[Applause] if we could speak the language of
if we could speak the language of
if we could speak the language of animals what wisdom would they have to
animals what wisdom would they have to
animals what wisdom would they have to share with us many folks are familiar
share with us many folks are familiar
share with us many folks are familiar with the idea that the human animal bond
with the idea that the human animal bond
with the idea that the human animal bond has therapeutic value and anyone who’s
has therapeutic value and anyone who’s
has therapeutic value and anyone who’s ever had a beloved pet can probably
ever had a beloved pet can probably
ever had a beloved pet can probably relate to this you may have also heard
relate to this you may have also heard
relate to this you may have also heard about the benefits of therapy animal
about the benefits of therapy animal
about the benefits of therapy animal visits to hospitals elder care centers
visits to hospitals elder care centers
visits to hospitals elder care centers bas and other settings like this this
bas and other settings like this this
bas and other settings like this this type of human animal interaction boasts
type of human animal interaction boasts
type of human animal interaction boasts multiple scientifically supported
multiple scientifically supported
multiple scientifically supported benefits both physiologically and
benefits both physiologically and
benefits both physiologically and emotionally they calm our bodies ease
emotionally they calm our bodies ease
emotionally they calm our bodies ease our minds and make us healthier simply
our minds and make us healthier simply
our minds and make us healthier simply stated they make us feel good in ways
stated they make us feel good in ways
stated they make us feel good in ways that are backed by science in fact your
that are backed by science in fact your
that are backed by science in fact your brains and bodies have been responding
brains and bodies have been responding
brains and bodies have been responding maybe outside of your awareness since
maybe outside of your awareness since
maybe outside of your awareness since you first began observing my helper this
you first began observing my helper this
you first began observing my helper this is killer the therapy rabbit
as humans evolved our highly intelligent
as humans evolved our highly intelligent brains we had to sacrifice certain other
brains we had to sacrifice certain other
brains we had to sacrifice certain other biological attributes and one of those
biological attributes and one of those
biological attributes and one of those was our acute senses to help us survive
was our acute senses to help us survive
was our acute senses to help us survive that transition we began hanging around
that transition we began hanging around
that transition we began hanging around species of prey animals prey animals are
species of prey animals prey animals are
species of prey animals prey animals are plant eating animals that are hunted by
plant eating animals that are hunted by
plant eating animals that are hunted by predators you can still see this today
predators you can still see this today
predators you can still see this today in some parts of India and Africa where
in some parts of India and Africa where
in some parts of India and Africa where troops of primates stick close to deer
troops of primates stick close to deer
troops of primates stick close to deer and antelope those prey species maintain
and antelope those prey species maintain
and antelope those prey species maintain the highly developed senses that we lost
the highly developed senses that we lost
the highly developed senses that we lost thus they can tell us that there’s
thus they can tell us that there’s
thus they can tell us that there’s danger present long before we could
danger present long before we could
danger present long before we could detect it ourselves
detect it ourselves
detect it ourselves that means when we’re observing a
that means when we’re observing a
that means when we’re observing a comprar animal in this case a rabbit our
comprar animal in this case a rabbit our
comprar animal in this case a rabbit our brain is telling our body that we’re
brain is telling our body that we’re
brain is telling our body that we’re safe this is one of the reasons I like
safe this is one of the reasons I like
safe this is one of the reasons I like to include killer with me when I debrief
to include killer with me when I debrief
to include killer with me when I debrief a client after a crisis while prey
a client after a crisis while prey
a client after a crisis while prey species just for example horses and
species just for example horses and
species just for example horses and rabbits can help our bodies feel calm
rabbits can help our bodies feel calm
rabbits can help our bodies feel calm positive interactions with all species
positive interactions with all species
positive interactions with all species of animals can help us create and
of animals can help us create and
of animals can help us create and strengthen social bonds this is because
strengthen social bonds this is because
strengthen social bonds this is because of the influence of oxytocin
of the influence of oxytocin
of the influence of oxytocin affectionately referred to by some
affectionately referred to by some
affectionately referred to by some scientists as the cuddle hormone
oxytocin helps us feel warm and fuzzy
oxytocin helps us feel warm and fuzzy it’s a chemical that’s released by our
it’s a chemical that’s released by our
it’s a chemical that’s released by our brain when we’re close to our loved ones
brain when we’re close to our loved ones
brain when we’re close to our loved ones but more than that and of particular
but more than that and of particular
but more than that and of particular importance to my message today it’s also
importance to my message today it’s also
importance to my message today it’s also released when we’re having a positive
