Would your pupils benefit from an Animal Assisted Intervention Programme? 

HugglePets in the Community are offering schools in the Black Country an opportunity to book a series of 6 week sessions with our animals and trained Therapist to help children and young people and support their mental health and wellbeing. 

What are Animal Assisted Interventions?  

Animal Assisted Interventions are wellbeing sessions with animals, delivered by a Therapist/Counsellor who specialise in working with Children and Young People. These sessions are primarily based in the Sensory Activity Centre and Community Aquarium at the HugglePets Centre, but can be delivered in schools where necessary. 

Who are the sessions aimed at?  

The sessions are targeted at children and young people struggling with their mental wellbeing, we have a wide range of programmes we deliver in a group setting detailed below. 

Do you offer One-to-One Animal Assisted Interventions/Therapy? 

Yes, we offer one-to-one sessions, just contact us by clicking here, and we will be able to discuss how this might support your pupils. 

Our Group Programmes for Children and Young People

Our trained therapists are able to offer Animal Assisted Intervention Sessions for up to 8 pupils:

1. Supporting Children & Young People with Low Mood and Anxiety 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children with Low Mood or Anxiety problems. Our trained therapists and animals will deliver the programme that includes the following:

• Enhance ability to recognise and process emotions.
• Develop an understanding of low mood and anxiety.
• Improve self-awareness.
• Gain a better understanding of own feelings. 
• Recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.
• Develop a better understanding of individual triggers for low mood and anxiety.
• To identify strategies of self care/relaxation.
• Learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult.
• Improve personal self-empowerment.
• Learn how to identify positives and supportive factors

2. Supporting Children and Young people cultivate Healthy Relationships 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children and young people who demonstrate a need to understand the importance of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Our trained therapists and animals will deliver the programme that includes the following:

• To enhance ability to recognise and process emotions.
• To improve self-awareness.
• To gain a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• To improve confidence and self-esteem.
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.
• To develop better and healthier social skills.
• To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult.
• To improve personal self-empowerment.
• To learn how to identify positives and supportive factors

3. Supporting Children and Young People Build Confidence, Self-Esteem and Resilience

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children and young people who have been experienced bullying, to support them improve their confidence and build resilience. Our trained therapists and animals will deliver the programme that includes the following:

• To provide support to young people who are experiencing low confidence and self-esteem
• To help young people build their resilience and assertiveness
• To raise awareness of the importance of building confidence and self-esteem
• To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings
• To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult
• To value confidence and resilience in self and others
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions

4. Supporting Children and Young People to Cope with Bereavement and Grief 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children and young people who have experienced the loss of someone they love. Our trained therapists and animals will deliver the programme that includes the following:

• To provide support to young people who are experiencing the loss of a loved one
• To help young people understand the 5 stages of grief 
• To help young people explore different ways of saying goodbye
• To help young people explore different ways of living with grief
• To raise awareness of coping strategies that can support their mental health 
• To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings
• To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult
• To value the importance of self care through the stages of grief 
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions

5. Supporting Young People Cope with Self Harm and Difficult Thoughts (Seniors Only)

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for young people (senior school age) who are struggling with self harm and Difficult Thoughts. Our trained therapists and animals will deliver the programme that includes the following:

• To provide support to young people who are experiencing difficult thoughts 
• To help young people understand the reasons many self harm
• To help young people understand the triggers that can lead to self harm 
• To help young people explore different strategies to alleviate difficult thoughts 
• To help young people explore healthy coping strategies  
• To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings
• To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult
• To value the importance of self care and ways to improve their self-esteem
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions

All of our sessions include an outcome measure to ensure that the sessions are productive and tailored to the needs of pupils.

We are able to offer Schools these sessions partly funded depending on grants and fundraising events. 

If your school would be interested in booking a series of 6 week programmes with HugglePets in the Community please contact us here.