Bernard Counselling Inc.
ANIMAL & NATURE THERAPY
Animal Assisted therapy and Nature Assisted therapy are alternatives to traditional in-office talk therapy. Highly engaging and authentic, these therapies use animals and nature as co-therapists facilitating goal directed therapeutic interventions. These therapies have been shown to accelerate the healing process with a number of clients. Activities with animals and in nature can help support clients who have difficulty with the typical office setting or perceived invasiveness of psychotherapy.
ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY
NATURE ASSISTED THERAPY
Where common talk-therapies are dependent on the relationship between therapist and client, the inclusion of the third life force opens multiple possibilities to achieve attachment, trust, and nurturing. The genuine nature of an animal’s interaction and the unassuming experience in nature allows highly resistant clients to loosen barriers previously preventing healthy change.
Nature and animals provide engagement, excitement, calming and grounding benefits and therapy often flows effortlessly when these elements are present. Children and adolescents who experience anxiety, depression or behavioural difficulties benefit greatly from animal and nature assisted therapy. It may be the best alternative to adolescents and children who did not respond well to traditional in-office counselling.
Body awareness and mindfulness increases dramatically, helping children and adults regulate their emotional states and behaviour better. Traditional methods of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative therapy, Play Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy are woven within sessions.
Animal-Assisted Therapy sessions are facilitated in West Priddis at our beautiful Earth Spirit Ranch. Our therapists have specialized training in various techniques and clients works with numerous animals including goats, horses, and donkeys.
Nature Assisted Therapy, also known as Eco-Therapy, moves the therapy office into the outdoors, where participants interact in a variety of ways with the natural world. A growing body of research highlights the positive benefits of connecting with nature. At Earth Spirt Ranch, we harness the healing power of nature to help improve mental health and wellbeing.
Nature Assisted Therapy can help support children and adolescents improve their self-confidence, motivation, engagement, and social skills development. They have the opportunity to explore feelings, emotions, and understand various behaviours. They can develop increased trust, enhance empathy, set healthy boundaries and strengthen relationships. For adults the soothing presence of nature and nature based mindfulness practices calms the mind, allowing guards to come down to deal with the core presenting issue. Self-compassion begins to flow more easily while outside, and nature makes us intuitively feel unconditionally supported, loved and accepted.
Nature Therapy sessions are also facilitated at Earth Spirit Ranch. Sessions take place both on the Ranch and in the beautiful mixed wood forest adjacent to the Ranch.
Please contact us with questions or to book an Animal Assisted or Nature Assisted appointment at Earth Spirit Ranch for yourself or your loved one.