released when we’re having a positive
released when we’re having a positive interaction with an animal the oxytocin
interaction with an animal the oxytocin
interaction with an animal the oxytocin that’s released helps us feel calm happy
that’s released helps us feel calm happy
that’s released helps us feel calm happy and safe and is associated with some of
and safe and is associated with some of
and safe and is associated with some of the physiological benefits that you may
the physiological benefits that you may
the physiological benefits that you may have heard of such as calming our
have heard of such as calming our
have heard of such as calming our cardiovascular system what’s interesting
cardiovascular system what’s interesting
cardiovascular system what’s interesting about human animal interactions is that
about human animal interactions is that
about human animal interactions is that when we’re interacting with an animal
when we’re interacting with an animal
when we’re interacting with an animal like killer and we experience an
like killer and we experience an
like killer and we experience an oxytocin boost it helps us of course
oxytocin boost it helps us of course
oxytocin boost it helps us of course build our social bond with this animal
build our social bond with this animal
build our social bond with this animal here but interestingly it has like an
here but interestingly it has like an
here but interestingly it has like an area of effect it increases our ability
area of effect it increases our ability
area of effect it increases our ability to build bonds with the other people who
to build bonds with the other people who
to build bonds with the other people who happen to be near us when we’re having
happen to be near us when we’re having
happen to be near us when we’re having the positive interaction with the animal
the positive interaction with the animal
the positive interaction with the animal so that’s one of many reasons that
so that’s one of many reasons that
so that’s one of many reasons that working with a registered therapy animal
working with a registered therapy animal
working with a registered therapy animal can help counsellors and
can help counsellors and
can help counsellors and psychotherapists build strong bonds with
psychotherapists build strong bonds with
psychotherapists build strong bonds with the clients they work with now outside
the clients they work with now outside
the clients they work with now outside of therapy this has a lot of other
of therapy this has a lot of other
of therapy this has a lot of other applications too other relational
applications too other relational
applications too other relational contexts and you’ve probably experienced
contexts and you’ve probably experienced
contexts and you’ve probably experienced this yourself at one point or another
this yourself at one point or another
this yourself at one point or another anyone in here ever experienced the dog
anyone in here ever experienced the dog
anyone in here ever experienced the dog park effect where it’s a whole lot
park effect where it’s a whole lot
park effect where it’s a whole lot easier to talk to and interact with
easier to talk to and interact with
easier to talk to and interact with strangers when you’re in the presence of
strangers when you’re in the presence of
strangers when you’re in the presence of a bunch of happy dogs yeah it helps
a bunch of happy dogs yeah it helps
a bunch of happy dogs yeah it helps families to may also notice that bonding
families to may also notice that bonding
families to may also notice that bonding time with each other is much more
time with each other is much more
time with each other is much more possible in the presence of the family
possible in the presence of the family
possible in the presence of the family pet current research shows us at least
pet current research shows us at least
pet current research shows us at least in dogs that this oxytocin boosts this
in dogs that this oxytocin boosts this
in dogs that this oxytocin boosts this warm fuzzy feeling that we experience
warm fuzzy feeling that we experience
warm fuzzy feeling that we experience when we interact with an animal is
when we interact with an animal is
when we interact with an animal is reciprocal and that dogs experience
reciprocal and that dogs experience
reciprocal and that dogs experience companion at love
companion at love
companion at love similarly to the way people do that
similarly to the way people do that
similarly to the way people do that means that your dog loves you all of you
means that your dog loves you all of you
means that your dog loves you all of you in here probably had an intuitive idea
in here probably had an intuitive idea
in here probably had an intuitive idea but we’ve got science to back that that
but we’ve got science to back that that
but we’ve got science to back that that loving relationship we perceive with our
loving relationship we perceive with our
loving relationship we perceive with our dogs is in fact real and accurate so one
dogs is in fact real and accurate so one
dogs is in fact real and accurate so one of the first messages that your dog
of the first messages that your dog
of the first messages that your dog might have for you is I love you too
clearly our animals have some pretty
clearly our animals have some pretty important things to tell us and the
important things to tell us and the
important things to tell us and the oxytocin boost and social connectedness
oxytocin boost and social connectedness
oxytocin boost and social connectedness that our interactions with them can
that our interactions with them can
that our interactions with them can bring represent only a fraction of how
bring represent only a fraction of how
bring represent only a fraction of how the human-animal bond can be helpful
the human-animal bond can be helpful
the human-animal bond can be helpful in a way it’s only the tip of the
in a way it’s only the tip of the
in a way it’s only the tip of the iceberg if we can become aware of and
