Frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between therapy and coaching?

In therapy, an individual has professional relationship with a licensed provider who operates under the medical model of care. That provider offers mental health care that explores the client’s individual background and symptoms and includes diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical intervention. The therapeutic relationship is a primary source of healing and care. Licensed mental health professionals specifically work with and treat disorders. Treatment of clinical depression, anxiety, PTSD, managing bipolar disorders, and other complex mental health issues are the primary focus of therapy.

Coaching services are non-clinical and are not therapy. Coaching may examine personal motivations and values, stressors from a variety of sources, including ones at various levels (individual, systemic, environmental). A coach will provide you with information to help you set and achieve goals, and to learn skills and coping strategies that include, for example, mindfulness, the importance of movement and breath, conflict management and communication, and other wellness related practices. 

While coaches may be aware of the nuances of various diagnoses, coaches do not treat these disorders or work with them directly. A coach may understand how traumas or other experiences impact a client’s current functioning and current-day experience, and yet, this knowledge is utilized to assist clients in being guided into strategies for achieving their future goals and resilience. Coaches provide psychoeducational materials and training, and skills and strategies to act as a guide.

How do I know if the work or volunteer activities that I engage in, are ones targeted in your Protection and Welfare (PAW) content?

We all have an innate ability to connect to animals through the human-animal bond and have profound negative impacts when that bond has been ruptured or violated in various ways. If your work, volunteer, or even just your personal experiences have exposed you to animal-related traumas, losses, or other suffering these courses are for you. The coursework, group coaching, retreats and workshops, and community will benefit individuals in fields such as Veterinary Medicine, Animal Control, Investigations, Sheltering and Rescue, as well as others. For instance, trainers, entrepreneurs in fields such as pet cremation, and others that interact regularly with difficult animal-related exposures will also benefit.

There is a specific topic that I would like addressed, but do not see listed in the coursework. How do I know if this information is contained within a course?

There is a wealth of information contained within each of our courses. It is possible that the topic you are looking for may already be addressed or that it will be coming soon as we continue to add courses and other content. Please reach out to info@mypawpads.com with any specific questions or needs and I would be happy to determine if your need is addressed within one of our courses, to provide a timeline of when such a course will be available, or to attempt to point you to other resources.