The Van Go Program at WRISC offers clients engaging in Single Sessions access to a Therapy Dog during their session. The presence of companion animals, such as Therapy Dogs, have
been shown to improve the well-being of children and young people and lower anxiety levels.
The Single Session Therapist, Carolyn, is a Certified Therapy Dog handler. The Therapy Dog will be under the command of the Single Session Therapist for the duration of the session. She will determine when appropriate for the Therapy Dog to participate in the session.
The positive impacts of having a Therapy Dog in Single Sessions will be:
– provide an innovative service in line with well researched benefits of having a trained therapy dog in session for children who have experienced trauma.
– assist children in session to communicate and regulate emotions when discussing their experiences of being exposed to family violence.
– Children can benefit educationally and emotionally, increase their understanding of responsibility and develop empathy and nurturing skills through contact with a dog. In addition to these benefits, children take great enjoyment from interaction with a dog.
Aims of the therapy dog single sessions:
– Children will experience a positive experience of therapy
– Children will feel more relaxed and calmer
– Children nervous systems will regulate
– Children will have a sense of self mastery joining in instructing dog commands.
A Therapy Dog may give confidence to children as they make amazing listeners, providing the children with a sense of comfort and love. Therapy Dog’s role is specially to help those clients in a Single Session who are feeling vulnerable, have suffered trauma or are going though upsetting/difficult times.