What we do at Paw Pause
Paw Pause promotes positive wellbeing and independence of students through Therapeutic Animal Interaction. We assess the needs of your child and match them with a dog and handler to suit their requirements.
Paw Pause staff are qualified Allied Health Professionals with backgrounds in Psychology, Social Work, Psychotherapy or Counselling. They are also skilled dog handlers.
This is the difference between Paw Pause and other Therapy Dog programs, who use volunteers.
Paw Pause professionally trained Allied Health handlers bring experience and intent to the sessions they provide.
If your child requires support in school, Animal Assisted Therapy offers a unique opportunity to provide that support in a safe environment.
It is the safety and connection between the student and the dog that lead to the benefits of AAT in schools. Paw Pause handlers facilitate this relationship based on an understanding of the best therapeutic outcomes.
Paw Pause Therapy Dogs offer regulation through their presence. They will often lean on or sit on the student’s feet (depending on what the student finds both grounding and comforting).
If the student needs regulating during class, the dog will respond by seeking physical touch. The emotional upset is often picked up by the dog while the student feels it. The interactions are therefore very subtle.
The role of the Paw Pause handler is to work with the Therapy Dog, to support the student. The team move from classroom to classroom, according to the student’s timetable. Students can use their NDIS plan funding for sessions delivered at school.
The Therapy Dog is always under the control of the handler. The teacher is always delivering the lesson, and the Therapy Dog team will support the student 1/1.
