James River Healing & Wholeness
Love. Light. Dogs.
Experience the unique healing connection that only our canine co-therapists can provide.
At James River Healing & Wholeness, we recognize the profound therapeutic benefits that dogs can bring to the healing process. Our canine therapy program incorporates specially trained therapy dogs into counseling sessions to enhance the therapeutic experience.
Dogs offer a unique form of support that can help clients feel safer, more grounded, and more open during therapy. Their non-judgmental presence and natural ability to connect with humans can facilitate healing in ways that traditional therapy alone sometimes cannot.
During canine therapy sessions, one of our therapy dogs will be present with you and your therapist. The level of interaction with the dog is completely up to your comfort level—some clients benefit simply from the dog's calming presence, while others engage in more direct interaction.
Our therapy dogs are specifically trained to provide emotional support, comfort, and sometimes even practical assistance during therapy sessions. They can help regulate emotions, provide comfort during difficult moments, and create a bridge for communication between client and therapist.
Interacting with dogs has been shown to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase oxytocin (bonding hormone), helping to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Dogs can help clients regulate their emotions during challenging therapy moments, providing comfort and grounding.
The presence of a therapy dog can help establish trust in the therapeutic relationship more quickly, especially for clients with trauma histories.
Some clients find it easier to express feelings or discuss difficult topics when a therapy dog is present, creating a bridge for therapeutic communication.
Dogs provide a non-threatening opportunity to practice social interaction and connection, helping clients develop and improve their social skills in a supportive environment.
Interaction with therapy dogs can lead to tangible physical benefits including lower blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and increased motivation for physical activity.
Sam is a gentle Blue Heeler mix with a calming presence. He specializes in providing quiet comfort and has an intuitive ability to sense when clients need emotional support.
Moseph is our energetic Red Husky who brings joy and playfulness to therapy sessions. He's especially skilled at working with clients who benefit from more active interaction.
In addition to our therapy dogs, we also have experience working with clients who have their own psychiatric service dogs, creating an integrated approach to mental health support.
"Having Sam present during my therapy sessions made it possible for me to talk about my trauma for the first time. His calm presence gave me the courage I needed to start healing."
"As someone with severe anxiety, I was skeptical about therapy. But Moseph's playful energy made me look forward to each session, and I found myself opening up more than I ever expected."
Contact us today to learn more about our canine-assisted therapy approaches and how they might benefit your healing journey.