Virtual Counselling Sessions

Work With A Qualified Counsellor

Excellent Facilities

Qualified Staff

Activities

Animal Assisted Activities (AAA)

These sessions are open to individuals or families and are suitable for children, young people and adults. Unlike AAT they are not structured with a specific treatment goal for individuals, but interaction with our animals, nature and outdoor based activities can improve emotional and physical well-being, mindfulness and quality of life.

1 to 1 or Family Sessions

AAA involves a wide range of activties working with animals, wildlife and nature and is based on 27 of our own structured programs for recreational and mental health benefit. For children and young people, each of these programs can be completed by earning a badge which provides a sense of achievement and supports inprovement in confidence and self esteem.

Flexible Approach

AAA can be for recreational, social, motivational and educational events, beneficial for physical and mental health or for supporting the community. They can be one-off ad-hoc events or regular pre-arranged sessional events. These activities can take place at our sites or your centre or location of choice. We can provide these services in a wide range of settings including special needs schools, community groups, day centres, hospitals, residential care homes, secure children’s homes, PRU’s and prisons. In fact our AAA services can be used for all these services and so much more. Please contact us if you feel our AAA services would be beneficial to your group or individuals with specific, additional or special needs. 

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)

Within Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), there are pre-determined aims and goals to be achieved as the desired result of the therapy sessions, with support of professionals of the relevant field. These goals may cover a wide spectrum of improvements including physical, educational, mental health and motivational. AAT will often be used in more focussed areas of therapy including Relaxation Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for example.

1 to 1 Sessions

These AAT sessions will be structured to work towards preset goals over a set period and number of sessions and are led by a qualified member of the team with existing therapy specialisms. Sessions can also be supported where relevant by an existing health or recreation professional that maybe working with a client. For example, physician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, certified therapeutic recreation specialist, teacher, nurse, social worker, speech therapist or mental health professional. 

Structured Approach

AAT is a goal directed specialism where animals become co-therapists and AAT sessions can be used with talking therapy. AAT increases relaxation and can provide a wonderful calming effect. (Dzikowski 1998). Clients comfort level is increased and animal therapy programs can boost the spirit and lower blood pressure.

Trust is fostered and increased between therapist and client with the use of AAT. Animals are non-judgemental and this can support people to open up (Golin & Walsh 1994). Clients can re-learn to trust people and not always expect the worst. There have been research models showing correlation between animal contact and the improvement of a child's mental health.