Meet Jasmine, Our New Therapy Dog!
- claire2876
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
We’re wagging with excitement to introduce a very special member of the South Coast Therapy & Support Group team—Jasmine, our newly certified therapy dog! 🐾
Over the weekend, Jasmine officially passed her therapy dog course, and we couldn’t be prouder. With her gentle nature, calm presence, and love for people of all ages, Jasmine is already bringing smiles to our team—and soon, she’ll be supporting clients across our Shoalhaven clinics too.
A Familiar (Furry) Face
Many of our clients have already had the pleasure of meeting Jasmine during her training. She’s been a regular visitor to Sense Rugby, joining in sessions to support children with social skills, gross motor development, and emotional regulation. She’s also made a few clinic visits, giving her the chance to get to know the team, meet some of our wonderful clients, and become familiar with our therapy spaces.
Her calm and friendly nature has made her a welcome addition to these settings—and now that she’s fully certified, we’re thrilled to formally integrate her into our therapy programs.
Why a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship in therapeutic settings. They can help:
Reduce anxiety during sessions
Improve engagement in therapy tasks
Support emotional regulation
Encourage communication and connection
Create a calming, motivating environment
Whether it’s a child working on social skills, a teen building confidence, or an adult navigating anxiety, therapy dogs can enhance outcomes in a warm and non-judgemental way.
What’s Next for Jasmine?
We’re currently exploring how Jasmine can best support our clients across occupational therapy, speech pathology, and allied health assistant sessions. This might include:
One-on-one therapy with Jasmine present
Social skills groups with Jasmine as a co-regulator
Sensory sessions that include calm brushing, gentle walking, or mindfulness with Jasmine
Motivation for tasks that are tricky or confronting
Want to Get Involved?
If you or your child is a client at one of our clinics and you think a session with Jasmine could be beneficial, let your therapist know! We’re building a referral list now and would love to hear from families who are interested in incorporating Jasmine into their therapy journey.
We also welcome ideas from our wider community—if you have thoughts on how Jasmine could be part of a new or existing program, get in touch. She’s ready to learn and work alongside us in whatever way she’s needed most.
A Big Paw-sitive Step Forward
We’re proud of Jasmine’s achievement and excited to offer another creative, compassionate support option for our clients. Her presence already brings joy to the team—and we can’t wait to share that with you, too.
