Member-only story
Dogs Make the Best Therapists
They go Where Humans Can’t
I Needed Therapy
After my husband left, friends suggested therapy.
“But don’t that cost a lot of money?” I asked. My finances had become tight.
A friend suggested I see if my church had a Stephen Ministry. This is a volunteer based program. People are trained to help others going through a rough time. It’s a lovely thing. I signed up.
My Stephen Minister was wonderful. She and I met at a local cafe once a week and she listened to me. However, she also encouraged me to talk to a professional.
“I’ll continue to meet with you,” she said. “As long as you want me to. But you need more than I can provide.”
“I’m not sure I can afford a therapist,” I admitted.
“There’s a place in Austin called the Samaritan Center. They charge based on your income, on a sliding scale.”
When I called the Samaritan Center, we discussed my situation. The fee they quoted was indeed something I could manage, at least for the short term. So they looked up available therapists to find a good match for me.
Then the woman on the phone surprised me. “Would you mind if your therapist has a dog?” she asked.