iceberg if we can become aware of and
iceberg if we can become aware of and interpret what our animals are saying to
interpret what our animals are saying to
interpret what our animals are saying to us accurately then we can become
us accurately then we can become
us accurately then we can become empowered to encounter ourselves and
empowered to encounter ourselves and
empowered to encounter ourselves and relationships in very new ways this is
relationships in very new ways this is
relationships in very new ways this is because animals are incredibly congruent
because animals are incredibly congruent
because animals are incredibly congruent that means that their feelings and their
that means that their feelings and their
that means that their feelings and their behaviors match so they show us exactly
behaviors match so they show us exactly
behaviors match so they show us exactly how they’re feeling without respond for
how they’re feeling without respond for
how they’re feeling without respond for social appropriateness similarly to the
social appropriateness similarly to the
social appropriateness similarly to the way killer peed on my blazer before we
way killer peed on my blazer before we
way killer peed on my blazer before we walked out Thank You bunny for your
walked out Thank You bunny for your
walked out Thank You bunny for your congruence so animals can tell us
congruence so animals can tell us
congruence so animals can tell us honestly how we’re coming across to
honestly how we’re coming across to
honestly how we’re coming across to others this is a rare and valuable
others this is a rare and valuable
others this is a rare and valuable source of feedback because we’re so
source of feedback because we’re so
source of feedback because we’re so seldom able to get this in human
seldom able to get this in human
seldom able to get this in human relationships interactions with people
relationships interactions with people
relationships interactions with people by their very nature are biased and
by their very nature are biased and
by their very nature are biased and influenced by the norms and rules of our
influenced by the norms and rules of our
influenced by the norms and rules of our culture’s interactions with animals on
culture’s interactions with animals on
culture’s interactions with animals on the other hand are unfiltered and
the other hand are unfiltered and
the other hand are unfiltered and unapologetically genuine the honesty
unapologetically genuine the honesty
unapologetically genuine the honesty that that genuineness can bring us means
that that genuineness can bring us means
that that genuineness can bring us means that animals are going to respond to the
that animals are going to respond to the
that animals are going to respond to the way we’re coming across without being
way we’re coming across without being
way we’re coming across without being concerned about hurting our feelings so
concerned about hurting our feelings so
concerned about hurting our feelings so what do animals tell us they tell us the
what do animals tell us they tell us the
what do animals tell us they tell us the truth many people who are experiencing
truth many people who are experiencing
truth many people who are experiencing difficulty interacting with
difficulty interacting with
difficulty interacting with communicating building a relationship
communicating building a relationship
communicating building a relationship with an animal very often experience
with an animal very often experience
with an animal very often experience similar difficulties with people but
similar difficulties with people but
similar difficulties with people but here’s the thing the person usually
here’s the thing the person usually
here’s the thing the person usually isn’t aware that they have similar
isn’t aware that they have similar
isn’t aware that they have similar difficulties with people until their
difficulties with people until their
difficulties with people until their interaction with that animal reveals it
that new awareness can empower us to
that new awareness can empower us to make different choices
make different choices
make different choices and adapt our interactions accordingly
and adapt our interactions accordingly
and adapt our interactions accordingly thus strengthening our relationships
thus strengthening our relationships
thus strengthening our relationships with other people we’ve also learned in
with other people we’ve also learned in
with other people we’ve also learned in some recent studies that dogs can tell
some recent studies that dogs can tell
some recent studies that dogs can tell us what other people think of us
us what other people think of us
us what other people think of us so it’s recently been confirmed that
so it’s recently been confirmed that
so it’s recently been confirmed that dogs actively observe how other people
dogs actively observe how other people
dogs actively observe how other people treat their owners and show a very clear
treat their owners and show a very clear
treat their owners and show a very clear preference for people who are more
preference for people who are more
preference for people who are more helpful to their owners so the idea of
helpful to their owners so the idea of
helpful to their owners so the idea of if my dog doesn’t like you I probably
if my dog doesn’t like you I probably
if my dog doesn’t like you I probably won’t either may actually hold some
won’t either may actually hold some
won’t either may actually hold some water right killer right now killer is
water right killer right now killer is
water right killer right now killer is being extremely genuine and you you all
being extremely genuine and you you all
being extremely genuine and you you all have done something in here to make her
have done something in here to make her
have done something in here to make her feel comfortable because she’s she’s
feel comfortable because she’s she’s
feel comfortable because she’s she’s very comfortable showing her showing you
