🐾 Why Even Therapists Off the Beaten Path Need Dogs (and Maybe a Cat)!

How our pets keep us grounded, regulated, and just a little more human.

At Off the Beaten Path Psychology and Wellness in Airdrie, Calgary, Cochrane, and surrounding areas, we talk a lot about emotional regulation, connection, and self-care. Many people first find us by searching for “therapy near me” when they’re feeling overwhelmed or looking for local support, and they’re often surprised to discover just how personal our approach is.

Here’s something we maybe haven’t shared: all EIGHT of us who work at OBP have dogs (even multiple), and Jennifer and I also have cats! And while we might be trained in everything from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), our furry companions have taught us just as much about staying grounded in a chaotic world.

SO… if even the people trained to support others’ mental health rely on their pets to stay regulated, maybe that’s something worth paying attention to!

🧠 Therapists Are Human, Too

We all love what we do; sitting with people in their pain, helping them navigate loss, growth, parenting, trauma, and identity. But the truth is, holding space for others also takes a toll. As therapists, we’re constantly managing our own nervous systems so we can show up fully for the people we support.

And when the sessions are done, the emotional residue doesn’t always disappear. That’s where our dogs (and cats) come in; not just as cuddly companions, but as integral parts of our own self-care.  

Check out Nicole’s dogs: Luna is always ready for yoga, curling up on Nicole like a living weighted blanket. Sadie and Ruby have fully claimed the cuddle chair (and even the planter box), creating a cozy little oasis of fur and calm. After a day of emotionally intense work, there’s something deeply regulating about coming home to not just one, but three beautiful dogs who are thrilled you’ve returned, with no words required.

🐶 What Our Pets Give Us 

1. Structure and Routine

Dogs demand consistency. They need walks, food, and attention no matter what our emotional bandwidth looks like. That kind of routine is grounding.

“No matter how heavy a session was, I know I’ll be outside walking my dog later that day. It’s a reset button.”  

Karli and Nellie are often spotted out in nature together…and Nellie never tires of playing fetch. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm are a daily reminder to move, to laugh, and to take things a little less seriously. And then there’s Snoopy, who joined Christine’s family just last year but has already made herself essential. Snoopy is a reminder that regulation doesn’t always come in stillness. Sometimes, it’s in the joyful energy of a dog who’s happy just to be near you.

🐾2. Regulation Through Touch and Presence

The feel of a warm cat on your lap or a dog leaning against your side isn’t just sweet—it’s “nervous system gold.” That nonverbal co-regulation helps calm the body in ways we can’t always think our way into.

“My cat sits with me every morning as part of my mindfulness. She helps me prepare for my day and then later, seems to know if I’m emotionally spent.”

Penelope (my cat) will not be left behind, literally. She loves her “car rides” and insists on being part of the action. Her curious presence and unexpected enthusiasm are a reminder that regulation doesn’t have to mean stillness; sometimes it’s about shared experience, novelty, and joyful connection.

Meanwhile, Peaches (Jennifer’s cat) offers the opposite: calm, grounded presence. She’s a quiet reminder that regulation doesn't always require doing. Sometimes, simply being near something steady and serene is enough to slow your breath and soothe your system. Peaches even grooms her humans (again, literally!), and somehow seems to know exactly who needs affection at just the right moment. Her quiet intuition is a gift!

Roo, Carlin’s dog, has been nothing but gentle and intuitive with their baby boy.  He’s a calm, watchful presence in the rhythm of early parenting. He even knows how to smile for the camera, offering daily reminders of joy, safety, and connection in their growing family.

3. Joy, Play, and Humour

We often underestimate how vital playfulness is to mental wellness. Our pets bring moments of lightness that we desperately need, whether it’s their frolicking with other dogs at the off-leash park, snoring, or (in the case of my cat) relentlessly chasing reflections of light!

“Even on the hardest days, my dog does something that makes me smile. It’s a kind of therapy all its own.”  

See Jamie’s dog Bucky…and his toilet paper balancing act! How do you not smile at a dog who has a personality like that?      

