In December of 2008 I had the privilege of adopting Gemma, a standard poodle with a cinnamon & sugar coloring. Gemma was a puppy mill rescue (estimated to be between 2-3 years old) and was in pretty rough shape due to a very poor quality of life. She hadn't been walked or played with, living her days in a small cage where she ate, toileted herself and nursed her pups before they were taken from her. Gemma didn't know what human kindness was before she was rescued as it was humans who exploited and otherwise neglected her for those first few years of life. It took an intensive year of rehabilitation before the dog I adopted transformed into a beautifully secure, healthy and happy companion. I have to say that I had learned a lot during that year about resiliency and the therapeutic benefits of working so closely with animals. A year or so later, during my internship at Elizabeth Fry Society I had a client who struggled with her own history of trauma and I brought Gemma in to meet her. This session was a catalyst for change with my client, learning to become confident, assertive, establish boundaries and a self care regime. Witnessing the amazing influence of utilizing Animal Assisted Therapy in Counselling inspired me to dive into professional development and independent study in the field.
In 2012, West Coast Assistance Teams in British Columbia assessed/ screened and certified Gemma and myself as a Therapy Team. We have since relocated back to Ontario where both Hazel (who joined us later in 2012 as a puppy) and Gemma had been utilized in a clinical capacity
Since then, Hazel (and myself) has undergone additional training certification as a Trauma Support Service Dog in time to represent the AAT in C Chapter at the 2015 Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's Annual Conference.
Also in 2015, I began working in Private Practice in the London-Kitchener area and training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. The Somatic Experiencing modality in the treatment of Trauma was a game changer and continues to play a powerful role in the therapeutic services I provide.
In 2017, I returned to my home town, Ottawa, Ontario, where I rebuilt my Private Practice. Shortly after, Gemma left her mortal body behind to live on in the hearts she had touched in her journey. Hazel and I continue the work that Gemma inspired and in November of 2019 we welcomed Violet, a standard poodle puppy, to our pack and began training so she may follow in Gemma and Hazel's footsteps.
In 2012, West Coast Assistance Teams in British Columbia assessed/ screened and certified Gemma and myself as a Therapy Team. We have since relocated back to Ontario where both Hazel (who joined us later in 2012 as a puppy) and Gemma had been utilized in a clinical capacity
Since then, Hazel (and myself) has undergone additional training certification as a Trauma Support Service Dog in time to represent the AAT in C Chapter at the 2015 Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's Annual Conference.
Also in 2015, I began working in Private Practice in the London-Kitchener area and training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. The Somatic Experiencing modality in the treatment of Trauma was a game changer and continues to play a powerful role in the therapeutic services I provide.
In 2017, I returned to my home town, Ottawa, Ontario, where I rebuilt my Private Practice. Shortly after, Gemma left her mortal body behind to live on in the hearts she had touched in her journey. Hazel and I continue the work that Gemma inspired and in November of 2019 we welcomed Violet, a standard poodle puppy, to our pack and began training so she may follow in Gemma and Hazel's footsteps.
