Monique Verhoef, RTC
Dog Assisted Human Therapeutic Approach
When Therapy Meets Dog
Let Your Genuine Shine!
A dog and therapy...Why?
Wile my focus is on mental well-being, I have noticed that many of us are also dog owners. So why not taking advantage of something that can be a huge benefit and that you already have...your dog.
Dogs and humans have lived together for thousands of years.
Now several types of research are showing that, when managed appropriately, this human and dog relationship can be extremely beneficial for our well-being.
Just by looking at your dog can increase levels of oxytocin. Also, dogs can be the starter for much needed physical activities in humans. Even when you love your dog, however, there are days that you just cannot seem to pull yourself out of the dark hole of negative feelings...and the love of your dog is what you hold on to.
When you feel anxious, overwhelmed or going through a difficult time, your energy might be reflected in your dog. Dogs can adapt and move on quite well. However, when Fido is exposed to stress for some time, it can become chronic or result in unwanted behaviour.
If your pup turned into a loose cannon on four legs with razor-sharp teeth and annoys the hag out of you or your family then you may want to consider professional help. Dog training can be part of the solution, but often it’s you who needs to understand your own troubles and emotions before you can understand your dog’s emotion and behaviour.
Counselling with your dog in mind is about building a bridge between you, your dog. Through my dog assisted therapy you can learn to receive your dog's wisdom in return. It helps speed your therapy process, learn how to live in the moment, and create calm and trusting relationships.
Discover hope and happiness. Create a stronger bond with your dog. Experience freedom, respect and connection.
In addition I also focus on bereavement and pet-loss and grief. Losing a significant person or beloved pet can be a very traumatic and stressful event. I believe that it is an event that makes society feels uncomfortable to talk about. Especially when it comes to losing a pet. Getting professional support during these times can help you free from guilt, and being stuck in it for times to come. We may never overcome a loss but with time we can learn how to embrace it, deal with it and to feel human again.
Anxiety
Anxiety is the body’s natural response. It’s a hormonal anxiety response, know as fight or flight response. This anxiety response released to help us when we are in danger. However, anxiety becomes interference when you experience it with such strength or intensity that it affects your social life and functioning.
Other stress factors that may add to your anxiety can include work or deadlines, financial issues, busy traffic or disputes. Your experiences of anxiety can be
The goal is to gain better control over your anxiety in such a way that you can enjoy a less stressful and healthier life.
I help you by exploring skills to manage your anxiety, which may include relaxation methods and identifying and thought control.
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Uncontrollable
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Excessive
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Irrational
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Feeling tired
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Feeling restless and stressed
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Feeling difficult to concentrate
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Feelings of Fight or flight response, including shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, increased heart rate, increased muscle tension
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Having difficulties falling asleep
Depression
Everyone feels low or sad every now and then. Most of these feelings are usually short-lived. Sadness is an emotion that can be difficult to deal with. Depression, however, can be a result of many causes, including loss or anger.
Ongoing emotions of low and sadness may become problematic when it interferes with your daily activities. Depression can be experienced in different ways. When depression has taken over of the things you want to do in life you may feel without hope of any life improvement in the future. You even may blame your self when something bad has happened. And when something good happens you consider yourself as just being lucky. Feelings of depression can include
How can therapy help? The goal is to reclaim your life back by increasing some physical and emotional control. I help you by reflecting on how your emotions may relate to your feelings of depression. I can help to identify and correct negative thoughts and beliefs by reframing the way you think about life and appropriate behavioural strategies. It may help you the way you think about life and may prevent or recover from failures more effectively. Equipped with the right skills lowers your chance of relapse of feeling depressed again.
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Helplessness,
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Feeling overwhelmed,
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Influence relationships,
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Emotional and sometimes physical pain
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Lost of interest or pleasure certain activities
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Feeling worthless
Pet Loss & Grief
Losing a beloved pet by loss, disappearance or having to give up your pet can be a very distressing period in your life. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma for grieving pet owners.
Your relationship with your pet was special, and in some cases, your pet was the only one you could trust. You are now experiencing a deep pain that sometimes friends and family, who have not (yet) experienced a deep bond with an animal, do understand. They might miss the understanding of the unconditional love you’ve had with your animal and therefore dismiss your pain and grief. This may be a reason why you don't seek help because of this perception or simply don't know that support is available. Never be ashamed or feel guilty about grieving for your pet friend!
Death of your beloved pet can be an overwhelming and intense experience. Still in today’s society grieving over your companion can easily be overlooked.
Grief is something that should not be ignored. It might even amplify a previous loss or a traumatic experience that has happened earlier in life. When not dealt with emotions that may come with grief, it can follow wherever you go and impact your psychological and physiological health.
Our pets provide us with so much teaching, unconditional love, companionship and loyalty. It's inevitable that the pain and sadness can be a devastating event the moment they pass.
Symptoms of acute grief differ per person and grief has no time table; for some, it can take weeks, months or even years. I am here to provide you with support and help throughout the grieving process.
Your pet has left a legacy and profound prints into your heart. You and your pet have enriched each other's life; the love and bond you've had with your pet will never end.
Bereavement
Everyone will experience grief at some point in life. Grief is a natural emotional response to a loss of someone or something important to you. This could be the loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of a job, illness, or any other major life change.
Grief is a personal journey. Symptoms vary and may include feeling
Grief can be experienced as a rollercoaster with ups and downs, and intense pain and sorrow. Grief can follow you everywhere you go.
If you are experiencing grief with a dog in your household, he may pick up cues through your visual signs, like your body language or crying. More studies may be necessary to better understand the bonding between humans and dogs. However, this study shows that a dog might show empathy with a crying human. Whether his action is out of empathy, curiosity, or social contact, he is letting you know that you are not alone.
Recovery from a loss takes time and can’t be forced. Healing from a devastating loss does not mean that you will forget your loved one; it’s finding a way of dealing with the loss and giving it a special place. I can help explore your loss, share feelings, which can help you cope.
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Irritability
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Sadness
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Hopeless
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Shock
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Pain
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Guilt
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Anger
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Numbness
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Detachment
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Constant thinking about the loss
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Inability to experience joy
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Fatigue
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Headaches
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Chest pain
Cultural & Identity
Culture is a complex system of beliefs, lifestyles behaviour and outlooks and is frequently not recognized in a new country you now call home.
Often you are not aware of your social background, values or behaviour in the country you were born and raised in and you even consider them to be normal…But then you come in contact with another culture, and now you can clearly see and feel some differences.
Sometimes the difference in social backgrounds, values or behaviors may result in social alienation or isolation. You start to withdraw or distance yourself from your environment or form other people. You also may experience symptoms of depression. Other symptoms may include feelings of
Work for example usually reflects who we are. We humans like to be productive. If you feel that your work is not creative or has no sense of meaning to you, it may lead to depression, anxiety and sense of emptiness and lack of belonging.
I can help you in becoming aware of your own identity and acceptance can help you create and establish your new life and let your authenticity shine.
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Helplessness
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Meaningless or emptiness
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Difficulty connecting with others
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Separating yourself from others
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Unwilling to follow rules or detached from traditional values
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Lack of belonging