In this episode, we’re diving into the world of animal-assisted therapy with Sherrie Rohde, a therapy dog expert who revealed some surprising ways pets can help us in therapy. Sherrie holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, she’s a professional dog trainer, and the host of Therapy Dog Talk, an Instagram-Live show turned podcast dedicated to interviewing Therapy Dog teams around the world to learn more about their experiences.

In this conversation, we discuss the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and how pets can help clients achieve their therapy goals. Sherrie describes different types of animal-assisted methods including play therapy.

Sherrie also offers advice for those interested in becoming a therapy dog team. And for the other podcasters listening… we chat for a few minutes at the end about some of the latest software that’s making the Therapy Dog Talk podcast easier to produce and more accessible to Sherrie’s followers.

The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy: Expert Advice from Sherrie Rohde

Sherrie Rohde has loved animals for as long as she can remember. When she learned that she could incorporate animals as partners in her future work as a therapist, she wanted to learn more. She quickly discovered that finding out how to get started as a Therapy Dog team was often challenging. That sparked her to connect with other pet therapy teams on Instagram and create an Instagram Live series, now a podcast, called Therapy Dog Talk where she hosts weekly conversations with pet therapy teams and researchers.

Sherrie has over a decade of experience building communities in tech, a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and Pro Dog Trainer certification through Absolute Dogs. She loves to connect current and aspiring Therapy Dog teams with the people, skills and resources they need to be successful. Sherrie lives in Los Angeles, California, with her two pups Sunny and Rylie who are both trainings to work alongside her in Animal Assisted Play Therapy—if they so choose.

OVERVIEW OF THIS EPISODE:

• What led Sherrie to the work she does today
• How animal-assisted play therapy is used with both kids and adults
• Why Sherrie is continuing to expand her knowledge with new certifications
• How the Therapy Dog Talk podcast got started
• The benefits of adding your podcast to YouTube
• How Descript is making her podcast more accessible
• How to get started as a pet therapy team

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Absolute Dogs
• Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals
• Safe in Austin
• American Kennel Club
• Descript
• How to Get Started as a Therapy Dog Team

Where to find Sherrie:

• Therapy Dog Talk
• Instagram: @therapydogtalk
• Pinterest: @therapydogtalk
• YouTube: @therapydogtalk

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