Comox Valley
Specializing in Animal-Assisted Intervention for kids, teens and young adults
"Meeting kids where they are at and helping them move forward in an encouraging, empowering way."
Welcome to a space designed for comfort, healing, learning and conection-- featuring our trained facility dog, Otter!
We understand that stepping into therapy can sometimes feel daunting, which is why we invite a special four-legged co-therapist into our sessions. Our expertly trained facility dog is here to greet you when you arrive, sit by your side, and offer a calming presence while you process your thoughts. Whether you need a grounding anchor during tough conversations, deep pressure therapy to soothe anxiety, or simply a non-judgmental companion to lean on, our furry partner provides unconditional support every step of the way.
Meet Otter
- 2 year old Golden retriever
- Level 1/2/3 Obedience through SC1 Service Dogs
- Certified Facility Dog (has worked in schools as a co-therapist for 1.5 years) using animal-assisted intervention (K-12)
- psychiatric service dog in training
- Critical Response and Trauma dog
Meet Sherry
- 30 years experience as a teacher, principal, school counsellor and registered clinical counsellor
- trauma-informed, positive, fun sprinkled in between targeted tasks, activities and therapies
- “all kinds of minds” welcome
- Critical Response and Trauma Team
- Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention specialist (C-AAIS)
- I’m a mom! 😊
"Supporting kids through life's ups and downs"
Clinical Practice
Sessions can integrate...
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Play therapy: stories, games, toys, sand, animations, etc
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Art Therapy: painting, drawing, creating, music
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Talk Therapy: a safe pace to process, share emotions, build communication skills, perspective
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Somatic Therapy: body awareness, noticing how our body is feeling/what it is trying to tell us and then how to get it what it needs to feel at peace
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Mindfulness: breathing, using one’s senses, yoga, learning how to be still in one’s skin, how to learn to focus and regulate, how to “hit pause,” learning about our brains
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Strength-based Therapy: helping children and youth remember/uncover their strengths and gifts, helping them build the confidence and self-esteem to tackle life’s challenges
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Nature Therapy: simply put- time in nature, unplugged, using all of your senses mindfully, nature-based activities and crafts, mindfulness in nature
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Emotional Regulation and Fluency: identifying emotions in self and others, normalising emotions, how they show up in our bodies, developing coping strategies (“tools in our toolbelt”), how to communicate emotional needs
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Animal-Assisted Intervention: integrating a trained facility dog into sessions as a therapeutic partner to increase safety, reduce anxiety, process emotions more easily, target specific goals or tasks
With parental consent, sessions can occur:
-in the office
-in the yard
-at the beach
-in the Seal Bay trails
Why Animal-Assisted Intervention:
-sensory, co-regulation, non-verbal support
-deep pressure therapy, touch therapy, grounding
-unconditional, self-esteem, attachment
-therapeutic rapport, an invitation to engage
-tasks taught to target specific goals
Contact & Location
SeaOttersCounselling@outlook.com
1855 Coleman Road
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC