Affirming Words Counseling
901 SW Martin Downs Blvd
Palm City, FL 34900
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Xena is a Certified Therapy Dog available to provide animal-assisted therapy. Animal-assisted therapy has been proven helpful in increasing self-esteem, reducing anxiety, depression, and blood pressure, improving self-control, enhancing social skills, increasing trust and empathy, and can be particularly beneficial for children who are uncomfortable with therapy or have difficulty accessing emotions and/or expressing themselves in traditional talk therapy.
Xena has her own unique story of healing and transformation. She was rescued after being found chained to a lawnmower in the backyard of an abandoned house. After spending eight months at a shelter she was adopted and shortly thereafter began her therapy training. The day after completing her training she was diagnosed with cancer and had surgery to remove a tumor. Her journey, characterized early by themes of abandonment, rejection, distrust, and pain, proceeded by overcoming, healing, and achieving a new sense of purpose in life, serves as a relatable story to many individuals seeking counseling.