Trauma-Informed & ARC-Aligned Support

Paws4Minds is built on trauma-informed principles.

Many young people and adults we work with experience stress, adversity or complex life challenges. Our approach recognises how trauma impacts the nervous system, behaviour and learning.

What Trauma-Informed Means

We:

• Prioritise emotional safety

• Focus on regulation before reasoning

• Avoid shame-based approaches

• Work relationally

• Understand behaviour as communication

Why Canine-Assisted Support?

Calm animal presence can:

• Support nervous system regulation

• Reduce anxiety

• Increase engagement

• Create a bridge for communication

• Lower perceived threat in structured environments

Animal-assisted engagement is integrated into structured wellbeing work — not used as a distraction.