Friede, my yellow Labrador therapy dog, and I entered my waiting room. Nicole (not her real name) sat, staring at her hands neatly folded on her lap. Friede eagerly approached her, sat at her feet, and looked up at her. Nicole connected with Friede’s warm eyes and began stroking her velvety ears. “Dogs are such wonderful animals and healers,” she said. “I miss having a dog.” Her voice trailed into silence.
After she and Friede settled on a loveseat in my office, she looked at me and asked, “Where should I begin?” I replied, “Wherever you want.”
She began. “My parents divorced when I was four. Over the years, I did a lot of therapy to heal from how it affected me growing up and as an adult. I’m a lawyer in private practice, and I dedicate a significant amount of my time to serving on the board of a non-profit agency that supports families experiencing separation and divorce. I have a heart for those going through divorce.”