Animal Therapy for Trauma in EVERGREEN,CO
Do you feel on guard around people, even when you know you're safe? Maybe talking feels like too much right now, or you've been holding it together for so long that you've forgotten what calm feels like. After trauma, your body can stay on alert long after the danger has passed. Sometimes it's easier to start healing with a calm, gentle presence by your side.
Animal-assisted therapy is trauma-focused therapy that includes Summit, my golden retriever and trained therapy dog, in our sessions. She doesn't judge, doesn't need explanations, and doesn't expect you to be okay. With her nearby, your nervous system can settle and trust can come more naturally. Alongside approaches like EMDR, CBT, DBT, and outdoor therapy, we work at your pace, and it's always your choice whether Summit joins.
How animal-assisted therapy can help you:
Feel safe and grounded while working through trauma
Ease stress, anxiety, and the feeling of always being on edge
Calm your body when you feel tense, overwhelmed, or triggered
Make it easier to trust and open up at your own pace
Lift your mood on the heavy days and ease loneliness
Express what you're feeling, even when the words are hard to find
Make therapy feel warmer and less clinical
What is Animal Therapy?
HEALING ON YOUR TERMS
Healing doesn't have to happen in an office. It can happen on a trail, under the trees, or anywhere you feel safe and heard. You're the expert on your story, and I'll walk alongside you as you find clarity and move toward lasting healing.
Animal-assisted therapy brings a trained, gentle animal into your sessions to help you feel calmer, safer, and more at ease. Animals offer comfort without judgment, which can make it easier to open up and work through difficult experiences. Here's how it works.
1. A free consultation
We'll start with a brief call to talk about your goals, answer your questions, and see whether animal-assisted therapy is a good fit. We'll also ask about allergies, fears, or past experiences with animals.
2. Meeting our therapy animal
Your first session includes a relaxed introduction to our therapy animal. You decide how close you'd like to be, whether that's petting, sitting nearby, or just watching. There's never any pressure to interact.
3. Finding calm and connection
Petting, walking with, or simply being near an animal can lower stress and help calm your nervous system. Many clients find the animal's presence makes hard conversations feel more manageable.
4. Working through what matters
Sessions include the same trauma-informed care you'd get in traditional therapy, with support for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and life transitions. Animal-assisted therapy can be combined with outdoor therapy and EMDR when it fits your needs.
5. Building skills that last
Through your time with the animal, we'll practice skills like trust, boundaries, grounding, and self-compassion, so the calm you find in session carries into daily life.
What to Expect when working an animal-assisted Therapist-
GET IN TOUCH
Schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation. It's a relaxed chance to share what's on your mind, talk about what you're hoping for, and see if we're a good fit. There's no pressure, and you don't need to have it all figured out.