Episode 88 Animal Assisted Therapy & Learning To Love Your Authentic Self: Interview with Annalisa Smithson

What is animal-assisted therapy? How can you learn to love your authentic self through animals?MEET Annalisa SmithsonAnnalisa is the founder and director of Unleashed Counseling. She is a board-certified counselor licensed in the state of Pennsylvania, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy and animal-assisted therapy. She has presented research at national mental health conferences, including the American Psychological Association, the Association for Women in Psychology, and the Pennsylvania Counseling Association.Annalisa is the author of two books, Emotional Support Animals (2021) and Unconditional, and has published research in several peer-reviewed journals including Psychology in the Schools and the Journal of the PCA. Prior to becoming a counselor, she worked as a fundraising professional for Lehigh University. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling & Human Services and a Master of Arts in the Anthropology of Development and Social Transformation.Find out more about Annalisa at Animal-Assisted Therapy and connect with her on FacebookUnconditional: Learning to Love Your Authentic Self by Annalisa Smithson IN THIS PODCAST:What makes it hard for people to be authentic? 3:05Integrating animal-assisted therapy into your practice 7:25What are the benefits of animal-assisted therapy? 14:43How can therapists show up more authentically in their sessions? 19:27What Makes It Hard For People To Be Authentic?Assessing the messages that we receive growing upHow does authenticity affect therapists just starting out?Learning to trust not only your knowledge but your intuition as wellOvercoming perfectionismIntegrating Animal-Assisted Therapy Into Your PracticeWhat kind of animals are best for animal-assisted therapyHow to bring mindfulness into therapy with animalsLearning to love ourselves unconditionally through animalsDifferent ways to integrate animal-assisted therapy into your practiceWhat Are The Benefits Of Animal-Assisted Therapy?Learning to trust your animal to assist in guiding sessionsUsing animals to inspire new conversations with clientsUtilizing animal-assisted rapport building?Adapting a supportive character technique with your therapy support animalHow Can Therapists Show Up More Authentically In Their Sessions?The importance of having your own support system as a therapistWhy self-care is so important for therapistsConnecting with others in your fieldThe importance of creating a mission statement about who you are Connect With MeInstagram @holisticcounselingpodcastFacebookJoin the private Facebook groupSign up for my free email course: www.holisticcounselingpodcast.comRate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on