Do you have questions about Nourishing Hearts Wellness Care Farm? Here are some answers to our most common FAQs! If you don’t find what you are looking for, or would like more information, feel free to send an email to julie@nourishinghearts.ca.

How does Nourishing Hearts Wellness Care Farm support healing and growth?

At Nourishing Hearts, people learn that they are enough just as they are. By leaving the outside world at the farm gate, people are able to free themselves from the expectations to perform, be perfect, be socially popular, or behave or feel a certain way. The farm environment encourages a “yes we can,” “let’s give it a try” and “how can we make this work?” attitude. As a therapist, Julie harnesses the strengths, abilities, and esteem that can be discovered and developed through a positive therapeutic relationship based on acceptance, curious exploration, and a place to belong.

What is Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is based on the core idea that talking about the things that are bothering you can help with emotional distress. Talk Therapy gives people the chance to explore their thoughts and feelings and the effect they have on
their behaviour and mood. It can help people work out where their negative feelings and ideas come from and why they are there.

Describing what is going on in their head and how that makes them feel can help people notice any patterns that may be helpful to change. Understanding all this can help people make positive changes by thinking or acting differently, and ultimately, help people to take greater control of their lives and improve their confidence and well-being.

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?

​ Animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, sheep, and birds, into the treatment plan. It is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy. Animal Assisted Therapy has been found to be especially helpful to children on the autism spectrum, with a pervasive developmental disorder, and with emotional or behavioural disorders. Numerous studies have examined the effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Children have shown increased interpersonal skills and a significant increase in pro-social behaviour, such as laughing, looking at the therapist, giving treats, talking about themselves, and responding to questions with detailed explanations.  Some researchers suggest that children may be able to enhance their capacity to build relationships by working with animals as an initial step to social interactions. 

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For children and youth who struggle with mental health and social challenges, having animals present in the therapeutic setting can help create the supportive environment they need to participate successfully. Seeing a friendly animal acts as an emotional stimulus and causes the release of endorphins, leading to an enhanced feeling of well-being. The interaction with animals also stimulates a
surge of Oxytocin, a hormone that is naturally produced in the human body, that has a calming and relaxing effect.

According to the 2012 Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, animal-assisted interventions have been shown to be therapeutically beneficial for children and youth in the following ways:

1) Animals can act as a “social lubricant”, making the perceived environment more friendly and helping the clients feel safe and comfortable in the therapeutic setting.

2) Animals can also “regulate the emotional climate” with their enthusiastic greetings; this can help build rapport and help clients feel more comfortable.

3) The presence of an animal can provide support for the child during emotional challenges. The child may find it easier to develop trust with the animal, as they perceive it to be non-judgmental, prior to trusting others.

What is Nature Assisted Therapy?

Nature Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates plants, natural materials, and/or outdoor environments. It is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment. Nature assisted therapy provides an opportunity for people to explore their relationship with nature, not only from what they see, but from what they experience through other senses as well. Evidence suggests that viewing, interacting with, and living in natural environments can reduce stress,
increase patience, increase self-discipline, increase capacity for attention, and speed the recovery from mental fatigue, crisis, and psycho-physiological imbalance.

Some children and youth, in particular, can benefit from a nature assisted approach. This includes those who struggle socially, have an emotional issue such as anxiety or depression, or are troubled teens. For kids who enjoy the outdoors, are interested in animals and plants, and like to explore, nature assisted counselling provides a therapeutic environment that creates a calming effect, which then allows children to develop social skills, increased confidence, and self-esteem.

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic treatment approach specifically developed to help children between the ages of three to 12 years old. It provides an opportunity for the child to ‘play out’ his or her feelings and problems, just as, in certain adult therapy, an individual ‘talks out’ his or her difficulties. Therapeutic play normally takes place in a safe, comfortable playroom, where very few rules or limits are imposed on the child, encouraging free expression and allowing the therapist to observe the child’s choices, decisions, and play style. The goal is to help children learn to express themselves in healthier ways, become more respectful and empathetic, and discover new and more positive ways to solve problems.

Therapeutic play can help children with social or emotional deficits learn to communicate better, change their behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and relate to others in positive ways. It is appropriate for children undergoing or witnessing stressful events in their lives, such as a serious illness or hospitalization, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, a family crisis, or an upsetting change in their environment. Play therapy can also help children with academic and social problems, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, or anger, as well as those with attention deficit disorders or who are on the autism spectrum.

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What is No-Talk Therapy?

No talk therapy is an approach for the treatment of children and adolescents who won't or can't respond to traditional, conversation-based therapy. Within an interpersonal and developmental framework, the goals of no-talk therapy are to provide
someone to be close to and something to be proud of. Through empathy and respect, games, activities, involvement, a close adult, and little pleasures, this approach begins to provide anxious, sullen, enraged, and confused kids with the self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-awareness to develop a voice of their own.

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What is Therapeutic Art?

Therapeutic art combines traditional verbal approaches to psychotherapy with the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, colouring, or sculpting. The creative process can help people express unspoken or unconscious concerns, deal with emotional conflicts, increase self-awareness, cope with life difficulties, and reduce stress. The image is valued for
what it communicates rather than for what it looks like, and no artistic skills are required. The meaning of the artworks is discussed collaboratively to process emotions and gain new insights. This process helps people move through difficult life experiences, discuss or analyze their own story, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and achieve their goals.

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What is Bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy is reading books to help people understand their own actions, feelings, and find possible ways to cope with problems. By identifying with a character who successfully resolves a problem similar to the one they are experiencing, they can gain insights into their own life.

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What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.

Mindfulness with therapy animals can take many forms. It may be sitting, walking or playing with the animals, or simply observing them. Animals can help us be mindful by:

• Grabbing and holding our attention

• Reminding us to embrace the present moment, live simply, and embrace what really matters –  love, kindness & peace

• Reminding us to be playful

• Modelling unconditional love

• Creating a safe and loving space with the animals allows for reciprocal sharing of loving energy to heal, learn, relax, or simply be.

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Are you an accredited therapist?

Yes, Julie holds Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees as well as a Developmental Services Worker
diploma and Personal Support Worker Certificate.  She is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She is also a trained Animal Assisted Therapist and a Certified and Registered Play Therapist
with the Canadian Association of Play Therapy.

Are your individual and therapy services covered by insurance?

We provide receipts for our counselling services, which are typically covered by insurance. For Indigenous, Julie is registered with the NIHB program and can direct bill.

Where is Nourishing Hearts Wellness Care Farm located?

You’ll find us at 21907 Queens Line in Rodney, Ontario. That’s about halfway between London and
Chatham in Essex County.

How can we book learn more or book an appointment?

Feel free to send an email to Julie@nourishinghearts.ca or give us a call at 226-239-3230

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