Pet Therapy
Psychotherapy in Collingwood
Meet Gracey T. Bear!
Gracey is a member of the TheAnxiety.Clinic Team and she, like our Clinical Director, Todd Kaufman, specializes in teaching you how to manage stress, anxiety and panic.
Gracey is a neutered female mixed breed (Wheaton/Poodle/Schnauzer) who is a non-shedding 17 pounds of very present cuddles. She will join us, at your request during in-person sessions – although she can give you a tail wag virtually!
Gracey is trained for Pet Therapy to help you focus in the present, lowering your stress hormones and increasing your feel good hormones.
She is trained to engage you in a manner that provides you with relaxation and the opportunity to work through your ‘stuff’ while not having to deal with being ‘all wound up.’
Patting is also a form of meditative practice. The mind tends to calm when tasked to do repeated behaviours – particularly when there is positive feedback.
The practice of patting a therapy dog is one such activity.
Often in session you will find that Gracey will be quite persistent about being cuddled in your lap, on her back, just like a baby – and then you have one job – belly rubs!
Gracey is now 14, a bit deaf, and likes life her way in her old age – we figure she has earned her right to do things her way after 10 years of working with hundereds of clients!
How does a therapy dog make a difference to you?
Research has shown that Pet Therapy (click the link for a detailed research study) impacts a series of hormones including stimulating the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin and lowering the stress-related hormones including cortisol.
So how does this Pet Therapy actually work?
Pet Therapy sessions with Gracey are the standard 50 minutes, during which you may be prompted to expand mindfulness skills, and/or continue with your usual discussions with your therapist.
There is no extra charge for including Gracey in your sessions. (She is quite happy being rewarded with belly rubs!)
Just let us know at the time of booking if you would like to have Gracey included in your sessions, and if the therapist feels it is a good fit, we will be sure to have her present – waiting for you with an eager tail wag!
How Can I Get My Animal Certified
It is essential to understand that aTherapy Animal is NOT a Service Animal, which is a protected role enabling the animal mostly unrestricted rights to travel anywhere with their human. Service Animals perform a service for their human that they can not do for themselves, such as predict a seizure, act as their eyes or ears, or perform a physical task the human can’t.
Therapy dogs do not have the same legal protection and access although they tend to be granted greater leeway for access than a pet. They help their human feel calm and often are able to support their human so they can prevent a panic attack.
Todd can certify Therapy Dogs if they meet the necessary criteria in both need and ability to perform advanced obedience skills and remain focussed on their human at all times, ignoring all distractions. This usually requires extensive professional training, and this training and competency will have to be clearly illustrated, along with the need, throughout your psychotherapy sessions.
