“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Not Sigmund Freud
“I, as is well known, do not like cats. “ – SIGMUND FREUD
The bond between people and their animals evolved through history, from utilitarian farm cats and hunting dogs to cherished family members in their own right. As people became more socially isolated, spent more time working, delayed having families, or opted out altogether, pets played an increasingly greater role in people’s lives. When the pandemic hit in 2020, animal shelters around the country emptied as people sought companionship during the shutdown.
Four years after the pandemic, pets are still important to their humans’ mental health. They are a source of unconditional love and acceptance, help boost confidence, and get their humans out of the house to interact with others. For folks with ADHD, feeding and walking a dog or cat can help with establishing routines.
Pets in Telehealth
As a therapist who does telehealth sessions, I have met a lot of clients and their pets. People with depression and anxiety are deeply bonded with their companion animals such as dogs and cats. I’ve also heard of instances in which clients were severely depressed and suicidal, and their animals stopped suicide attempts. The animals placed themselves between the person and the means or interrupted an attempt by biting, barking, meowing, and jumping on them.
Given this bond, it comes as no surprise that a surefire way to establish a therapeutic alliance is to ask about their pets and include them in the therapeutic process. One of the best ways I have found to build rapport with telehealth clients has been through animal introductions. Clients with social anxiety and depression light up and start talking when asked what kind of pet they have, the animal’s name, age, and how they met.
My own cat has been known to greet new clients and sit just off-screen and purr when they are upset. Far from being a distraction, my clients look forward to seeing Leo every week. I have also made it a game to see if animals can be sweet-talked to nuzzle the computer monitor.
Another way I incorporate pets into telehealth therapy is by showing clients a mindfulness exercise, using their pets as a grounding tool when they are feeling anxious or upset. It’s important that the animal is in the right mood to participate. If they don’t want to be held or petted, it’s enough to be present in the space with them, even if you don’t touch them.
Here are 5 Steps to Mindfulness with Your Pet:
- To begin, make sure you’re in a quiet place inside and sit with your cat or your dog on the couch. They don’t have to be sitting in your lap unless it’s comfortable for them.
- Do a visual scan and feel yourself rooted in the here and now with them. Go ahead, notice the color of their eyes and coat, the expression on their face.
- Animals have no sense of past or future. They’re creatures of instinct in the moment, a good place for all of us to be, human and animal. Try and clear your mind of anything else that’s going on in your head.
- Next, stroke your pet around the head and listen for the sounds they make as you interact with them. Do you hear purring or panting? Look for signs that they’re content, slow blinks and silent meows, paws or tails touching you.
- Go ahead, pet around their face, stroke their cheeks, scratch behind their ears. Run your fingers from their head all the way down their backbone, and feel the silkiness of your pet’s fur.
Listening, hearing and seeing how your animal interacts with you is the goal for achieving a state of mindfulness with your pet. You’re trying to bond with the animal giving and receiving mutual comfort and support in the present.
If your animal isn’t a lap cat or dog, or they don’t want to sit next to you, it is still possible to participate in mindfulness with them. Try taking a brush and running It through their coat. Pay attention to visual and auditory cues, and stay in the moment with them.
About Elizabeth Perry:
A Resident in Counseling at Healthy Minds Therapy, Elizabeth is working toward her LPC license at the Alexandria, VA location. She offers in-person and telehealth sessions, using CBT, solution-focused, and mindfulness and motivational interviewing techniques. Elizabeth has a background in working with adults, teens and their families participating in PHP (Partial Hospitalization) and IOP (Intensive Outpatient) programs specializing in mood and anxiety disorders. She also has experience counseling individuals and couples in the LGBTQ community.