ISN'T she gorgeous?
Well both ladies are of course!
The picture shows Frances Weston with labrador Tilly who has now helped more than 50 children in counselling sessions.
Frances is proving that a dog is not only man’s best friend but can be a terrific aid in helping people overcome some of their most difficult emotional problems.
She says her lovable and playful chocolate Labrador Tilly can play a vital role, particularly for children, acting as a great ice-breaker, and a way of helping people relax, and open up about an issue that is troubling them.
Charitable organisation Pets As Therapy has long been championing the use of animals as a way of helping people in places such as hospitals and nursing homes, but this involves owners taking their own animals into different settings, and though using the same principles, is different from Animal Assisted Therapy, where animals are actually used in therapy sessions.
Frances bought Tilly in September 2006, after years of researching the benefits of AAT, which has been a great success in North America, and once Tilly was old enough, began to prepare her to become an AAT dog for clients who choose to include her in their sessions.
Tilly had obedience training, which included socialising her, getting her used to loud noises and being around young children, and after passing her Pets As Therapy assessment, she began attending counselling and play therapy sessions with Frances.
The Uttoxeter-based therapist, who has almost 20 years’ experience in private practice and the NHS, and who offers a range of counselling techniques as well as Animal Assisted Therapy, says children and their parents have all responded positively to Tilly’s presence.
“Tilly provides a compassionate and stimulating environment which helps clients recover from a range of difficulties,” said Frances.
“Children like having her in their sessions and feel her presence helps them in some way – to feel welcome, to calm them down if they felt angry or upset, to feel good, and because she made them want to come back and see me again.
“Parents and carers said they felt that their children had benefited from having Tilly present, and some stated they believed their children would not have wanted to attend if Tilly had not been there.”
Benefits are vast, including helping children to develop empathy, and a bond with their therapist, encouraging withdrawn children to open up, and an increased motivation to attend sessions, and an outside focus for children with low self-esteem, who are often very inward looking.
AAT can also help the children develop nurturing skills and also gives the children the chance for physical contact, which is safe and affectionate.
“In just over two years, Tilly has now worked with more than 50 children, and I have witnessed many incidents of how her gentle, loving nature has enhanced a child’s experience in therapy,” explained Frances.
“On one occasion, not long after she had begun working as a therapy dog, I saw a young girl of 14 who was talking sadly about how much she missed her father who, since her parents’ divorce, had not had any contact with her.
“As she spoke and became more upset the pattern of her breathing changed slightly as she fought back her tears. Tilly, who had been lying in her bed some distance away, spontaneously got up and walked over to where the girl was sitting, then gently laid her head in the girl’s lap and looked up into her eyes.
“She seemed to intuitively sense her need for comfort. The girl leant forward and embraced Tilly, then began to sob.
“At other times, Tilly’s playful and ‘gallumphing’ personality causes great amusement and has definitely helped me to build an alliance with children.
“The great thing with Tilly is she makes the atmosphere fun. Children can play with her and she is a very playful dog.”
There are just a handful of counsellors in the UK offering AAT, mostly with dogs, and some using Equine Assisted Therapy.
* More information is available at www.brighterfuturescounselling.co.uk
Fabulous! What a beautiful dog. We can learn so much from animals if we are open to it. And how can you not feel better when you look at Tilly?
Posted by: Roz Watkins | February 20, 2010 at 08:51 AM
Absolutely - well said Roz!
Posted by: Linda | March 10, 2010 at 08:19 AM