Java is a great addition to the therapeutic experience. He greets clients as they arrive, may sit at your feet, or sleep on his bed during session. He sometimes comforts clients when they're sad and helps ease the anxiety of coming for a therapy session. Studies have found that petting an animal decreases blood pressure as well as anxiety.
Java has been especially helpful in making children and teens feel at ease. In therapy with children, we sometimes use Java to talk about how to interact with others and explore what projections a child may have about what Java thinks and feels. Many of my teenage clients get right down on the floor and spend the whole session talking while snuggling with Java. He provides enough distraction to make it easier to talk about difficult issues, but not too much that it gets in the way of our work together.
Java was originally trained to be a Guide Dog for the Blind, but unfortunately, due to a slight knee problem, he had to change careers. He makes a great therapy dog since he was trained to be well behaved, was raised in a preschool so he’s good with children, and is used to quietly sitting for long periods of time.
Not all clients enjoy dogs, so after saying a quick hello, if you're not interested in having Java spend time with you, he'll go to his dog bed and spent the rest of the session napping. Also, although I check over the phone to make sure there are no issues with allergies or dog phobias before I take on a new client, some clients have mild allergies that touching a dog would trigger. If this is the case, Java will stay on his bed the whole session so as not to trigger any allergic reactions.
To make an appointment for an assessment and/or discuss recommendations for treatment, call (415) 686-9544 or email drkeith@drkeithsutton.com I have offices in San Francisco and San Rafael and provide phone and/or web sessions for clients who can not come to the office.