b'BODY, MIND & SPIRITTherapy Animals: Comfort, Connection, and Responsibilityby JENNIFER GOODSON, MA, LMHCTareseasonsinlifewhenwordsmals in helping roles serve the same purpose.CONSIDERING A THERAPY ORhere feel hard to find. Grief settles in. AnxietyThose who visit counseling offices, hospitals,SERVICE ANIMALlingers.TraumareshapeshowsafetheandschoolsaretrainedtointeractsafelyFor those thinking about this path, the decision world feels. Last March, I shared about losingwith people. Service animals are trained todeserves careful thought.ourAustralianshepherd,Travis,andhowsupport one person with needs related to aIf someone is interested in a therapy animal, deeplyhisabsencewasfeltinourhome.disability. Emotional support animals providethe process usually begins with temperament. Thatexperienceremindedmejusthowcomfort through companionship but are notTheanimalshouldbecalm,friendly,and powerful the presence of an animal can be.trained for structured public settings.comfortable around unfamiliar people. Basic In moments when emotions feel heavy orThisworkcarriesresponsibility.Noteveryobedience training comes next, followed by overwhelming,theirquietcompanionshipanimal is suited for it. Those who service inpreparation focused on social interaction and often brings a kind of comfort that is difficulttheseenvironmentsmustbecalm,social,emotional steadiness. Many then work with an to explain but easy to feel.and able to handle new surroundings with- organization that evaluates readiness and con-Many people notice they breathe differentlyoutbecomingoverwhelmed.Thepersonnects teams with settings where visits can take when a gentle companion is nearby. Shoul- guiding the animal plays an important role,place safely.ders relax. Thoughts slow down. The roompaying attention to signs of stress and keep- A service animal follows a different path. These feels less heavy. It becomes easier to sit anding interactions safe and respectful.animals are trained to support one individual just be. For those who struggle to put painAnimals remind us of simple truths we oftenwith specific needs related to a disability. This into words, that steady presence can open aforget.Theyliveinthemoment.Theyre- oftenbeginswithguidancefromamedical meaningful door toward connection. spond with loyalty and acceptance. In theiror mental health professional, followed by fo-Animalsdontjudge,rush,orexpectustopresence,manypeoplerediscoverwhatitcused training that teaches the animal how to haveeverythingtogether.Andsometimesfeels like to slow down and simply be humanassist with daily functioning.that is where healing begins.again.Inbothsituations,responsibilityextendsbe-Time spent with an animal helps the bodyAs a family, we have decided to welcome ayondtraining.Ongoingcare,advocacy,and settle.Stresssoftens.Guardedwallslower.new puppy in the months ahead and beginawareness are essential. Not every animal is Childrenmaytalkmorefreely.Adultswhothe journey of training it for therapy work. Itmeantforthisrole,andnoteverysituation feel shut down may begin to share little byis a process that takes time, patience and in- calls for one. When partnership is the right fit, little. Families walking through medical stresstention. Not a decision we can take lightly, forthe impact can be deeply personal. Comfort may find a moment of relief in the middle ofsure. As we prepare for this new responsibility,returns. Connection grows. And sometimes, uncertainty.we are reminded how important it is to under- in the quiet presence of another living being, It is important to understand that not all ani- stand what this path involves.people begin to feel like themselves again.HNABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Goodson, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor with an office in Winter Haven, FL, a Professor of Psychology at Warner University in Lake Wales, FL, and a transformational speaker. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For more information, visit www.jennifergoodson.com.centralfloridahealthnews.com CFHN | 7'