very comfortable showing her showing you
very comfortable showing her showing you her backside I learned a lot of the
her backside I learned a lot of the
her backside I learned a lot of the truth that our animals can tell us in my
truth that our animals can tell us in my
truth that our animals can tell us in my relationship with my canine co-counselor
relationship with my canine co-counselor
relationship with my canine co-counselor Sophie who’s a now retired German
Sophie who’s a now retired German
Sophie who’s a now retired German Shepherd Sophie worked alongside me as a
Shepherd Sophie worked alongside me as a
Shepherd Sophie worked alongside me as a registered therapy dog for a number of
registered therapy dog for a number of
registered therapy dog for a number of years she helped me build strong
years she helped me build strong
years she helped me build strong relationships with my clients she also
relationships with my clients she also
relationships with my clients she also acted as a souped-up set of senses
acted as a souped-up set of senses
acted as a souped-up set of senses allowing me to learn things about our
allowing me to learn things about our
allowing me to learn things about our clients that I wouldn’t have been able
clients that I wouldn’t have been able
clients that I wouldn’t have been able to without her and in many instances she
to without her and in many instances she
to without her and in many instances she acted as a message bearer of crucial
acted as a message bearer of crucial
acted as a message bearer of crucial relational information about our clients
relational information about our clients
relational information about our clients because of that ability to respond to
because of that ability to respond to
because of that ability to respond to our clients body language behaviors and
our clients body language behaviors and
our clients body language behaviors and personalities in a completely congruent
personalities in a completely congruent
personalities in a completely congruent and genuine way in that way she was able
and genuine way in that way she was able
and genuine way in that way she was able to help me offer therapeutic services or
to help me offer therapeutic services or
to help me offer therapeutic services or far beyond the scope of a human
far beyond the scope of a human
far beyond the scope of a human counsellor I have so many Sophie stories
counsellor I have so many Sophie stories
counsellor I have so many Sophie stories that would take all day to tell but a
that would take all day to tell but a
that would take all day to tell but a few of them from our early work together
few of them from our early work together
few of them from our early work together really clued
really clued
really clued into this idea that animals can tell us
into this idea that animals can tell us
into this idea that animals can tell us more than we ever realized one of my
more than we ever realized one of my
more than we ever realized one of my specialty areas is working with
specialty areas is working with
specialty areas is working with survivors of sexual assault
survivors of sexual assault
survivors of sexual assault I had many clients on my caseload who
I had many clients on my caseload who
I had many clients on my caseload who were working to reprocess the painful
were working to reprocess the painful
were working to reprocess the painful memories of their assault normally
memories of their assault normally
memories of their assault normally throughout our sessions Sophie would
throughout our sessions Sophie would
throughout our sessions Sophie would curl up on the couch and cuddle up with
curl up on the couch and cuddle up with
curl up on the couch and cuddle up with our clients until they began to
our clients until they began to
our clients until they began to reprocess one of those memories every
reprocess one of those memories every
reprocess one of those memories every time that happened without fail Sophie
time that happened without fail Sophie
time that happened without fail Sophie would get up from the couch and go guard
would get up from the couch and go guard
would get up from the couch and go guard the door
the door
the door this helped our clients feel safe and
this helped our clients feel safe and
this helped our clients feel safe and nurtured but it also clued me in to
nurtured but it also clued me in to
nurtured but it also clued me in to emotional shifts that were happening in
emotional shifts that were happening in
emotional shifts that were happening in session no matter how subtle they might
session no matter how subtle they might
session no matter how subtle they might be another thing Sophie taught me was
be another thing Sophie taught me was
be another thing Sophie taught me was that animals can tell when humans might
that animals can tell when humans might
that animals can tell when humans might need medical attention one day as we
need medical attention one day as we
need medical attention one day as we went to greet our client in the waiting
went to greet our client in the waiting
went to greet our client in the waiting room
room
room we happen to back pass by the client of
we happen to back pass by the client of
we happen to back pass by the client of another counselor who happened to be a
another counselor who happened to be a
another counselor who happened to be a young woman as we went to pass this
young woman as we went to pass this
young woman as we went to pass this young woman Sofie responded with very
young woman Sofie responded with very
young woman Sofie responded with very clear signs of fearfulness she cowered
clear signs of fearfulness she cowered
clear signs of fearfulness she cowered tried to hide behind me and did
tried to hide behind me and did
tried to hide behind me and did everything she possibly could to get
everything she possibly could to get
everything she possibly could to get away from her
away from her
away from her in all of our years working together I’d
in all of our years working together I’d
