Paw Pause

Paw Pause provide Animal Assisted Therapy to NDIS participants, and to schools for Wellbeing programs across Australia

Contact us today for more information
www.pawpause.com.au 🐾

Eddie is headed off on his road trip soon! This is his attempt at waving goodbye to the cooler weather!

We look forward to connecting with anyone interested in knowing about Paw Pause- Animal Assisted Therapy 🐾 Eddie and I will be visiting Qld, NSW and Vic on our journey.
Please contact us if we haven’t scheduled a catch up with you
www.pawpause.com.au

This is such an important message for schools to know before implementing a therapy dog program into their school.
Talk to us about the difference today 🐾
www.pawpause.com.au

Did you know? Not everyone working with animals is qualified to provide Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT).

While animals can have a naturally calming, comforting, and therapeutic presence, they are not the therapists.

Animal-Assisted Therapy is a goal-directed clinical intervention that must be delivered by a suitably qualified and registered health professional working within their scope of practice.

This may include psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, social workers, and other registered health professionals who are providing treatment and working alongside an animal as part of the therapeutic process.

The animal plays an important role in supporting engagement, motivation, and therapeutic outcomes, but the assessment, treatment planning, clinical reasoning, and delivery of therapy are the responsibility of the qualified professional.

Simply spending time with an animal can be beneficial—but that alone does not make it therapy.

Understanding the difference helps protect clients, maintain professional standards, and ensure that people receive safe, ethical, and evidence-informed care.

contact us today to discuss all things Paw Pause www.pawpause.com.au 🐾

www.pawpause.com.au
Contact us today with any questions 🐾

Betrayal Trauma Theory, developed by psychologist Dr. Jennifer Freyd, helps explain why many survivors of childhood abuse may not fully recognize, remember, or understand what happened to them until much later in life.

As adults, when safety, independence, and support become available, those memories, emotions, and realizations may begin to emerge. This process can be confusing, overwhelming, and deeply painful—but it can also be part of healing.

One of the most important aspects of recovery is rebuilding a sense of safety, trust, and connection. This is where Animal-Assisted Therapy can play a valuable role.

Animals offer something many trauma survivors have rarely experienced: relationships that are consistent, non-judgmental, and emotionally safe. Through gentle interactions with therapy animals, individuals can:

🐾 Experience trust without fear of betrayal
🐾 Regulate their nervous system and reduce hypervigilance
🐾 Reconnect with emotions in a safe, manageable way
🐾 Practice healthy attachment and relationship-building
🐾 Feel seen, accepted, and grounded in the present moment

Healing from betrayal trauma is not about forcing memories or rushing understanding. It is about creating enough safety for the mind and body to no longer need the protections that once ensured survival.

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Did you know that Animal-Assisted Learning (AAL) is specifically identified by DVA as an eligible social wellbeing activity within a DVA rehabilitation plan.

It is not merely implied or inferred—it is named directly in the official DVA rehabilitation information sheet.

The significance of this is that:

* AAL is recognised as a legitimate psychosocial/social wellbeing activity under DVA rehabilitation.

* It sits alongside other approved activities such as yoga, tai chi, sporting activities, arts and crafts, music lessons, and community engagement programs.

* Funding approval would still depend on the veteran’s rehabilitation goals and consultant assessment, but the activity category itself is clearly recognised by DVA.

Come and say hi at the DEC Expo today 🐾

I have lots of clients looking for animal-assisted therapy here in Australia, so when I came across Paw Pause at the NeuroNurture conference and saw that they were looking for people with dogs who were interested in signing up, I was interested myself (despite not really being a dog person). Sooo many of my clients have a deep connection with animals that they may or may not have with other humans (especially peers, who can be tricky). Dogs are sometimes better than other kids or other grownups at unconditional loving acceptance. 💕

Paw Pause are in Adelaide right now but trying to expand and spread the word about how allied health providers can specialise in animal-assisted therapy! If it’s something you’re interested, you can reach out and get in contact with them. You can also contact them with an expression of interest as a school community or a small group of students who would benefit from having some trained therapy dog love in their life!

I am not a dog person and this is not me telling you that I have a dog (sorry to disappoint!) but rather trying to tell you about an amazing org who is doing what I can't: have dogs. And bring them to you. And they want you to get in touch with them if you're interested, so please do that. And if you can't do that, please tell me how cute this dog is so that maybe somebody will see it who *can* 😍

[image description: a picture of one of the therapy dogs, a golden retriever with a sweet face and a blue Paw Pause bandana! End description.]

On the road again!
Eddie is road tripping across our amazing country to spread the Paw Pause magic!
If you are interested in connecting with us, or catching up to learn more about our Paw Pause License, please get in touch 🐾 www.pawpause.com.au