Those lighthearted moments can interrupt spirals of overthinking and soften heavy emotional loads.  This brings us to Jennifer’s dog Bentley: sophisticated, yes, but a total gentle giant at heart. He’s a couch potato who acts like a lap dog, happy to snuggle with his humans any chance he gets. His big-hearted presence reminds us that healing can be soft, grounded, and quiet too.

4. Connection Without Conversation

After a long day of listening deeply, sometimes the last thing we need is another conversation. Our animals offer companionship without expectation. Just being near them is enough.

“Some days, I’m just too tired to talk.  BUT, happily I’ll lie on the floor with my dog and feel more human again.”  

Trixie, Kristy’s dog, has a remarkable intuition, she just seems to know what people need. She’s exactly the dog their family hoped for, and more. Trixie has even joined Kristy on visits to schools and community spaces, bringing calm, connection, and joy wherever she goes. Kristy calls her her “ride or die” running partner, and even at 11 years old, Trixie still lights up for their daily runs; a cherished ritual of movement, regulation, and time together.       

🚶‍♀️ Walk and Talk Therapy…And Yes, Your Dog Is Invited

At Off the Beaten Path, we also offer walk and talk therapy, a gentle, outdoor alternative to traditional in-office sessions. Movement supports regulation, and walking side by side often makes it easier to talk through hard things.

If you're a dog owner, you're welcome to bring your pup along. For many clients, having their dog nearby provides comfort, grounding, and even joy during sessions. Plus, it’s a great excuse to combine self-care with fresh air and tail wags. Some of the most meaningful therapeutic moments happen under open skies, with a dog trotting quietly beside us.

💡 EMDR and Pets: Built-in Resources

For those of us trained in EMDR therapy, pets often serve as powerful calming or nurturing resources in resourcing and preparation phases. Many of our clients (and some of us as therapists) use the image or felt sense of a pet to evoke safety, grounding, or comfort during emotionally challenging work.

Whether it’s visualizing a beloved dog beside you during bilateral stimulation or simply stroking a cat during resource installation, animals naturally evoke connection and regulation; two pillars of trauma healing.

“My dog isn’t just a pet,  she’s part of my EMDR toolkit. She’s the safe place I return to when things get intense.” Jolene, with Hartley….just the sweetest old girl who has so much wisdom and grace about her.

🐕🐈 Cats vs. Dogs (A Friendly Debate)

Dogs tend to bring structure, enthusiasm, and dependable affection. Cats offer calm, quiet companionship and a kind of emotional intuition that’s hard to explain. Either way, they hold space with us in ways that few humans can.

Whether you’re a dog person, cat person, or somewhere in between, the emotional benefits are real, and backed by both experience and science.

🌿 Off the Beaten Path Isn’t Just Our Name

We don’t believe pets are a replacement for therapy  but they can be a powerful complement. We DO believe in finding support and healing in unexpected places; in the walk around the block, the soft breath of a dog at your feet, the quiet routine of filling a water bowl. Therapy is one path. Pets, it turns out, are another.

✅ Self-Care With Pets Checklist

Simple ways to let your pet help you regulate, connect, and breathe again

✔️ Go for a “mindful walk” with your dog. No phone, no podcast, just you two 

✔️ Pet your animal slowly for 2+ minutes, noticing their texture and breath 

✔️ Match your breath to your pet’s rhythm while lying beside them 

✔️ Sit on the floor and let your pet come to you, no pressure 

✔️ Talk to your pet like a friend when you feel overwhelmed (yes, really!) 

✔️ Give your pet a massage and then notice how your body responds 

✔️ Create a “pet cuddle ritual” after a hard day 

✔️ Take a funny photo of your pet and share it with someone you trust 

✔️ Say thank you out loud to your pet, it deepens gratitude and connection 

✔️ Just watch them sleep. No agenda. Just presence.

If you're curious about how to build more self-regulation into your life, whether through therapy, pets, or both, we’re here for it. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all healing. Sometimes, the most helpful support has four legs and a tail.

From all of us (and our dogs and cat) at Off the Beaten Path — be gentle with yourself. 🐾