Introduction and Consult Session
Our first session will be going over the steps of treatment, gathering historical and biological information about your pet, and learning how to establish a place or places of well-being/calm/safety.
This session may take place virtually or in person, depending on the animal's fear and humans' availability. We will be gathering as much information as possible about your animal and their symptoms of distress. We will measure their symptoms of distress by tracking their senses, body language, and natural reactions/responses.
This session can be with the animals' primary caretaker and any other members of the household who may wish to take part in treatment.
We will also plan and discuss the implementation of a safe/calm place of well being. This is a space where your animal always feels at ease and safe, where we can get them accustomed to the bilateral tapping used in mammalian EMDR and a place we can return to if they become overwhelmed.
Future sessions
Each future session is tailored to what your mammal needs to support them in overcoming their fears. The length of treatment and sessions will vary depending on the animal's sensitivity, fears, and owner's dedication to treatment. Therapist will consult virtually as well as in-person both scheduled and as needed. The content of each session depends on how treatment is flowing.
Session 2, Virtually or in person
The content of this session depends on if the place of well-being/safety/calm has been established and if the animal is highly sensitive with many fears or primarily working on a specific phobia. We will only begin treatment on the animal's phobia's once the place of wellbeing is well established. With sensitive animals, we will begin with the animals most weak fear first and build upon that.
It can be helpful to have two human caretakers per animal, especially if the animal is afraid of strangers and that is the phobia we are working on. Therapist cannot assist with hands on in treatment if animal is afraid of therapist.
Session 3 and onward
Continue building on the previous session, tackling the animal's weakest fear or specific phobia with bilateral stimulation.
Final session
Once the animal is no longer overwhelmingly distressed by the initial phobia/stimulant, then the treatment is over. The caretaker and animal can continue using the Place of Wellbeing/calm/safety as needed.