Clients have a choice if they would like to have a therapy pet with them during their sessions. This can be a cat or small dog. Niesha is the main Therapy cat, who is totally devoted to her clients, she will sit on your knee throughout your session. Molly is her assistant; she suffers with anxiety but still enjoys your love and strokes.
Having a Therapy Pet with you throughout your sessions can you feel more at ease; & help you express yourself. Stroking an animal releases automatic relaxation responses & is proven to release serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin. These feel good hormones elevate mood, bringing great health benefits like lowering blood pressure, relaxation, relieving stress, building confidence, improving self-esteem, depression, and relieve anxiety.
Animals offer affection and unconditional acceptance. They live in the ‘here and now’ and are responsive, and don’t mind who you are or what you look like. They are usually direct and honest and unlike humans they are non-judgmental. Animals don’t criticise, hold grudges, change the rules or otherwise confuse through verbal communications. Clients can actually feel safer and less threatened while being around animals. Nurturing and empathic traits can be encouraged while being around the company of animals, and for abuse survivors, they can offer an opportunity for ‘safe touch’. Overall, clients feel comfortable and find it helps them relax.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) aims to promote mental, physical, and social well-being of people. Working alongside animals offers practitioners a different way of exploring difficult and sensitive issues and clients are more likely to express their feelings and recount painful experiences. Research indicates when clients suffer from depression, they can benefit with a focus of interest and positive attention, as well as having the pleasure in handling animals.
If AAT is something you wish to try, please speak to me. Obviously, having AAT will not be possible if you suffer with excessive or life-threatening allergies. The Therapy room is deep cleaned between sessions.
I offer Integrative based counselling service, which is from a Person-centred/Humanistic with some elements approach with other modalities added if required.
The therapy can be with the aid of a therapy pet of your choice, or without. Therapy is confidential, empathic, professional, and is especially friendly.
Company Reg no: 10172530
Trading as JHupston Ltd
Registered Member MBACP (Accred).
NCS (Senior Accred) member
