Innovative therapy dog service at South Kerry CAMHS is first of its kind in Ireland
Wednesday the therapy dog is supporting young people using services at South Kerry CAMHS, helping them to engage fully in their appointments, and reducing anxiety.
Part of the team since January 2024, Wednesday is now fully integrated into the South Kerry CAMHS team. Trained handlers help her to support young people one-on-one, in group settings and during outreach appointments.
Carol Mannix, HSE Kerry lead for Mental Health Services said:
“We believe that Wednesday us the only trained therapy dog in the country working within a CAMHS service. She is a highly valued part of our team. Since she started work with us, we have seen first-hand that through feedback that her presence helps young people to feel calmer, safer, and more willing to engage.”
The team at South Kerry CAMHS currently supports more than 350 young people and many of them experience high levels of anxiety, emotional dysregulation, social communication differences, and difficulties engaging in traditional, talk-based therapeutic approaches.
Carol Mannix said:
“Wednesday directly addresses these barriers. For some, she provides a bridge into therapy where words are not yet accessible. For others, she reduces the intensity of the clinical environment, allowing meaningful participation in interventions that would otherwise be overwhelming.”
She added that the team have seen:
- Increased engagement and participation in sessions
- Reduced observable anxiety
- Improved attendance and reduced DNA rates
- Enhanced therapeutic relationships between clinicians and young people
“There is a strong evidence base demonstrating that animal-assisted interventions reduce cortisol, increase oxytocin and support emotional regulation – particularly for presentations such as anxiety disorders, autism, ADHD, OCD and trauma-related difficulties,” she added.
“A particularly meaningful development has been Wednesday’s role in supporting young people with high anxiety around physical health monitoring, such as blood pressure and ECG procedures — an area that can often be highly distressing. Her presence has made these necessary interventions more accessible and less traumatic,” she added.
“Wednesday represents something simple but powerful — she helps us meet young people where they are. She reduces fear, she increases connection and she enables therapy to happen where it otherwise might not.”