The founders have always had a passion for animals and mental health. Having a love for animals and seeing their impact on individuals' mental health inspired them to create an organization where everyone could access mental health services. They believed there should be a mental health organization in Palm Beach County that brought together the healing power of pets and counseling. 

Therefore, Healing Hearts Pet Therapy Inc., was established in 2023 to provide human-animal connection services, which enormously impact the mental health and wellness of individuals experiencing trauma, grief, and daily stressors.

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See below for the founder's stories and why HHPTI was created. 

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Jennifer's Story:

 As a little girl, I suffered from severe school phobia and social anxiety, and I remember the days of blacking out when entering a classroom. During this time, my parents took me to various medical professionals, and I had countless psychological assessments completed just for my parents to be informed that I was intellectually gifted, and they were not sure what was wrong with me. By age ten, I was homeschooled due to the trauma and bullying taking place every time I stepped into a classroom because I was so smart. During this time, a psychiatrist placed me on various anti-anxiety medications, and to no avail, I continued to suffer. I found refuge with my German Shepherd dog, Star. She was always by my side when I was worried, feeling alone, and at times feeling helpless. I don’t think many children can express the feeling of helplessness or a full-body anxiety attack. Therefore, when this happened, Star would lie by my bed, and I would pet her as I cried.

I was extremely blessed that I had her by my side during those difficult years, and this was the beginning of me knowing that animals have a special bond and truly impact an individual's mental health. As I began my academic and professional journey in the world of mental health, I realized that I always had animals, and I felt the same comfort as when I was young and being comforted by Star. I began to think of the possibility of incorporating assisted pet therapy with mental health counseling. Animals build a bond that no others can understand, and mental health services that incorporate the human-animal bond only enhance the positive outcome for the person in need. My early childhood provided me with the ability to see how powerful the human–animal bond is and how without Star, my life journey would have been entirely different.

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Brianna's Story:

I have always had animals in my life and learned from a young age that I had a special relationship with those animals. I have always had anxiety; however, when I was in my early twenties, I experienced multiple significant life events that led to a period of depression, and it was my dog Angel that got me through. Angel provided a nonjudgmental space and was always by my side through the darkest moments. When it felt like I had no one to talk to, I could always turn to Angel. I noticed that Angel was not only comforting me but also providing support to my roommate’s children. Every day, when they left and came home from school, they first hugged Angel. When they were sad, they would find Angel and lay beside her while calming themselves down. Because of my lived experiences, I developed a passion for social work. With my work experience as a case manager, I continuously saw how pets positively impact individuals, children, and families. This created a desire to combine my love for animals and my passion for social work. Now, as an MSW, I understand that the human-animal bond benefits those suffering from mental health issues, whether they are chronic or short-term.