Pawsitive Healing LLC
Your Mental Health Is In Good Hands & Paws
-Emotional Support Animal Therapy Services for Individuals
-Family & Couple's Therapy -Divorce Mediation
Our Services
20 min
Free
1 hr
150 US dollars
1 hr
125 US dollars
1 hr
160 US dollars
1 hr
250 US dollars
*There is no guarantee you will be prescribed an ESA and various factors will determine this including your mental health disorder, treatment plan goals, and therapeutic relationship with your provider.
About Emotional Support Animals
-An emotional support animal is an animal companion that offers some type of benefit to an individual with some form of disability. The animal is intended to provide companionship and support that will help alleviate at least one aspect of the disability.
-Dogs are the most common type of emotional support animal, but cats are quite common as well. Other types of animals, such as rabbits, can also serve as ESAs.
-Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, housing providers are required to make reasonable accommodations to allow individuals with disabilities to keep an assistant animal in their home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires housing providers to make exceptions to "no pets" policies.
*There is no guarantee you will be prescribed an ESA and various factors will determine this including your mental health disorder, treatment plan goals, and therapeutic relationship with your provider.
Benefits of Emotional Support Animals
-
Less anxiety. Simply petting an animal can create a relaxation response and elevate mood.
-
Trauma support. Pets can provide comfort to people who are dealing with difficult situations, including those who have experienced some type of trauma.
-
Improved physical health. Studies have found that emotional support animals help to lower blood pressure, decrease respiration rates, and improve the ability to cope with pain.
-
Fewer feelings of loneliness. Animals can provide companionship, which is especially important for people who live alone and experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
-
Reciprocal care and love. Caring for an emotional support animal can also help give people a sense of purpose. Not only do animals provide unconditional love and companionship, but they also require care and love in return, which can be emotionally rewarding.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter Process
-
You will meet with a Licensed Therapist to complete a Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment which will determine if you meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis according to the DSM-V.
-
Service recommendations moving forward will be determined based on the results of your diagnostic assessment.
-
If individual therapy is recommended, you and your provider will create a treatment plan outlining specific goals to work towards.
-
Once a therapeutic relationship is developed, your provider will determine if an Emotional Support Animal would assist you in pursuing your treatment goals and a "prescription" for an Emotional Support Animal will be provided.
-
An ESA letter will be created at that time.
-
There is NO GUARANTEE you will be prescribed an ESA.
About Me.
Hi, my name is Aaron Nordrum and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota. I currently live in Northern MN and provide mental health services exclusively via telehealth. I specialize in Emotional Support Animal Therapy with individuals as well as family and couple's work including divorce mediation.
I have two young boys, a beautiful fiance, and two big dogs that keep me very busy when I am not working. Some personal hobbies include boxing, slacklining, and spending time on the lake.
My professional philosophy includes creating an atmosphere free of judgement where there is both unconditional positive regard and at the same time identify thoughts and behaviors that contribute to ongoing stressors. Through the power of Emotional Support Animal Therapy, we will highlight areas of your mental health that an ESA could help with and create a customized treatment plan for you and your animal, if criteria is met.
Mental Health
Education & Experience
2013
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology & Community Psychology
St. Cloud State University, MN
2015
Master's Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy
St. Cloud State University, MN
2019
Family & Divorce Mediation Certificate
40 hrs
St. Cloud State University
2020
Minnesota Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #4059
Dog Training
Education & Experience
-In 2013 my dog Thor and I were certified through Pet Partners as a Therapy Team.
-In 2014 I created the PAWS Program at Solution's Counseling where Thor and I provided Animal Assisted Therapy to various clients.
-Thor worked with me for the next 10 years and helped hundreds of different clients work to improve their mental health in both individual and group settings.
-Through 2015 & 2016 I completed 3 stages of dog obedience training and then went on to create my own dog training program that focused on Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and Emotional Support Dog Training.
