I've been working with children and teenagers with a range of personal, social and emotional issues for many years. Often these children have felt alone, unheard, misunderstood and unloved. I have found that the quickest way to get through the barriers, break through their trust issues and help them to feel great about themselves is through animal assisted therapy. Connecting with an animal is often the first step towards a happier, calmer and kinder future for our children.
As a huge believer that ensuring ALL children become literate, we have also included a literacy element to our therapy programs.
. 'The Child Listener™' 2007.
A range of services will be offered to children and teenagers including those with emotional and
behavioral difficulties,
and
who are suffering sadness and loss. Animal Therapy 4 Kids will run daytime,
weekend
and
week
long retreats as well
as workshops and play sessions - 1:1 and small group therapy available.
Also ask about our unique animal play therapy sessions for children of all ages-you will be able to bring
your
child for
a positive interaction with our trained dogs (registered as therapy and assistance dogs)
and farm animals
- watch them blossom
as they play with & feed
our animals. Educating children about
animals,
and facilitating the development
of empathy
for animals is an important part of our program.
The Child Listener™ will be undertaking studies relating to assistance and therapy dogs- and will then
source premises for a Centre in Australia. She is
looking
forward
to helping children
build confidence
and self-esteem; working to help them reach their
potential,
promoting positive choices through
emotional intelligence assisted by animals. She then plans to embark on an ambitious program - and take
Animal Therapy 4 Kids worldwide!
Animal Therapy 4 Kids is unique in that we will also focus on literacy development within our therapy
programs (linked with Read Australia™) and also offer early literacy programs for pre-school aged children.
Poor literacy
achievement and
undesirable behavior choices are closely linked- and we will be offering
centres
that promotes a preventative approach. Our philosophy is that ALL children deserve the right to literacy
and
to be able to suceed in life. Not only through improved behavior
choices, based on an intrinsic
desire to be
their best, but also with the literacy skills
that will allow for choices in life. Breaking the Cycle.
Express an Interest in Joining the Team,
Centres Opening in 2011/ 12
Animal Therapy 4 Kids will be looking for caring, compassionate and dedicated dog trainers (using only positive approaches) as well as qualified literacy teachers and tutors, counsellors, life coaches and psychologists (ideally using a cognitive behavior therapy approach)
If you are currently working with children and teens
you may bring your clients to the centre. We will support you as part of the team, help you source new clients, and take the burden of business running costs so that you can focus on helping children and teenagers!
Here soon! Thanks for your patience
Literacy Achievement
One of our main aims at
the centre is to ensure that children have the skills necessary to succeed in life...
Rescue Dogs Although we do train some of our dogs from being puppies we will never use dogs from breeders, nor will we ever breed. All of our animals will come from shelters - rescue and rehabilitation is a big part of our program.
