Animal Assisted Therapy
Learn more about our Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Mentoring services and how our animals play an essential role in these therapeutic approaches.
What is animal assisted therapy (AAT)?
Animal assisted therapy is the use of observation and interaction with consenting animals to help achieve a clients’ therapeutic goals.
At P3 we value the uniqueness of each individual animal and client while respecting their boundaries and autonomy. Through observation and interaction with animals, our skilled counsellor will use a client centred model to assist clients to facilitate their own personal growth and learning.
Who Can Benefit from AAT?
We believe in the innate wisdom that animals have to offer and feel that anyone of any age seeking counselling/therapy has the potential to benefit from AAT.
Please note due to safety AAT is not suitable for children under 4 yrs, children/adults with significant aggression/behavioural regulation issues or allergies. The suitability for AAT (both client and animal) will be assessed on a case by case basis and reassessed where appropriate.
What is Animal Assisted Mentoring?
This is an animal assisted learning service for students of all ages designed to help the learner to focus on agreed, individualised learning goals. Sessions are weekly for one hour during term/semester time and can be run in clinic or via telehealth, with 50 minutes contact time allocated and 10 minutes for planning/documentation.
Who can benefit from Animal Assisted Mentoring?
Mentoring can benefit any child or adult experiencing stress related to assessment/education/schooling. This Animal Assisted learning program can improve confidence, increase motivation, teach mindfulness skills, help develop effective study techniques/habits, can improve resilience, increase empathy and help a student to overcome limiting beliefs or anxieties around learning.
Animal Assisted Therapy Services
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
- CCPT – suitability assessed on an individual basis
- Standard consultation delivered in clinic, via telehealth, in public access or by walk and talk, 1 hour with 50 mins contact and 10 mins session planning/documentation
- Intensive session 90 mins with 80 mins contact and 10 mins session planning/documentation
- Mini session 30 mins with 25 mins contact and 5 mins session planning/documentation
Animal Assisted Learning (AAL)
- Animal Assisted Learning opportunities and novel therapies (price and availability on application)
- Animal Assisted Mentoring 1 hour with 50 mins contact time and 10 mins planning/documentation
- Animal handling and safety using Animal wisdom
- Mindfulness with animal modelling
- Focus and listening through Animal Assisted training
- Workplace wellbeing through AAL
Additional Services
- Corporate keynote speaker – using animal wisdom to create safer workplaces
- Novel animal assisted therapies – individualised animal assisted support tailored to your needs (by negotiation only, get in contact)
- Animal wisdom program – 7 week course
Meet our animal friends
Animal-assisted therapy has been proven to offer numerous benefits to individuals in need, and our three wonderful dogs, Benni the German Short Haired Pointer, Bella the Moodle, and Freya the Cavoodle, play an essential role in this therapeutic approach.
The presence of these loving and gentle animals can have a profound impact on clients’ emotional and physical well-being. Interacting with animals like Benni, Bella, and Freya can reduce anxiety, alleviate depression, and enhance overall mood. Their comforting and non-judgmental nature creates a safe and supportive environment, allowing individuals to open up and express themselves freely.
Interaction with these animals can promote relaxation, lower blood pressure, improve cognitive function, reduce agitation, promote self-regulation and reduce stress through the release of endorphins. The bond formed with our furry friends during animal-assisted therapy sessions can boost self-esteem, enhance social skills, enhance capacity for boundary setting, provide modelling of safe relationships and facilitate the development of trust and empathy.
MISS BENNI
Benni is a German Short Haired Pointer and a fully trained Assistance Dog.
She loves food a lot, walks on the beach and watching birds fly by.
PRINCESS BELLA
Bella is a Moodle princess and a fully trained Assistance Dog who loves to cuddle up and is an expert at defluffing toys!
FREYA
Freya is an energetic Cavoodle full of enthusiasm.
She loves people, treats and jumping as her legs are essentially spring loaded!
Animal Assisted Therapy
We offer play therapy, animal assisted therapy, counselling and psychotherapy from our clinic in Golden Beach, Sunshine Coast or via Telehealth appointments.