Using dogs in counseling

[Stacey]

Aloha all!

My therapy dog, Rapha, has been coming to work with me at a non profit counseling center. He has been a great greeter and sat in on a few sessions.

I was wondering if any of you guys have used your dogs in a counseling setting.

If so, did you do any specific training with the dog for the counseling room.

I would really like to use him for grief and sexual abuse counseling. Right now he is mostly coming in with clients in possible crisis pregnancy situations. We tell them all he is in training still. I think it is just that he needs a little experience and the client needs to know they can reach for him or call him over at any time.

A big benefit has been how the counselors love to see him and just have him there :)

i attached a picture of Rapha in the lobby ready to greet.

[Sue Robin F]

I had been a social worker/therapist for 41 years working with many sexual abuse clients and domestic violence clients etc. I recently retired. I have had 3 therapy dogs. I presently have 2. The problem is that the Pet Therapy organizations that I have been involved with do not cover the dogs if used for pet therapy while the 'handler is working. The dogs are covered for volunteer work only. I used to belong to TDI, Therapy Dog International, and I presently belong to Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs. I do not know if TDI has changed that policy or if there are other organizations that cover the dogs for work.
I have used my dogs by visiting some clients after my work hours.

[Stacey]

I understand the insurance issue. I was working volunteer hours only when Rapha started as greeter. The counselors are trained volunteers. The counseling is peer counseling not licensed. I am on the operations end of it and not a counselor. I have discussed the insurance issue with my organization.

So, it sounds like your visits were not actual sessions? The grief counseling I am considering getting him involved with is small group style. (it would be a volunteer assignment). Have you ever used your dogs in a small group situation. We used to visit a retirement home that would have group activities while he was there and he did fine with a group. Just not sure how it would work in the counseling environment. He may just make them happy in the beginning to help them settle in and then be available if they breakdown and want to pet him for comfort. He is really good at laying and being quiet while people are talking. People I have spoken to think it is a good idea to have him in the grief counseling but I have just never done it.

If anyone has helpful hints about the dogs in a small group counseling environment, please chime in :)

[Sue Robin F]

Yes, I think the dogs can be amazing for the above type of clients. The issue with the insurance was that I worked for a large county government agency so the administrators were not comfortable with the liability issue. I nor my supervisors had the right to make that decision. If it was private it is different. However, I did on isolated occassions when I thought it was really important  take the risk. Also I got around it by visiting  clients around 5 PM since my official hours ended at 4:45 PM.

 I was able to be creative at times on my job.On one occassional I had a 7 year old child discuss the parental abuse she received by going to a park and having her walk my Therapy dog with me. She totally opened up when previous attempts without the dog failed.

Much of my volunteer work has been with small groups because  of the type of places I visited. I visited  3 different group homes where the residences had both emotional and physical disabilities.I also visited a small class for kids with autism, alternative school programs, rehabs, after school programs, etc. Since my professional background was counseling these groups often had a counseling component. I also regularly do Reading to the Dogs.

On one occassional during Reading to the Dogs, Moses, my older Therapy dog, sensed that one of the parents was upset. He asked my permission to go over to that parent. When I allowed him to, he went up to her and gave her a dog hug and she hugged him back and became tearful. She told me that she had been sitting in the car crying before she came to the library because she was a victim of domestic violence. They sat together embraced for quite awhile. It was so touching and also coincidental because I had been the Domestic Violence Specialist at my agency.She became a regular visitor to the library to see Moses.

Moses has done this many times. He will sense that someone is upset and give them his love. He has even done this at the animal hospital with someone who was making a tough euthanasia decision. Although I  have had 3 Therapy dogs, Moses was the onely one I would use for very fragile clients. Although Moses was certified by 2 organizations, he is a natural.... very amazing. It did not stem from his training. He was a rescue who had suffered much abuse and neglect himself.... although i do not credit his skills due to that.

Some dogs are good in all settings, some in limited settings. Your assessment of Rapha  sounds like you think he would be good in those sessions. Paz sounds alot like Moses and they seem to instinctively know what to do or who needs their support. The fact that Rapha is good at laying and being quiet while people are talking is important. You would be the best 'judge' to ascertain how good he would be in this environment and how skilled he would be at being sensitive to the needs of the clients. You can always try it and make your decision to continue or to stop bringing him in, depending how it went.

Good luck to you!

[Kyoko]

TDI has the same policy. I am a state licensed therapist, but I do not take my TDI certify dog to my session with clients, because TDI would not cover the dog if I am not in the capacity as a volunteer.

I do volunteer work with him at University of Pittsburgh Wellness Center. He enjoys being there with college kids, and I think my skills as a licensed therapist helps just for the ethical piece and the open ended communication. But, I do not counsel nor state that I am a licensed therapist. I leave myself as a dog handler in the situation, for various boundary and ethical issues...

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi,  I am Director of Children's Services at the NYC Family Justice Center in Brooklyn.   I have a 4 year old therapy labradoodle named Paz who accompanies me to work 1 - 2 times per week; he assists children who have witnessed domestic violence or violent crime, and is used extensively to  greet the kids when entering our center, as well as help when they are being prepared to testify in court.  In terms of insurance, Paz is a Pet Partner therapy dog and Pet Partners insurance does not cover Paz when he accompanies me to work; I took out a policy through my homeowners which provides liability insurance for incidents related to my dog, however,it is always preferable if the dog is covered by Pet Partners etc., but to date, that has not been achieved, so I am carrying a private policy with maximum coverage.  Paz has been "volunteering" at our center since he is 14 months old, and he has gained enormous experience in understanding what is expected of him.  When the prosecutors are preparing a child for court, we usually do so in a room that has a couch; Paz inherently knows the child needs support, and lays on the couch next to the child while he/she is being questioned.  If the child hesitates or gets upset, Paz always seems to know what to do and nudges the child.   It takes experience, and it sounds like Rapha is a perfect fit for this task.   Paz has helped a child during couselling sessions, when a child is reluctant to enter the room and wants the Paz to go with him; we have confidentiality agreements signed which allows me to take Paz into the counseling session with a therapist.  Many of the kids we serve have been so traumatized, they will refuse to speak with an adult, and would rather speak with Paz.  We also have a children's room which serves as a therapeutic environment in which the children play, while their moms are receiving legal / social services at our Center. Paz is a huge hit in the children's room, and again, serves to provide his magical support to children who have just witnessed a violent crime.

[BG and Gavin]

It sounds like a good fit.  My background is in counselling as well and though I have never used Gavin in individual sessions, he has accompanied me on visits to a classroom where I provided clinical supervision to the teachers.  We had 10 young men with significant behavioural issues and let me tell you, Gavin could change the tone of that room in seconds.  It could be considered a higher risk setting for Gavin due to the acting out behaviors, so I was very careful to keep him out of harms way (even though it was never as issue) and to go when I was "off the clock" to ensure we were ensured.  Good luck.

[Stacey]

Thank you for the feedback.

I love hearing how others are working with their dogs.

I am still trying to determine if Rapha has a natural empathy for others. If nothing else he is a great greeter and he makes people feel at ease. We will try the sessions and see how they go. I am grateful that I have a place willing to let me try different things with him.