in all of our years working together I’d never seen brave and stoic Sophie
never seen brave and stoic Sophie
never seen brave and stoic Sophie respond this way especially to a young
respond this way especially to a young
respond this way especially to a young woman we later learned that this person
woman we later learned that this person
woman we later learned that this person was struggling with disordered eating
was struggling with disordered eating
was struggling with disordered eating and that her body was in ketosis which
and that her body was in ketosis which
and that her body was in ketosis which is a detrimental process during which
is a detrimental process during which
is a detrimental process during which muscles are broken down for energy
muscles are broken down for energy
muscles are broken down for energy although we didn’t understand at the
although we didn’t understand at the
although we didn’t understand at the time Sophie was trying to tell us that
time Sophie was trying to tell us that
time Sophie was trying to tell us that something was wrong and that this person
something was wrong and that this person
something was wrong and that this person needed help she would also sometimes
needed help she would also sometimes
needed help she would also sometimes tell me things about other staff members
tell me things about other staff members
tell me things about other staff members and occasionally strangers every so
and occasionally strangers every so
and occasionally strangers every so often and our work together and in our
often and our work together and in our
often and our work together and in our personal lives together we’d run across
personal lives together we’d run across
personal lives together we’d run across a person who is afraid of dogs which is
a person who is afraid of dogs which is
a person who is afraid of dogs which is especially obvious in the presence of a
especially obvious in the presence of a
especially obvious in the presence of a hundred pound Roman Shepherd
no matter how subtle this person was
no matter how subtle this person was trying to be in concealing their anxiety
trying to be in concealing their anxiety
trying to be in concealing their anxiety I’d always be able to tell who was
I’d always be able to tell who was
I’d always be able to tell who was afraid of dogs because Sophie would be
afraid of dogs because Sophie would be
afraid of dogs because Sophie would be uncharacteristically insistent and
uncharacteristically insistent and
uncharacteristically insistent and stubborn about I need to go and comfort
stubborn about I need to go and comfort
stubborn about I need to go and comfort this person I know poor Sophie she she
this person I know poor Sophie she she
this person I know poor Sophie she she had no idea that she was actually the
had no idea that she was actually the
had no idea that she was actually the cause of the anxiety and she wanted
cause of the anxiety and she wanted
cause of the anxiety and she wanted desperately to help alleviate it she’d
desperately to help alleviate it she’d
desperately to help alleviate it she’d often be very confused and frustrated
often be very confused and frustrated
often be very confused and frustrated with me that I wouldn’t let her go do
with me that I wouldn’t let her go do
with me that I wouldn’t let her go do her job these are just a few examples of
her job these are just a few examples of
her job these are just a few examples of this idea that clearly our animals have
this idea that clearly our animals have
this idea that clearly our animals have some really important things to say if
some really important things to say if
some really important things to say if we’re willing and able to listen
if we’re able to accurately interpret
if we’re able to accurately interpret our animals information they can give us
our animals information they can give us
our animals information they can give us important clues about our health our
important clues about our health our
important clues about our health our relationships our emotions and how
relationships our emotions and how
relationships our emotions and how others probably perceive us as I
others probably perceive us as I
others probably perceive us as I mentioned earlier a lot of the concepts
mentioned earlier a lot of the concepts
mentioned earlier a lot of the concepts that we’ve talked about today represent
that we’ve talked about today represent
that we’ve talked about today represent only the tip of the iceberg when it
only the tip of the iceberg when it
only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the power of the
comes to understanding the power of the
comes to understanding the power of the human animal bond there’s still so much
human animal bond there’s still so much
human animal bond there’s still so much we don’t know and so I invite you to
we don’t know and so I invite you to
we don’t know and so I invite you to ponder these ideas with your own animals
ponder these ideas with your own animals
ponder these ideas with your own animals in mind and to educate yourself about
in mind and to educate yourself about
in mind and to educate yourself about how the animals in your life communicate
how the animals in your life communicate
how the animals in your life communicate because the more expert you become at
because the more expert you become at
because the more expert you become at listening to and then accurately
listening to and then accurately
listening to and then accurately interpreting what your animals are
interpreting what your animals are
interpreting what your animals are communicating to you the more expert you
communicating to you the more expert you
communicating to you the more expert you become at navigating and improving all
become at navigating and improving all
become at navigating and improving all of the relationships in your life human
of the relationships in your life human
of the relationships in your life human or animals
”
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