Sessions take place anywhere there is a private space with enough room. As parents, it is very difficult taking our kids to weekly appointments. Happy Tails Counseling helps with this by offering sessions mostly at schools, but also at churches, doctors' offices, and even other counseling agencies (for short term interventions).

For sessions at school, we can provide the counseling before, during, or after school, reducing the amount of driving on you.

Many kids, teens, and even adults find traditional counseling methods intimidating. Skills can be discussed in sessions, but without practice, it can be a big jump to perform the skill in a real-life situation.

In contrast, animal-assisted play therapy is fun, relaxing, and provides the perfect opportunity to practice skills without judgement (via the therapy animal)!

Research shows the effectiveness of animal-assisted play therapy; it combines the natural oxytocin release that occurs during human-animal interactions with children's natural interest in animals and play.

Our co-counseling play therapy dog, Archie, gets to be himself, flaws and all. He isn't a service dog and doesn't act like a robot. In fact, it is through his unique personality and engaging him in play that learning and healing can occur.

By including him in our counseling session, the counselor models skills the client can observe: communication, respect, empathy, flexibility, consideration, and so on. The client also gets to practice these skills as they interact and play with Archie.

Struggling with anxiety or depression? Archie's presence can cause a release of oxytocin, helping you feel better while simultaneously serving as a catalyst for healing.

Both therapy dogs and animal-assisted play therapy dogs have been through training and passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test. The dog and handler have also typically passed a therapy dog/team exam through organizations like Therapy Dog International or the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. At the International Institute for Animal-Assisted Play Therapy, level 1 handlers take an extensive course (with in-person training) on ethics, animal behavior, stress cues, and counseling techniques.

Traditional therapy dogs sit or lie still while someone pets or reads to them. In animal-assisted interventions, animals are active and have a choice to participate. Through the counselor's expertise, clients consider observations of the dog and their interactions with him in new ways, helping them draw parallels to their own life, and leading to experiential learning.

While you may have a pet who is friendly, soothing, and possibly a certified "emotional support" dog, what makes an animal-assisted play therapy so powerful is the framing and interventions the counselor uses to help the client.

1) He's an animal. They don't wear masks. They don't pretend. They are authentic. Simply by observing their nature and applying it to our lives, we have a lot to gain.

2) Archie went through extensive obedience training and spent many hours socializing in schools. He passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International test in 2023.

3) Since our physical health impacts the way we feel and behave, Archie is kept up-to-date on his vaccines and sees the vet should any concerns arise. He visits the groomer every 5-6 weeks, keeping him clean and fresh.

4) Though Archie has never bitten or harmed anyone, he is prepared with insurance.

Ethically, we do our best to prevent the unforeseen. We have been trained and observe his body cues, make sure he is healthy, monitor his stress signals, give him the option to participate in our work, and provide a place for him to take a break should he need it. Still, he has his own insurance should anything unexpected happen in spite of our best prevention measures.

Your child can receive counseling at Happy Tails. Archie is one of the tools we use in treatment, but we don't have to. Most counselors don't work with dogs! Archie has a crate and can stay in it during our sessions as long as the fear isn't so extreme that even that would be distressing.

Imagine a child who is afraid of water trying to learn swimming. If the child is thrown in the deep end before they've had a chance to build confidence and comfort, they might become even more scared and anxious. Similarly, in canine-assisted counseling, if a child who is afraid of dogs is immediately placed in a situation involving a dog, they might feel overwhelmed and distressed rather than benefiting from the therapeutic process.

Just as with swimming, it's important to address the child's fear of dogs gradually and sensitively. They might first need to learn about dogs, observe them from a distance, or work through their fear with supportive strategies before engaging directly with a therapy dog. This approach ensures that the child can benefit from the counseling in a way that respects their current feelings and builds their confidence step-by-step.

At this time, Happy Tails Counseling does not accept insurance and is cash-pay only.

With the additional costs of animal care and training, travel, coordination of services, and expertise, individual counseling sessions are $150 for an hour session.

Individual Counseling Packages:

5 weeks: $625 ($125 savings)
10 weeks: $1,150 ($350 savings)

Group Counseling:

10 session group: $600