Jess has worked with individuals, families and group clients across the lifespan, mostly from young people (10+ years) to older adults and has specialized expertise in working with; complex trauma, difficulties managing emotions, poor sense of self, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, parenting, grief and loss, life transitions, adjustments, and school refusal.

Therapy is often thought to be intimidating, so why not make it slightly more comfortable?

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) covers a broad range of services but in this case is linked to my training as a social worker. AAT is employed as an adjunct to the therapy modalities already being implemented. AAT is goal directed work to improvement in social, emotional or cognitive functioning - using the human animal bond to support interactions.  The human-animal bond is an increasingly researched phenomenon that highlights the mutually beneficial gains of interaction and relationship between human and animal and helps break down some of the barriers of initial stages of engagement. There are physiological benefits such as lowered blood pressure and reduced stress levels.

BSW (Hons)
Social Worker/Animal Assisted Therapist

Jess is a registered social worker with almost 10 years’ experience in varied mental health settings including community mental health, hospital, education, and forensic settings.

Jess engages from a relational approach and has a warm, humorous, non-judgmental, and relaxed manner.  She can offer brief and longer-term support options for those who are wishing to create positive change in their own life. Jess is open to creative ways of working together, such as through Animal Assisted Therapies or Walk Talk therapy.