Career counselling with therapy dogs in Ballarat

Question

Dog assisted career therapy and retirement planning

Terminal illness and grief

Relationship breakdowns

Reminiscence therapy

Accepted Answer

Making decisions about career choices and changes can be overwhelming! Our psychologists collaborate with you, combining our clinical and HR experience to navigate these challenges. Through career assessments, we can help identify your strengths, interests, and values, offering clarity on suitable career paths. We can support you to explore personal goals, address uncertainties, and build confidence. We also teach practical skills including stress management, job interview and conflict resolution skills. If you are considering your retirement, psychologists can support you in making decisions, adjusting to lifestyle changes and addressing your emotional well-being during this important transition.

Accepted Answer

The sense of loss or grief experienced when you or a loved one receives a terminal diagnosis can knock you off your feet. Equal can be true when someone you love (human or animal) passes away. Our reactions to grief can be immediate or evolve over time. You might express grief externally or internally. We can sometimes respond to grief in unexpected ways or even feel a sense of guilt over what we perceive as burdening those around us who may also be experiencing loss. Barking Mad Company is a space where you can explore your grief in safety, develop coping strategies, and find meaning, while our therapy animals offer a soothing, non-verbal form of companionship throughout your healing process.

Accepted Answer

Our psychologists can provide crucial support to individuals or couples navigating relationship breakdowns, such as divorce, by offering a safe and non-judgmental space to process emotions, manage stress, and build coping strategies. Therapy can help you develop effective communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and work through feelings of grief, anger, or loss. Our canine therapy for life transitions can enhance this process by providing you with comfort, emotional connection, and a calming presence during these challenging times.

Accepted Answer

Reminiscence therapy is an evidence-based psychological intervention that encourages individuals, particularly older adults, to reflect on and share memories from their past. Research shows that this therapy can enhance mood, improve cognitive functioning, and promote a sense of identity and well-being, especially for those with dementia or depression. Sessions often include discussing significant life events, using prompts like photographs, music, or personal objects. The purpose is to foster social interaction, boost self-esteem, and provide comfort by reconnecting individuals with meaningful experiences, ultimately improving their quality of life and emotional health.

At Barking Mad Company, we are passionate about supporting older adults and individuals with memory disorders. We feel elderly individuals are not always represented equally in community approaches to mental health, despite being disproportionately affected by loneliness and memory disorders such as dementia. We love reminiscence therapy as a powerful tool to connect or reconnect family members and support individuals to engage in positive storytelling and meaning-making of their experiences. We can work with you or your elderly loved one as part of a mental health treatment plan and incorporate animal therapy into these sessions. Treatments can be delivered individually or with couples and family groups.