The Sniff Of Approval

Tags

Acceptance, Animal and children, Awareness, Blind, Blindness, Connect, Counselling, Diversity, Dog, Education, Equality, Free spirit, Guide Dog, Munch, Non Judgement, Pet Therapy, Visual Impairement

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Going to counselling for the very first time can create a mixture of feelings. From nervousness to relief, most people will feel something about what lies behind the counselling door. Most people however, will not expect to be sniffed and may be a little perplexed when they are met with a friendly dog who has no personal space boundaries and happily sniffs them to analyse their whole entire life.

Munch’s initial sniff of approval will first tell him if of course they are “one of his people”. If said person enters the room with a hint of Suzi the Schnauzer scent on them, he knows they will be best friends forever. Anyone who loves dogs in his eyes, is a trustworthy person. To be fair, he accepts cat people too but may not go and get his toy to offer them a game of fetch as he knows that feline friendliness operates on a totally different level.

A quick sniff of their bag, will determine whether there is a chance they can bond over the love of food. The beauty of working in schools means that lots of young people carry food with them and therefore the cupboard love will begin from the first nostril full of beef crisps. In all honestly, he is a little more partial to the meat eater clients taste palate as he gets far too bored with his maid’s vegan one. Chicken will always be preferred over cucumber. He has tried to convince her to bring a far more exciting lunch to work each day but she stubbornly refuses. Sigh, you just can’t get the staff these days.

The mud lovers in life also come top in his favourite type of people as they are seen as the fun ones who would play with him outdoors. A sniff of a sweaty sports kits tells him that these are good friends to go on free runs with. They may not want to chase squirrels up trees with him but at least they would be more energetic than his maid he is stuck with. Despite the fact they are there for counselling, he will have ideas in his head that they have come to pick him up for a play date.

When tears begin to fall from their eyes, he is the first one there to catch them as they fall. He gives his doggy kisses to shaking hands and a gentle paw in their hand to know they are not alone. He smells unhappiness and won’t leave their side until they want him to as he snuggles in beside them. He sniffs cut knees through their trousers and unless stopped will try to lick them until they heal. He sniffs out emotions along with everything else , to tell him what is really going on with the clients.

He may not be a trained therapy dog but he is therapeutically active in each session. Guide Dogs chose him to become a Guide Dog due to his loving and clever temperament which has in turn given him the opportunity to meet people who need him in their lives. This friendly scruffy face they meet each week, always accepts them and has been there for them since they received his sniff of approval. Luckily they are all pre warned that there is a dog in the room before they come , to give them the option of having a dog free counsellor if they wish.

The sniff test is not part of the assessment for counselling don’t worry. The patient clients who choose to work with an over friendly dog who is best friends with everyone, are so lovely. They allow him to be Munchlike in the room and still accept him just the same. The sniff of approval does go a little unbalanced however when he gets a little over excited and let’s out a rather noxious anal exhale and fills the room with green smog. The clients are so brave to come back into the room a week after such events but they do.

Dogs always know far more about a person upon meeting them then other humans ever will.

Tags

Choice, Counselling, Education, Interviews, Mental Health, Positive mental health, school counselling, School LIfe

We were asked by one of the schools that we work in to do a quick spot of filming for a brief chat with Dr Alex George on the importance of raising Mental Health awareness for young people.  We weren’t told many details like who it was for and whether it would be live. So, we rocked up to work to be told it was going to be on the Lorraine show in an hour’s time. With me who tends to put her size 8 foot in things ALL the time and Munch who has a little tendency to draw attention to himself for all the wrong reasons whilst being in such situations, I was waiting for our usual calamities to begin. Bearing in mind that an interview had to be previous  halted due to the laughter and search for clean air after Munch left out one of his noxious anal exhales whilst being interviewed a couple of years ago for our book, and when he showed his ‘physical excitement’ proudly in a Newspaper article, I wasn’t too hopeful that he would behave but I was totally surprised when he did.   Despite Munch showing a less than enthusiastic approach to filming as he turned his back to the camera and slouched to the floor for a sulk after they made him wait far too long for filming, all went smoothly.

Dr Alex George is doing an amazing job at raising awareness of the impact of Mental Health on young people and what help is available after sadly losing his own brother to battles with Mental Health.  Having worked in many areas of Mental Health over the last 26 years, I have seen many things change and many things that have stayed stationary in the field but luckily one thing to change is the attitude people have towards it. Stigma has been replaced by compassionate awareness and people feel more able to support their own version of their Mental Health stories that strike a chord with multiple others who would feel alone without this connection. Having worked so long in  Mental Health services, it is very rare to find a unique case that does not have shared roots in so many other people’s stories but to that person, their relationship with their own Mental Health is unique. Validating their thoughts and feelings is crucial and means the difference between healing or fading away into a very lonely existence. When we were asked how important counselling services are by Dr George, I gave a brief answer that they are an essential safe space for young people but on reflection, they are so much more than that. Here are a few  ways in which I think counselling services help to boost Mental Health in general..

A space like no other

We are not family; we are not friends. We are not prescriptive; we are not authoritative. We are this blank canvas space that  people can come to throw all the messes, struggles and strains from the last week over.

A place to be yourself

When you come through the door, we don’t expect you to be anyone apart from yourself. We want you to get to know the parts of you that you hide to the rest of the world from fear of being judged. There is no wrong way to be in the counselling room if you are being yourself and telling us your real thoughts and feelings.

A place for growth

If you come in wanting change in your life, that is what you will get if you find a way that works for you. If you come in wanting a space to feel at peace with your current situation, then that is what we will work on. Your growth will be whatever you want it to be in a safe environment with your counsellor as your cheerleader.

A Place to be heard

Your opinions won’t be shot down or your feelings silenced, we will listen to the passion and hurt in your voice as you tell us the words that have never been voiced until now. We listen not because we must, but because we want to. We hear the breaks in your voice and when you skirt around subjects that you really want to feel confident enough to speak about. We hear you even when you aren’t speaking.

A place to discard fiction

We like real, we are not the biggest fans of a fictional reality of your world that you have been forced to believe in. We will help you discover your version of a happy life that suits you and makes you happy. We can help take away the ‘Should’ and ‘ Cannot’ and help you find your own ‘wants’ and ‘cans’.

A place to unlock levels

You may have a friendly challenge to help you get rid of faulty thinking if that is what you want but you should never have hostility. You will find parts of yourself that you never knew existed and these are the parts that hold all your answers to a better Mentally Healthy life.

A place where your new life begins

When you begin to bring your hidden truths to the surface, you are committing to a new way of life. Some sessions may feel more draining than a marathon , whilst others will give you a new lease of life, but all will change you in one way or another.

I am not saying that counselling is a miracle cure for all, and you must find the right counsellor that works for you, but I am saying it is always worth a try. Wales has led the way in the UK in counselling in all secondary schools and increasingly more in primary schools so watching the impact  that this has on the lives of children and young people has been amazing. We are here to stay for all the young people that will need us for whatever reason.