Therapy on the Farm
Animal Integrated Therapy offers a slower, more embodied way of working.
Sessions take place outdoors, where movement, animals, and the natural environment support regulation and reflection.
What Animal-Integrated Therapy Is
Therapy on the farm offers sessions in a quiet, natural setting where animals may be present as part of the environment. This work is trauma-informed and grounded in an understanding of how the nervous system responds to safety, threat, and regulation.
Animals are not used as tools, and participation with animals is never required. Their role is simply to exist as regulated, responsive beings within the space. For some people, this can provide subtle, non-verbal cues of safety, rhythm, and presence—supporting nervous system regulation without pressure, expectation, or performance.
How the Farm Environment Supports Therapy
✓ A quiet, outdoor setting that reduces sensory and social pressure
✓ Opportunities to slow down and regulate through movement or stillness
✓ Presence of animals as calm, responsive elements of the environment
✓ Non-verbal cues of rhythm, safety, and co-regulation
✓ Therapy that adapts to your nervous system rather than pushing it
How a Farm Setting Can Support the Nervous System
For many people, traditional indoor office settings can feel overstimulating or constricting, especially when the nervous system is already under stress. Being outdoors, moving gently, or sitting in a natural environment can help create conditions that support regulation and grounding.
Animals, as prey-based and socially attuned beings, naturally respond to shifts in energy, pace, and emotional state. For some people, this can make it easier to notice internal experiences, slow down, and feel anchored in the present moment — without needing to talk constantly.
✓ The nervous system drives our reactions before our thoughts catch up
Emotions, behaviours, and patterns often make sense when we understand what the body has learned to do to stay safe.
✓ Regulation happens in relationship, not isolation
Humans, like animals, regulate through connection, rhythm, and attuned presence — not pressure or willpower.
✓ Safety comes before change
Lasting change happens when the body feels safe enough to soften, explore, and respond differently — not when it’s pushed to perform or comply.
✓ Animals model regulation, boundaries, and repair naturally
Animals respond honestly to their environment, settle when safety is restored, and return to connection without shame — offering powerful, non-verbal lessons in nervous system regulation.
✓ Healing happens at a pace the nervous system can tolerate
Slowing down isn’t avoidance — it’s often the most effective way to create sustainable change.
What Sessions Look Like
Sessions on the farm are adapted to your comfort level, needs, and capacity. Therapy may involve:
✓ Seated or walking sessions outdoors
✓ Traditional talk therapy in a natural setting
✓ Pausing to notice body sensations, emotions, or environmental cues
✓ Optional, gentle interaction with animals when appropriate
You remain in control of the pace and level of engagement at all times. There is no expectation to interact with animals, and therapy does not rely on animal contact to be effective.
Who This May Be Helpful For
Animal-integrated therapy may be supportive for people who:
✓ Feel overwhelmed or dysregulated in traditional office settings
✓ Experience chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm
✓ Have a trauma history and benefit from slower, body-aware pacing
✓ Feel more at ease in outdoor or natural environments
✓ Are seeking a therapy experience that feels grounded and relational
This approach is always guided by consent, safety, and readiness.
A Gentle Note
Working on the farm is one of several ways therapy may be offered. It’s not the right choice for everyone — and it doesn’t need to be. The goal is always to support your nervous system in ways that feel safe, respectful, and sustainable.
Important Things to Know
Animal-integrated therapy is not a replacement for trauma-informed psychotherapy
Animals are present as part of the environment, not as interventions
Safety, boundaries, and ethical considerations are prioritized
This approach is integrated thoughtfully alongside other therapeutic methods
We can talk together about whether this setting feels like a good fit for you.
Animal-integrated therapy is one way I work, alongside other trauma-informed approaches
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You’re welcome to explore the full range of therapy services offered at Wandering Willow.
This work is grounded in my values around safety, consent, and nervous system regulation.
You’re welcome to learn more about my approach and background.