Animal Assisted Therapy
Our counselling sessions can be enhanced by Merlin the Labrador, who brings his own brand of unconditional acceptance to each session. Many animals have a natural ability to connect with people and just by being present, Merlin helps me to create an environment where clients feel safe to open-up.
Animal Assisted Therapy can:
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help to alleviate anxiety and depression
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lower stress levels
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help to release oxytocin into the body, which has a calming effect on the nervous system
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Benefit both adults and children
See below for a brief history
Merlin
​Merlin is my 8 year old Labrador, who is also a registered Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog. He's spent all his life as part of a busy family growing up with young children, and loves everyone he meets. The unconditional acceptance and affection he offers can really make a difference to people, particularly children and neurodivergent clients, though anyone can benefit from Merlin's comforting presence.
In addition to my counselling qualifications, I hold a level 3 diploma in Animal Assisted Therapy.
A Brief History of Animal Therapy
Sigmund Freud and Jofi, c.1937
Boris Levinson and Jingles.
As far back as the ancient Greeks, it's been recognised that animals can lift the human spirit. From the 17th Century in the UK, domesticated animals were sometimes employed in hospitals or institutions to aid patients' recovery, or give them comfort.
Sigmund Freud, the world famous psychoanalyst, had his dog, Jofi, present in his therapy room, noting that Jofi made his patients more willing to communicate in therapy sessions (though apparently she did snore loudly and then yawn very loudly when patients' time was up!).
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Boris Levinson, a child psychologist, first coined the term 'pet therapy' in the 1950s. Levinson observed that previously withdrawn children (especially neurodiverse children) responded really positively to the presence of his dog, 'Jingles', in sessions. His work, particularly that of the late 1960s and early 1970s had a huge influence on the development and acceptance of animal assisted therapy in the western world.
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In the 21st Century, animal therapy and interventions can be found to be having positive effects for a great many people, from residents of long-term care homes, to military veterans dealing with PTSD, prisoners, school children, those with eating disorders, addictions... the list is extensive.