As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I spend my days helping others navigate the most difficult issues in their lives—whether that is anxiety, depression, grief or the difficulties that come along with changing family dynamics. What I don’t always mention, is that some of the best therapeutic support in my own life comes from a 60-pound Border Collie mix named Ivy.
When my wife and I adopted Ivy in January of 2021, we didn’t think she’d become a significant support system for our own mental health. But both the science and our own lived experience show she is exactly that. Studies show that interactions with your dog increase oxytocin (bonding hormone) and decrease cortisol (stress hormone). In other words, petting your dog is chemically similar to hugging someone.
I remember initially being skeptical about getting a dog; a dog is a major responsibility and would mean less freedom—a trade-off that younger Brendan would have immediately dismissed. But my life had changed. I was with the love of my life. We owned a house in idyllic Hyde Park. We both worked from home. I decided that there may never be a better time to invite a pup into our lives and I didn’t know just how true that would be for the years that would follow.
After our wedding in the fall of 2022, my wife and I set out to start our family and follow in the footsteps of the many couples walking their strollers and dogs around our neighborhood. Our journey, however, hasn’t been quite so storybook. We’ve suffered from unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL)— that emotionally plunged me into the bottom of a uniquely deep, dark hole.
Individual and couples therapy played a huge role in helping me navigate through that time, but at most, we were in therapy just a few hours a month. Ivy was the consistent, non-judgmental, unending support for us that I strive to be as a professional counselor—so much so that I named my mental health counseling practice in Hyde Park Square after her. Conedera is a compounded version of “with Ivy” in Italian.
While Ivy is not a certified therapy dog and does not join me in session, therapists who offer this service have seen effective results. Studies have shown clinically significant changes in pain, anxiety, depression and well-being when animal-assisted interventions are used by a licensed professional. That said, as my wife and I have found, simply having your own buddy around the house can show statistically significant improvements for many populations as well. Older adults with pets endorse fewer anxiety and depression symptoms versus non-pet owners and veterans who are undergoing care for PTSD have shown that adding a service dog to their care can lower the odds of a PTSD diagnosis by 66% after just three months together.
Ivy won’t ever know how impactful she has been on our lives or the inspiration she has given me for my practice, but that is part of her brilliance. She picks up on non-verbal cues and reads the room when one of us is struggling. The daily routines that center around her are the emotional core of our everyday lives. In so many ways, caring for her has been the best way to care for ourselves. And for that I will be forever grateful to Ivy.
About the Author
Brendan Colantuono is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Conedera Counseling in Hyde Park Square. Drawing on nearly two decades in business leadership, he brings a unique lens to clinical mental health therapy. Brendan specializes in support for high-performing professionals navigating work-life demands and individuals and couples facing fertility challenges, perinatal loss and evolving family dynamics.
Conedera Counseling | 2702 Erie Avenue, Suite 207, Cincinnati | 513.285.8441 | ConederaCounseling@gmail.com | ConederaCounseling.com