I brought my rat with me today to show T. She was suitably impressed with him and his abilities and she complimented me on his grooming.

Then I was able to put my rat back in his box and talk about myself.

Have you ever shown your pets?

[lizardlady]

I've never taken any of the critters to therapy. It would be reaaly hard to fit one of the horses in the cab of my truck. I've talked about them in sessions though.

IT, it's great that your T was cool with your rat.

[gayleggg]

No, I haven't ever taken one with but have talked about them and showed pictures.

Yes it is important to me that T accepts my rat and doesn't flinch when I show him off.

[Big Mama]

IT that was great that you took your rat w/ you to T. I have can't take my horse to T. But I have talked about him a lot and I have taken pictures of him. T seems open about that. Our pets are part of our lives to.

[googley]

I've brought pictures of my cats to session. I haven't brought my cats because i come straight from work and they can't sit in my car all day. Also I would be worried if someone after me (or my T) was allergic to cats.

maybe i should have been worried that someone would bring their cat because my rat would not have liked that. i wonder if my rat likes T.

[tealBumblebee]

Thats really awesome. I agree with you, it is important that T is accepting of your pet. I was the same way when I got my turtles. I emailed her a photo of them though and she brings them up on her own, so I guess she likes them too. She only said she never knew that people actually had pet turtles.

Whats the rats name? Did she pet him?

She didn't pet him and i asked her to rate him out of 10 but she gracefully dodged that. I think he's an 8/10 or higher but when i asked her to give him a number she just asked why it was so important to me that she likes the rat as much as i do.

I had a cat that did pet therapy and when she was done visiting everyone she came to my psychiatrist's appointment. She rode in my hood wrapped around my neck. I really enjoyed having her there. I don't know how to describe the feeling. Comfort? Safety? Pride?

[too SHy]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

I've never taken any of the critters to therapy. It would be reaaly hard to fit one of the horses in the cab of my truck. I've talked about them in sessions though.

IT, it's great that your T was cool with your rat.

Dear lizardlady, Horses ARE therapy. The happiest days of my life had horses in them. God bless

[Big Mama]

Too shy and lizard lady, I totally agree. Horses are therapy. They pick up on body language you have no idea you are exhibiting, there personalities clash or mesh with yours, and petting them is very relaxing.

IT I think I saw on here some in this thread, your T wanted to know why it was important that she like your rat. It is important. I totally get that. It is validating to have someone else appreciate and maybe even love the things that are important to you. You are searching for validation from her because you are in search of validation from people in general. Is that a correct assessment?

If T had a rat, hamster, bunny, guinea pig, or some other small animal I could hold during session or even a cat or dog it would help me open up. I guess I am just weird that way.

Originally Posted by Big Mama

Too shy and lizard lady, I totally agree. Horses are therapy. They pick up on body language you have no idea you are exhibiting, there personalities clash or mesh with yours, and petting them is very relaxing.

IT I think I saw on here some in this thread, your T wanted to know why it was important that she like your rat. It is important. I totally get that. It is validating to have someone else appreciate and maybe even love the things that are important to you. You are searching for validation from her because you are in search of validation from people in general. Is that a correct assessment?

Yes I think it is a correct assessment. I asked her again today but we went straight on to regular therapy.

If T had a rat, hamster, bunny, guinea pig, or some other small animal I could hold during session or even a cat or dog it would help me open up. I guess I am just weird that way.

I think this makes sense. Maybe you transfer the loveable qualities of the animals towards T.

[Big Mama]

Animals bring me a sense of safety. A sense of safety that I do not have with humans. I don't think it is a transference of lovable qualities of the animals towards the T. It is the trust factor and a sense of calm that an animal brings.

[Ash89]

I'm so happy to hear there's another rat lover here. I have 2 girls, Molly and Mary-Jane. They just tore apart a string of popcorn I hung in their cage. They're very spoiled, I share my goodies. . A lot of people think rats are so alien, but they are just as therapeutic to me as my cats.

T continues to refuse to rate my rat. She changes the subject to discuss me and the rat is not discussed.

[Ash89]

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

T continues to refuse to rate my rat. She changes the subject to discuss me and the rat is not discussed.

That's really unfortunate. I've had friends refuse to touch mine or tell me they they're cute but sorry I won't touch them. Honestly it's just a learned stereotype, try not to take it personally. It's her loss, she's missing out, I'm sure your rat is great. they just have a bad rep is all. You and I both know it's not true. They're clean, friendly, loveable. It might hurt a little but try not to hold it against her, it's a learned response. It's engrained into us from a young age that rodents are gross and filthy.

I didn't bring rat to therapy today so it was business as usual. I think i have learned from this experience. T is not going to like everything that i like or be as enthusiastic about my hobbies and maybe this is ok. i just wanted her to acknowledge that the rat was a nice pet and that i wasn't crazy for having a rat, and she did that.

[Jordy]

I've never brought my hamster to T, but actually brought part of my horses: I've braided a strand of each my horse's tail and cut it of. I've got both braids with when in T and as it's comforting to know they are in my bag. I once had to take them out and hold them during a difficult session and my T was great about it even when I felt silly.
Might be because she's got horses too... and actually invited me home to see her foal in the spring. Not sure I'm going to accept that offer though...

[DogTrainingLove]

Animals are just the best aren't they? I had a rat that was absolutely awesome, he defiantly helped me a lot though I never took him to therapy as at that time I didn't go.

With my one therapist I brought one of my Guinea Pigs. She didn't much like them, but she respected that fact that they helped me and was happy to let them come if it helped me with my anxiety. (Which is great)

I now have a Service Dog that I, of course, bring to the psychiatrist and therapist office. The psychiatrist doesn't like dogs but doesn't mind Bella being there because she's so well behaved. My therapist has dogs of her own, and really likes Bella and chats with me about dogs which is awesome.

[eskielover]

Celia, my smallest eskie always went to T with me.....then when Leo was born....I took both Leo & Celia with me. my psychologist had a cocker spaniel.....he lost the last year I was in Calif & seeing him. He swore he was never going to get another dog......but my mommy eskie Destiny....had her last litter (a surprise to us actually).......he ended up taking one of our eskie puppies (Sammie).....& another one of his patients took the female puppie.....& I kept the other male....JoGI.

Sadly, I lost both Destiny & Celia in this last year......Leo & Tawny are now my too constant companions....they go with me in my truck everywhere....but the place I have T now after moving 2100 miles away from where I lived....doesn't allow dogs to come in.

Other places are getting less dog friendly also....I always took Leo into Lowe's with me....& everyone wanted to pet him....it was good for him & good for them also....but guess other bad dog experiences end up eliminating them all from being able to go into the store.

IT.....I am a rat lover also....I have had 2 awesome pet rats....Flower when I was first in college & up to just before I got married.......& then I had Gus while I was married for about 3 years. With my cats & dogs after that, I never went for having rats again.....but I truly love them....they are the smartest & funniest pets......I give most rats a 10 for awesome personalities....but I have met some that I would only give a 1......they were ones I baby sat for this guy from work....too many...not handled enough.....not personal.....but when you really handle them & play with them & enjoy being with them......their personalities are awesome.

We talked about my rat again on Friday. I told T that I didn't want to keep bringing up the rat but that I felt as though she didn't like the rat. She said she may have given that impression because she is scared of rodents, but that she felt my rodent was sound.