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Canine Assisted Therapy

Gentle, relationship-based therapy with the support of a trained therapy dog in Albany, WA

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For many children and young people, talking in a traditional therapy setting can feel overwhelming. Canine Assisted Therapy offers a different path. One built on connection, safety, and trust.

 

Working alongside Fonzi, my trained therapy dog, sessions are designed to help clients feel more relaxed, engaged, and supported while building important emotional and social skills.

 

Dogs have a unique ability to lower stress and anxiety, increase feelings of safety, and encourage communication. Often helping clients open up in ways that feel more natural and less pressured.

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How Canine Therapy Helps

Canine Assisted Therapy can support clients to:

  • Reduce anxiety and emotional overwhelm

  • Build confidence and self-esteem

  • Develop communication skills

  • Strengthen emotional regulation

  • Improve focus and motivation

  • Increase social connection and relationship skills

  • Feel safer and more comfortable in therapy

 

Sessions are gentle, paced to the individual, and shaped around each client’s goals and needs.

What Sessions Feel Like

Sessions take place either in natural outdoor environments or in your home, creating a familiar and comfortable space for learning and growth.

 

Before beginning, we start with a 45-minute consultation where we explore:

  • Your needs and concerns

  • Therapy goals

  • Suitability for canine assisted therapy

  • How sessions can be tailored to you or your child

 

The first session focuses on:

  • Learning about Fonzi

  • Understanding how to safely interact with him

  • Building comfort and trust

  • Creating a calm, positive first experience

 

From there, sessions are individually planned and adapted over time, based on progress and goals.

At Peaceful Paddocks, therapy is always collaborative and relationship-based. Clients are supported to move at their own pace, with sessions designed around what feels achievable and meaningful for them.

 

The presence of a therapy dog often helps clients feel more at ease, more willing to participate, and more confident trying new skills.

A Collaborative, Client-Led Approach

“Our ASD/ADHD son started working with Suzanne and Fonzi and it has been a wonderful experience. He is often reluctant and highly anxious to try new things, but from day one he has shown no hesitation when I tell him it's Fonzi day. Suzanne and Fonzi meet him where he is at and let him set the pace, which allows him to relax and feel confident. Spending time with Fonzi has also helped him develop confidence with our own dog at home. We are so pleased to have them as part of our support team”

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to explore whether Canine Assisted Therapy is right for you or your child, the first step is a free 45-minute consultation.

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