Healing on 4 Legs?
Chrissy Orson
Healing on 4 Legs?
In 2025 I welcomed a puppy into my family. Wilfred is a working cocker spaniel and is a bundle of energy, mischief, curiosity and endless affection. As he grows, I will be training him as a therapy dog, to support both my coaching and therapy clients.
As someone who adores animals, I’ve long been interested in the power of animals to support healing. Also, as much of my therapeutic work is with trauma, I’m always looking for ways to create a sense of psychological safety and connection for my clients.
Animals bring a unique kind of comfort. They don’t judge, interrupt or expect you to have the right words. Animals can give us a taste of unconditional love (so long as we’re willing to give them a little affection). It’s been shown that a therapy dog’s steady presence can help soothe anxiety, reduce feelings of isolation and create an atmosphere where deeper work becomes possible. Simply stroking a pet releases oxytocin which can lower stress hormones and invite the nervous system to relax; an important piece of trauma recovery.
I’ll not be bringing Wilfred into all sessions, or using him for work with all clients. Some people will find him a distraction rather than a supportive presence, may have a fear of dogs or simply not want me to. This is all OK! Like the rest of my approach, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all addition.
Bringing a dog into my practice also means more opportunities to step outside. In coaching, I often engage in walking sessions, where movement and nature can bring new perspectives into awareness. I’m not sure if it’s the rhythm of footsteps, not having to think about eye contact or the effect of being outside on our creative brain; walking alongside someone often makes difficult conversations feel less intimidating and more organic.
I’m excited to watch this little fella grow into a fully-fledged therapy dog and also for my own journey training him. I’m sure it will take lots of patience, consistency and compassion, but as these are some of the qualities I try to model for clients it should be good practice for me!
Wish me luck!