Animal Assisted Therapy Experts Monthly News
We are happy to have this opportunity to share the news of what is happening at our wonderful, engaging site with a plethora of delightful animals!
Our animals are delighted to have some fresh, cool air finally! Of course, they certainly will miss the warmth and other creatures roaming about, however, they welcome a little push to begin to grow a warmer coat!
Speaking of coats, our sweet baby twin lambs, Linus and Lucy are quite fluffy and look plump! Lucy has begun to express herself more with people as her shyness quietly disappears! Our clients love both and work quite frequently to gain Lucy’s trust. It is like us working with a new client to gain rapport! Well, honestly, we lean into watching how Lucy does that as well!
Our Flemish sweet bunny Thumper has been busy all summer digging a hole to squeeze into to cool herself and we are at a quandary as to what she will do now! Thumper and Dolly, the rescued Saint Bernard, have an amazing relationship! They literally romp around (excuse the pun)!
Linus, Lucy, and Thumper spend their days with their 2 rescued pot-bellied pigs, Wanda and Maryann, their happily “oinking” friends share treats (when Wanda lets them)! Our days begin with hearing the oinks, baa’s, and thumps to enjoy how they begin a great day letting us know they are near, waiting for clients, and oh yes, a treat!
Treats are often the key word with the pony, Guinnea, Thelma and Louise, our donkeys, and of course to our gentle giant horse, like Chief! All are growing soft hair, except for Wanda and Maryann, whose coats are like a soft brush.
We are always delighted to welcome clients and this summer, we also had some groups that came to meet our “crew” of animals and learn how we help others with the delightful antics of our dogs, donkeys, cats, pony, horses, potbellied pigs, Flemish bunny, and lambs.
One group was 8 doctoral students from a couple and marriage family program! They participated in a demonstration, by building an obstacle course in the arena that represented what they were all wanting to focus on in their world. Then they chose some animals to walk through the obstacle while we asked some metaphorical questions! What Fun!
Another group was 12 master and doctoral students in a mental health counseling program. The delightful group was busy enjoying and learning about animal-assisted therapy and the growing movement to incorporate animals into working with clients.
Therefore, the next group we had, which included some of the above students, is our animal-assisted therapy certification training (AATC).Here we focus on the application of metaphorical tools, theories, and discuss how to start a practice with animals, beginning with an understanding on the various animals, the basic care, desensitization to touch, and to implementing insurance.
Whew! It has been a great whirlwind of training and counseling!
Speaking of a whirlwind, our NEXT AATC is October 25, 26; November 8 and 9 for 32 Credit Hours and 4 full packed days commencing in supervisor and consultation for a year!
We know the magic of having an animal “co-therapist,” and hope more will as well!
Happy Oinking, Baaing, Meowing, Yapping, Whinnying, and Thumping,
Kate, LPC and Sandy, LCPC