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Individual Mentoring-Supporting children, teachers and parents in the educational space

Mentoring with therapy dogs

Experience the transformative power of mentoring with therapy dogs! Our service aims to support students on their learning journey by fostering confidence, resilience, and motivation.

Highly qualified mentors and friendly therapy dogs conduct personalized sessions tailored to each student's needs.

The therapy dog/student bond is crucial in helping young individuals overcome limiting beliefs and learning-related anxiety while developing resilience, empathy, and positive peer relationships. Our flexible program accommodates sessions at school (with the principal's permission), the student's home, or a safe community centre or library.

We offer sessions during school hours or after school, whichever suits you best. Join us for this enriching experience and witness the remarkable impact of mentoring with therapy dogs in empowering students to thrive!

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Envisioning Ideal Candidates

The descriptions and images presented here are a composite drawn from various experiences with our young clients. To ensure privacy, we have used broad descriptions and AI-generated images.

Meet Aiden: A Candidate for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring Program

Meet Aiden: A Candidate for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring Program

Aiden is a 10-year-old boy who experienced significant trauma in his early childhood. This trauma has led to challenges in his emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, Aiden has developed a fear of dogs, stemming from a traumatic incident he had with a dog at a young age. Despite this fear, his therapists believe that controlled and gentle exposure to therapy dogs could be beneficial in his recovery process.

Aiden's guardians are seeking ways to support him through his trauma recovery. They are keen on gentle, innovative, and supportive approaches, ensuring Aiden feels safe and understood.

Why Aiden is a perfect candidate for our program:

  1. Trauma-Informed Approach to Learning: Our program specialises in supporting children like Aiden with a deep understanding of navigating trauma in a nurturing environment.
  2. Gradual Introduction to Dogs: We can offer a controlled and gentle introduction to therapy dogs, helping Aiden overcome his fear at his own pace in a safe and supportive setting.
  3. Building Trust and Safety: The presence of a calm and well-trained therapy dog can be a powerful tool in helping Aiden build trust and a sense of safety, crucial elements in trauma recovery.
  4. Emotional Regulation Support: Engaging with therapy dogs can provide Aiden with a unique way to explore and learn about his emotions, aiding in his emotional regulation skills.
  5. Strengthening Resilience: As Aiden begins to overcome his fear of dogs and engages more with the therapy animal, his sense of resilience and personal achievement will grow, positively impacting his overall self-esteem.
  6. Supporting Interpersonal Skills: Through interacting with the therapy dog and mentor, Aiden can develop better communication and social skills in a low-pressure environment, which is essential for his recovery journey.

Aiden represents a particular case where the unique benefits of our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring program can be profoundly impactful. If you know of kids like Aiden, let them know we are here to help in their journey to develop a new, positive association with challenges, learn dogs, and foster emotional healing and personal growth.


 

Meet Lucas: An Ideal Candidate for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring Program

Meet Lucas: An Ideal Candidate for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring Program

Lucas is a 14-year-old high school student who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is brilliant and has a particular interest in science and technology. However, Lucas faces challenges with social interactions and sensory processing, which can overwhelm the busy and sometimes unpredictable school environment.

Lucas's parents are proactive and supportive, constantly seeking ways to enhance his educational experience. They have found that Lucas responds positively to animals, showing a level of comfort and engagement that he rarely exhibits in other settings.

Why Lucas is a perfect fit for our program:

  1. Tailored Learning Environment: Our individualised sessions would provide a calm and structured environment, allowing Lucas to learn independently without the sensory overload of a traditional classroom.
  2. Enhancing Social Skills: Interacting with therapy dogs can offer Lucas a non-threatening way to develop his social skills. Dogs provide unconditional acceptance, which can be incredibly reassuring for someone with ASD.
  3. Fostering Emotional Connections: For a young person like Lucas, who might struggle with emotional expression, the bond with a therapy dog can be a gateway to exploring and understanding his emotions better.
  4. Consistency and Routine: Our program's structure can provide Lucas with consistency, helping him feel more secure and less anxious about the learning process.
  5. Sensory Benefits: The tactile experience of interacting with a dog can have a soothing effect on individuals with sensory processing issues, helping Lucas to manage stress and stay focused.
  6. Building Confidence: As Lucas develops a relationship with the therapy dog and experiences success in his learning, his self-esteem will likely be significantly boosted.

Lucas represents the ideal client for our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring program. His unique needs align perfectly with our program's benefits, ensuring that he can learn more effectively and feel more connected, confident, and emotionally supported. 

If you know someone like Lucas, let them know we are here and ready to support them!


 

Meet Emily: The Ideal Client for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring

Meet Emily: The Ideal Client for Our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring

Emily is a bright 12-year-old who has always struggled with social anxiety and found it challenging to connect with her peers. She often feels overwhelmed in traditional classroom settings, which hinders her learning and personal growth. Emily loves animals but has never had the opportunity to interact with them in a learning environment.

Emily's family is keen to find innovative and effective ways to enhance her educational journey. They're looking for a program that supports her academic needs and addresses her social and emotional development.

