry will leave the kisses out of it.

  • Henry is great at advocating for the things he wants. He will tell you if he wants more and let you know, gently, if he’s had enough. Sounds like a good example of boundary setting to me!

  • Henry loves to lay on the couch next to you. He can give you space and lay on the other end of the couch. He can lay next to you if you want a little comfort. Feeling extra cuddly? He’ll lay right on top of you!

  • Henry is currently working on learning how to provide deep pressure on command. This could be helpful during particularly hard days or heavy topics. He will be able to provide both light and heavy pressure.

  • Maybe you need your space or he needs his. Henry will happily lay on the ground near you when needed.

 Meet the Dogs

  • HENRY, CGC

    Henry is a newly trained therapy dog, first receiving his certification in May of 2024. He was rescued as a puppy from the farm fields of Arkansas and has been in the care of Jenny since February of 2023. Henry enjoys coming to work and spending time with the clients he meets. He enjoys giving kisses, being a weighted blanket, and practicing trust falls.

  • HOONAH, CGC, RETIRED

    Hoonah was the first Grounded Counseling therapy dog and has recently retired. Hoonah was rescued with his siblings as a young pup after being dropped off at Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Soon after he was placed into the Advanced Puppies for Parole program where he learned the skills necessary to earn his Canine Good Citizen and Certified Helper Dog credentials.

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