Highland counselling service and animal therapy team up to help women heal from trauma and addiction
An Inverness-based counselling service has joined forces with a therapeutic animal organisation.
ACI Recovery Services and Highland Therapeutic Animals have been awarded three years of funding to support a women’s trauma recovery programme.
The funding from the Volant Trust will enable the organisations to deliver the Roots of Resilience programme, a trauma-informed recovery service for women and families across the Highlands.
Roots of Resilience recognises the strong link between trauma and addiction. It offers women a safe and supportive space to heal, grow and reconnect with life through therapy, nature and animals.
The programme combines one-to-one trauma-informed counselling, personal growth workshops that build confidence, skills, and resilience and immersive trauma therapy retreats - all with animal therapy.
Sharan Brown, development manager of ACI Recovery Services said: “This funding is transformational. Roots of Resilience combines the expertise of ACI’s trauma-informed therapists with the healing presence of animals and the natural environment. Together, we will create safe and restorative experiences for women who have faced addiction and trauma.
Sandi Elliot, founder of Highland Therapeutic Animals, added: “By working side by side, our organisations are bringing a unique, holistic approach to recovery for women and families across the Highlands.”
Roots of Resilience will be free, safe and inclusive.
A woman who is going through the programme said: “After years of NHS (mis)treatment, I never thought I’d get any better. But then I started coming to Highland Therapeutic Animals with ACI and I finally started to feel safe again.
“Coming to see the animals became the best part of my week and talking to Erica helped me through a lot.
“Sandi and Yana would be there and always asked me how I was and to them I am forever grateful. I finally had a place where I could talk about anything and wouldn’t be told that they didn’t know how to deal with me.
“I love animals so coming to see them every week is amazing, they and the humans are all so loving and kind.
“I mentioned Erica, she is the person I have been speaking to from ACI and she has been incredible. We have talked about everything from my problems to my interests and she always listens to me and offers her views which come from a place of genuine caring rather than a book.
“Sandi and her animals have changed my life. She is an incredibly kind person and I have no end of thanks to her.
“Without Highland Therapeutic Animals and ACI I don’t know where I’d be, but with them my life has become so much brighter and something worth living.”