Animal Assisted Therapy in Lakewood, CO
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Does the idea of starting therapy feel daunting, but the thought of a gentle, wagging tail makes the prospect of therapy feel a little bit easier?
At Lakewood Holistic Counseling, I believe that healing doesn't just happen through words. It happens through attunement and connection. Sometimes, the most profound connection isn't with another human, but with an animal who offers unconditional acceptance from the get-go. This is why I incorporate Animal Assisted Therapy into my practice, featuring my dedicated co-therapist, Winston.
For those navigating trauma, grief, life transitions, or body image concerns; animal assisted psychotherapy provides a unique pathway back to the present moment. It is a modality that works with your nervous system in real-time, offering a sensory bridge to the safety and calm you’ve been searching for.
Animal Assisted Therapy is an evidence-based clinical intervention where a trained animal is intentionally incorporated to facilitate healing.
It is not just petting a dog while we talk; it is an approach that utilizes the biological and emotional bond between humans and animals to reach specific therapeutic goals.
In our sessions, Winston isn't just present, he is an active participant in noticing you and responding. Animals have an incredible ability to mirror our internal states and provide biofeedback. Winston can often sense a shift in your energy, a spike in your heart rate, or a moment of checking out before you are even consciously aware of it.
When we interact with a calm, attuned animal, several physiological shifts occur:
Oxytocin Release: Often called the bonding hormone, oxytocin increases when we pet or make eye contact with a dog. This hormone counteracts the stress hormone, cortisol, helping you feel a sense of trust and safety.
Nervous System Regulation: The rhythmic act of petting a dog has a calming effect, which tells your nervous system to move out of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn and into present moment connectedness.
Questions about animal assisted therapy? Reach out today.
How Winston Supports Your Specific Healing
Winton’s involvement deepens and compliments the other modalities that I utilize.
Here are some ways Winston enhances your therapy experience:
Undoing Aloneness: In attachment based psychotherapy we focus on undoing aloneness. Winston is a master of this. He provides a consistent, non-judgmental witness to your story. He doesn't need you to be fixed or to have it all together; he simply wants to be with you. His presence acts as a secure base, allowing us to dive into deep processing knowing there is a grounding, sensory anchor right next to you on the couch.
Physical and Emotional Regulation: Winston provides a reality check for the nervous system. In EMDR for trauma therapy if you start to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or panicked, Winston’s gentle nudge or a heavy sigh can pull you back into the room. He provides a tactile, sensory experience. The warmth of his fur or the weight of his head on your lap interrupts the overwhelm and reminds you that you are here, in the present, and you are safe.
Navigating the Silence of Grief, Pain, and Trauma: There are moments when there are truly no words for the weight of your experience. In those moments, Winston offers a level of attunement that humans often struggle to provide. He doesn't try to silver-line your pain or fill the silence with platitudes. He simply sits with you, providing a comforting presence that honors your experience without needing it to change.
Gives you permission to just be you: If you grew up feeling responsible for everyone’s emotions or that you had to have it all figured out, therapy can sometimes feel like another place where you have to perform or be a good client. Winston disrupts this dynamic. You don't have to take care of him. He is there to support you. Watching his ease and his lack of self-consciousness gives your permission to take a break and just be.
Common Questions About Animal Assisted Therapy
-
Not at all. Animal Assisted Therapy is always optional and invitation-based. Some clients prefer Winston to be actively involved by sitting close. Others prefer him to simply nap on the floor.
-
While Animal Assisted Therapy is popular with children, it is incredibly effective for adults. Especially those experiencing high stress, complex trauma, or navigating multiple life transitions at once. Adults can often get stuck in intellectualizing. Winston helps bypass those intellectual defenses by being grounded and presently attuned to any emotional shifts.
-
I believe in the power of the connection with our pets. However, Lakewood Holistic Counseling is only reserved for Winston due to his training. The only exception to this is a trained service animal.
Meet Your Co-Therapist Winston
Winston is a golden retriever who has been specifically trained for the therapy room. I started training Winston to be my co-therapist when he was 12 weeks old. Shortly after he turned one, he earned his Canine Good Citizen through the American Kennel Club, which is a test of obedience and the working relationship between the handler (me) and dog. While Winston was working on his good boy training, I completed an Animal Assisted Therapy course with Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado. I continue to take additional courses that pair Animal Assisted Therapy with EMDR and attachment based modalities.
Winston is known for his puppy eyes and his ability to know exactly when you need a little extra support. Outside of the office he enjoys playing fetch, swimming, agility classes, napping, and playing with his littermate.
If you’ve felt stuck in traditional talk therapy or if the thought of having to try a new therapist feels nerve-wracking, I invite you to try something different. Animal assisted therapy with Winston offers unconditional warmth, attunement, and a wagging tail.
Ready to meet Winston and start your journey? Schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation below.
Recent blog posts on animal assisted therapy
