By: Dr. Hayley B. Sherwood, Clinical Psychologist in Reston/Herndon
Our pets love us in ways that other humans cannot. No matter what kind of day we have had, how worried or upset we are about something, or how much we are anticipating a dreaded conversation or event, nothing feels quite as warm and welcoming as being greeted by a dog’s smile, sweet gaze, and wagging tail or a cat’s meow and high-held straight up tail. As our children age, they are less interested in greeting us at the door, but our four- legged family members keep showing up. Over the years, I have learned the therapeutic value of pets of all kinds, including snakes, birds, guinea pigs, reptiles, and hermit crabs.
Substantial research demonstrates the psychological and physiological benefits of pets throughout the lifespan, including: promoting empathy, prosocial behavior, and conversations about emotions in children, reducing anxiety, offering companionship to, and increasing responsibility in adolescents, fulfilling social needs in adults, and providing structure, safety, and social inclusion in the elderly.
I have recently begun to bring my dog Lila into work regularly, and, even in the therapy space, I experience first-hand how healing dogs are. Lila greets everyone with a big wag. She loves people and welcomes them to the office with lots of sniffs and tail-wagging, and, especially with teens, she often helps herself to their laps. She brings so much comfort to clients, who enjoy petting her and scratching her belly while we meet. Some have even commented that Lila is the “real” therapist. It is eye-opening to witness the connections that people, dog owners, and even non owners, form with Lila during therapy. I love hearing clients use gentle, nurturing words and voices with her and observing them in ways that show sides of them that are not a part of our human-to-human conversations.
I have heard countless stories about the joy and meaning that pets bring to their owner’s lives, as well as the grief and pain that accompanies losing pets. For families, I appreciate that the death of a pet is an opportunity to teach their children about death and loss.
Psych’d to see you next month! -- Dr. S.
Dr. Hayley B. Sherwood is a longtime Clin-cal Psychologist in Reston/Herndon. To learn more, please visit her website at www. oakhillpsychological.com. Please visit the About Us section on to learn more about her NEW THERAPISTS!
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