Call: 07772 683859
Email: [email protected]
Animal-assisted Therapy for Young People (offered to clients aged 11-18)
Image of young person’s equine session provided by client with permission to use on web-site
My own childhood taught me that the companionship of animals could compensate for the experiences I had of loneliness, painful self-consciousness and bullying, whilst consoling me when feeling sad or anxious.
Many of the problems experienced by children in relationships and self-esteem can be attributed to early attachment difficulties. These may have occurred as unhelpful or unhealthy attachment styles they have developed or seen exhibited within their family or close circle. Conversely, children can develop very strong positive attachments to companion animals from which they derive a sense of security, stability, confidence and reassurance that can help offset adverse experiences.
Family pet ownership has been proven to support positive child development, helping to engender and practice life-skills such as empathy, nurturing, independence, an ability to read body language, setting boundaries, developing a sense of responsibility for others, positive communications and building relationships.
Studies have shown that pets can provide particular benefits to children and young people at times of difficult transitions or family stress, such as during adolescence, bereavement or family illness or breakdown.
Bringing animals into the therapy room and integrating them into the sessions harnesses these benefits with a therapeutic purpose. The animals can help a young person to be at ease with the counsellor whilst the relationship is established, they can provide a sense of security and reassurance when discussing difficult issues, and comfort them when releasing or exploring painful emotions.
Having a dog in the therapy room provides some normality in what can otherwise feel like an alien or intimidating situation to a child. Seeing the relationship between the dog and the counsellor and talking about the shared affection for pets often helps the young person to trust them. Being mindful of the dog as a sentient being whose needs and feelings are acknowledged and respected in the counselling room can be an important learning experience for them.
Integrating animals into the therapy can also work at a much deeper level when the counsellor utilises the client’s projection and transference of personal feelings onto the animal, to gain insight into the young person’s view of life and sense of self. Difficult experiences, behaviour and feelings can be explored and processed more comfortably for the young person through the medium of discussing the dog’s experiences, behaviour and needs.
Many of the problems experienced by children in relationships and self-esteem can be attributed to early attachment difficulties. These may have occurred as unhelpful or unhealthy attachment styles they have developed or seen exhibited within their family or close circle. Conversely, children can develop very strong positive attachments to companion animals from which they derive a sense of security, stability, confidence and reassurance that can help offset adverse experiences.
Family pet ownership has been proven to support positive child development, helping to engender and practice life-skills such as empathy, nurturing, independence, an ability to read body language, setting boundaries, developing a sense of responsibility for others, positive communications and building relationships.
Studies have shown that pets can provide particular benefits to children and young people at times of difficult transitions or family stress, such as during adolescence, bereavement or family illness or breakdown.
Bringing animals into the therapy room and integrating them into the sessions harnesses these benefits with a therapeutic purpose. The animals can help a young person to be at ease with the counsellor whilst the relationship is established, they can provide a sense of security and reassurance when discussing difficult issues, and comfort them when releasing or exploring painful emotions.
Having a dog in the therapy room provides some normality in what can otherwise feel like an alien or intimidating situation to a child. Seeing the relationship between the dog and the counsellor and talking about the shared affection for pets often helps the young person to trust them. Being mindful of the dog as a sentient being whose needs and feelings are acknowledged and respected in the counselling room can be an important learning experience for them.
Integrating animals into the therapy can also work at a much deeper level when the counsellor utilises the client’s projection and transference of personal feelings onto the animal, to gain insight into the young person’s view of life and sense of self. Difficult experiences, behaviour and feelings can be explored and processed more comfortably for the young person through the medium of discussing the dog’s experiences, behaviour and needs.
Comment from a 12yr old client:
“Jenny’s counselling is really different to the counselling I had in school, it is a lot more relaxing and I didn’t feel pressurised at all. Everything at Jenny’s feels really calm and peaceful. Jenny is very good at listening and helping me find solutions. I always look forward to seeing the animals and I like it because one of the dogs sits next to me on the sofa. I feel like the horses can understand how I feel and I got to build a bond with them. I am feeling much more positive and confident about myself…”
Equine-assisted therapy can also be a very powerful tool for supporting young people, especially those with confidence, self-esteem, communication and anxiety issues. They find it fascinating to learn about how horses keep themselves safe but stay connected to others, and find they can relate to many aspects of horses’ behaviour in a way that helps them to better understand their own.
Discovering in themselves the ability to connect with, guide and lead a powerful creature can be incredibly motivating, empowering and confidence-building for a child or young person who struggles in life to make their voice heard or have their feelings understood.
I have used my training in animal-assisted interventions, together with my diploma in working therapeutically with young people, to tailor my therapy to younger clients so that it builds on their strengths and provides them with tools for coping with the stresses of their everyday lives.
Discovering in themselves the ability to connect with, guide and lead a powerful creature can be incredibly motivating, empowering and confidence-building for a child or young person who struggles in life to make their voice heard or have their feelings understood.
I have used my training in animal-assisted interventions, together with my diploma in working therapeutically with young people, to tailor my therapy to younger clients so that it builds on their strengths and provides them with tools for coping with the stresses of their everyday lives.