Small Hands, Gentle Paws
Helping your child feel ready for a new pet
Counseling for families bringing an animal home, especially when a child feels nervous, unsure, or afraid around animals.
Schedule a Consultation- For children and families
- Before or after your pet arrives
- Virtual sessions available
A Familiar Story
When one child can't wait, and another crosses the street
Picture a family like this one. Leo is nine and has wanted a dog for two years. He already has a name picked out. His sister Maya is six. She holds her breath when a dog walks by and asks to be carried past the neighbor's gate.
Their parents want to say yes to Leo without telling Maya that her feelings don't count. If some version of this lives in your house, nothing is wrong with your child, and nothing is wrong with wanting a pet.
Fear of animals is common in childhood, and it usually makes sense once you hear the story behind it. What helps is time, a plan, and someone who understands both children and animals.
Is This for Your Family?
You may be in the right place if…
- You're planning to bring home a dog, a cat, or a smaller companion, and your child feels nervous or afraid around animals.
- One child is thrilled about a pet and another is dreading it.
- Your child had a frightening experience with an animal and you aren't sure how to move forward.
- A pet has already arrived, and your child is avoiding certain rooms, routines, or the animal altogether.
- Households are blending, and your child is getting to know a partner's or relative's pet.
- You want your child to learn kind, respectful ways of being with an animal from the very first day.
What We Work On
Three relationships, one calm home
Your child
We get curious about the fear together, practice skills for a worried body such as slow breathing and grounding, and take small steps toward comfort that your child chooses. We never force contact with an animal.
Your family
We help you build shared agreements, realistic routines, and a plan for adult supervision. We also work on how to talk about the new arrival so that every child in the home feels heard.
The animal
Animals have feelings, too. Children learn to notice when an animal is saying "I need space," and your family plans a quiet spot your pet can always retreat to. No animal is too small for that kind of care.
How It Works
Small steps, at your child's pace
-
01
We start with a conversation
In a consultation, we hear what's happening at home, what you're hoping for, and whether this service is the right fit.
-
02
We get to know your child's fear
Through talking, play, and drawing, we learn what the worry looks like, where it began, and what already helps.
-
03
Comfort grows in small steps
Using cognitive behavioral strategies and gradual exposure, your child moves forward one manageable step at a time. That might mean stories and pictures first, then videos, then watching a calm animal from a distance. Every step is your child's choice.
-
04
Your household gets ready
Together we plan first introductions, daily routines, adult supervision, and safe spaces for both your child and your pet.
-
05
We stay with you after the arrival
Check-in sessions during the early weeks help you adjust the plan as your child and your pet get to know each other.
The best time to start is before your pet comes home, so your child has room to build comfort without pressure. If your pet is already here, it isn't too late. We simply begin from where you are.
The Relationship in the Room
When your child is ready, a gentle first meeting
For families near our Nyack, NY office, some sessions can include Ruby or Grogu, our registered therapy animals, one at a time. A calm, predictable animal, a trusted counselor, and a child who sets the pace: that relationship in the room can become a child's first safe experience of being close to an animal.
It is always optional, and it only happens when your child says they're ready.
Where We Fit
Counseling for your family, alongside your pet's care team
This is counseling for the people in your home. We focus on your child's feelings, your family's readiness, and the human side of safe, kind interactions.
We don't train animals or evaluate an animal's behavior. For that, we encourage families to work with a qualified, rewards-based trainer or their veterinarian, and we're glad to coordinate with them so everyone is working from the same plan.
Common Questions
What families ask us
What is counseling for a child who is afraid of a new pet?
It is child-centered counseling that helps a nervous or fearful child build comfort around animals while the family prepares to welcome a pet. We use evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral strategies and gradual, child-led exposure, and we involve parents and caregivers throughout.
When should we start?
Ideally before your pet comes home, so your child has time to build comfort without pressure. If your pet has already arrived, it isn't too late. We begin from where your family is now.
Will my child have to touch or be near an animal?
No. Your child sets the pace, and many early steps involve no live animal at all. We might begin with stories, pictures, or videos and only move closer when your child feels ready.
Do you train our dog or evaluate our pet's behavior?
No. Our counseling focuses on your child and your family. For training or behavior concerns, we encourage you to work with a qualified, rewards-based trainer or your veterinarian, and we are glad to coordinate with them.
Is this only for families getting a dog?
No. We support families welcoming dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and other companion animals. No animal is too small to matter to a family.
Can we meet virtually, and will insurance cover it?
Virtual sessions are available to families in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Texas. Sessions that include one of our animal partners take place in person at our Nyack, NY office. Coverage depends on your plan and your child's needs, so please ask us and our biller will help you check.
Small Hands, Gentle Paws
A calm start for
everyone in your home
Tell us about your child, your family, and the animal you're hoping to welcome. We'll help you find the next right step.
Schedule a Consultation