Emily would thrive in our Dog Assisted Therapy Mentoring program because:

  1. Individualised Attention: Our one-on-one sessions would provide Emily with tailored support, helping her feel safe and understood.
  2. Building Resilience and Motivation: The presence of therapy dogs can help Emily open up and engage more in her learning process, fostering resilience and increasing her motivation.
  3. Enhancing Social Skills: Interacting with our therapy dogs and mentors can significantly boost Emily's confidence in social situations, helping her build positive relationships.
  4. Holistic Development: Our program's focus on holistic growth means that Emily would benefit both academically and emotionally, and socially, paving her way to success in various aspects of life.
  5. Proven Impact: Knowing that our programs have a track record of positively impacting learning outcomes gives Emily's family the confidence that this is the right step towards her holistic development.

Emily represents the perfect client for our program - someone who can genuinely benefit from the unique combination of mentoring and the therapeutic presence of dogs, leading her towards a brighter, more confident future.

Do you know anyone like Emily? Let their parents know about our award-winning services.


 

Meet Sophie: A Perfect Match for Our Dog-Assisted Therapy Mentoring.

Meet Sophie: A Perfect Match for Our Dog-Assisted Therapy Mentoring.

Sophie is a 16-year-old high school student known for her introspective and reflective nature. She is an avid reader and excels in subjects like literature and history. However, Sophie often feels isolated in school due to her introverted personality. She finds it challenging to initiate conversations and participate in group activities, sometimes leading to her feeling left out or misunderstood by her peers.

Sophie's parents support her unique qualities but are concerned about her social isolation and its impact on her emotional well-being. They have noticed that Sophie shows a keen interest in animals, often expressing more ease and openness in their presence.

Why Sophie is an ideal candidate for our program:

  1. Nurturing Her Quiet Strengths: Our program's one-on-one format allows Sophie to engage in learning without the pressure of a group setting, honouring her introverted nature while encouraging gentle social interaction.
  2. Building Social Confidence: Interacting with therapy dogs can serve as a bridge for Sophie, helping her to gradually build her confidence in social situations in a safe, non-threatening environment.
  3. Encouraging Emotional Expression: Sophie might find it easier to express her feelings and thoughts in the presence of a therapy dog, providing a comfortable space to open up and share.
  4. Enhancing Engagement: The calming presence of a therapy dog can help Sophie feel more relaxed and engaged during sessions, making her learning experience more enjoyable and effective.
  5. Personalised Attention: The individualised approach of our mentoring program would ensure that Sophie's unique needs and learning style are catered to, making her feel valued and understood.
  6. Developing Peer Relationships: As Sophie becomes more comfortable with the therapy dog and in the mentoring sessions, these newfound confidence skills can translate to her interactions with classmates, gradually improving her social experiences at school.

If you know someone like Sophie, let them know we are here to help them flourish academically and personally, leveraging the therapeutic benefits of working with animals to overcome social challenges and confidently embrace their introverted qualities.


 

Meet Adam: A Prime Candidate for Our Dog-Assisted Mentoring

Meet Adam: A Prime Candidate for Our Dog-Assisted Mentoring

Adam is an 11-year-old boy managing the complexities of an acquired brain injury. He communicates nonverbally and faces challenges with memory retention, understanding the link between actions and consequences, and managing his emotions, often expressed through explosive tantrums. His devoted parents tirelessly seek effective ways to support him, endeavouring to improve his quality of life and understanding of the world around him.

Adam's family and his healthcare team are exploring innovative and empathetic approaches that can provide him with a nurturing environment tailored to his unique communication style and needs.

Why Adam is an ideal fit for our program:

  1. Nonverbal Communication: Our therapy dogs excel in nonverbal interaction, offering Adam a companionship that aligns with his communication style.
  2. Cognitive Stimulation: Regular sessions with a therapy dog can aid cognitive engagement, potentially helping Adam with his memory challenges.
  3. Emotional Regulation: The presence of a therapy dog can have a calming effect, aiding in reducing the frequency and intensity of Adam's emotional outbursts.
  4. Enhancing Emotional Connections: A therapy dog can provide Adam with steady, unconditional support, aiding in his emotional development.
  5. Positive Family Impact: Adam’s interactions with the therapy dog can offer his family new perspectives and strategies for connecting with him.
  6. Promoting Positive Behavior: The therapy dog can serve as a motivational presence, encouraging Adam to engage in positive behaviors.
  7. Understanding Cause and Effect: Interactions with the therapy dog can help Adam grasp the basics of cause and effect in a safe and controlled environment.

If you know parents like Adam's, who are considering using their NDIS plan to fund innovative sessions, they will need to be self-managed under the plan. This approach could provide them with the flexibility and resources needed for Adam to engage and connect in ways most meaningful to him.



 

Testimonials

Sarah brings together her passions and vibrance for her work with young people coupled with an outstanding ability to train dogs a therapeutic aids.  The clients Sarah has been working with have complex behavioural and socioemotional requirements.  

The unique idea of incorporating dog assisted therapy and children's educational needs has served our clients well through weekly tutroing in their homes.

- Anonymous Carer, Berry Street, residential care home.

Dogs a therapeutic aids