Finn, My Unofficial Therapy Dog
My Therapy Dog
Meet Finn, my lovable (unofficial) therapy dog. He joined the family, and my psychotherapy practice, in July of 2025. He had a foster sister/co-therapist for a few months, but now he’s a solo therapy dog once more. He loves getting all of the attention from the family and from clients, so he’s fine with being the only dog around, providing he gets his daily trips to the dog park to play with his friends!
Finn sets a good example of how to relax and not sweat the small stuff. Sometimes he’s so relaxed that he doesn’t even get up when a client comes! He’s the only dog we’ve ever had who isn’t very comfortable being on a couch, so he’s not likely to snuggle up next to you. He will often lean on you for petting, though, and he frequently presents his belly for rubbing.
Petting isn’t just good for Finn; it can also be very therapeutic. In 1994, Stephen Porges, a neuroscientist and psychologist, developed polyvagal theory, which describes the relationship between our nervous systems and our emotional states. Interacting with a therapy dog can help a person to calm their nervous system and regulate their emotions.
One of my clients once said, “Now that I’ve had therapy with a dog in the room, I can’t imagine therapy in a sterile office without one!” Another client said, of the canine greeting at the beginning of her session, “I didn’t know how much I needed this!”
Finn is almost always in the office with me during sessions. The comfort he provides is an integral part of the therapeutic environment in my office.
It’s also worth noting that I have two cats, Loki and Jenna, who may sometimes appear in the waiting room or (rarely) in the office. While they’re not usually present during sessions, clients with cat allergies should be aware of their potential presence in the space.
Online therapy is an option to explore if you would like to work with me but have concerns about the presence of Finn or the cats.
If you, too, would like to discover the therapeutic benefits that Finn provides, call or text 410-888-0590 or email JenniferBeall.LCPC@gmail.com.
Finn is keeping his ears open!
