Mindful Paws
Therapeutic Coaching, Mentorship & Transformational Canine Assisted Therapy In Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
Who we Work With in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
Who We Support
At Mindful Paws, we collaborate with individuals, schools, families, SEND teams, and local authorities to support young people who struggle within traditional education settings.
Our specialist interventions provide an alternative, therapeutic approach to mental health support, engagement, and transition planning for students with:
✔ Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
✔ Autism & ADHD
✔ Anxiety, trauma, and attachment difficulties
✔ School refusal & disengagement from education
✔ Children Looked After (CLA) and Care Leavers
How Schools & Local Authorities Can Work With Us
✔ Referrals for individual students – funded through EHCP, Alternative Provision budgets, or pupil premium.
✔ Partnership programmes with schools – integrating canine-assisted mentoring into pastoral care.
✔ Transition support for care leavers & CLA – preparing for independence and life beyond education.
We understand the complex challenges faced by vulnerable young people and work closely with SENCOs, social workers, and virtual schools to create tailored, evidence-based support plans.
Our walk-and-talk sessions, mentorship, and canine-assisted therapy create a pressure-free environment where young people feel safe, supported, and empowered.
Staff Wellbeing – Caring for Those Who Care
A Holistic Approach to Staff Wellbeing
In today’s fast-paced world, workplace wellbeing is more than just a perk—it’s essential. At Mindful Paws, we understand that team members give so much of themselves every day to support those around them.
That’s why we’ve created bespoke Staff Wellbeing packages that nurture emotional resilience, ease stress, and help staff feel truly valued.
What We Offer - We currently work with both independent and mainstream schools,
providing tailored wellbeing support designed around your team’s unique needs. From group workshops to individual reflective sessions, we help cultivate a school environment where staff can pause, breathe, and reconnect—so they can continue to care wholeheartedly for others.
The Science Behind Wellbeing - Research shows that high stress levels and emotional fatigue don’t just affect individual health—they ripple through teams, impacting focus, creativity, and overall morale. Neuroscience highlights how chronic
stress changes the brain, diminishing our capacity for empathy and joy.
By addressing these pressures through compassionate, evidence-based approaches, we help staff restore balance and resilience.
A Holistic Approach – Our approach supports mind, body, and heart. Through mindful practices, therapeutic conversations, and, where appropriate, the gentle, grounding presence of animals, we create nurturing spaces that go beyond surface-level stress relief. We aim to foster deep, lasting wellbeing that staff carry with them long after each session ends.
Why It Matters – Staff wellbeing isn’t just about preventing burnout—it’s about creating a culture where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to meet the
demands of their roles with calm and confidence. When your staff feel well, they bring their best selves to the students and community they work within.
Ready to Support Those Who Care?
Get in touch to explore how our tailored wellbeing packages can strengthen your team, uplift your work community, and help every member of staff feel truly cared for.
Classroom Companionship
At Mindful Paws, we’re passionate about the unique bond between children and animals. Our Classroom Companionship service brings this connection to life through carefully planned visits to schools and educational settings. Our trained dogs (and their experienced handlers) visit classrooms to offer calm, nurturing interactions that can support children’s emotional wellbeing, social skills, and overall engagement in learning. Whether it’s reading alongside a furry friend, enjoying gentle strokes during circle time, or simply sharing a quiet moment together, these visits create a sense of comfort and joy that’s hard to match.
Each session is tailored to the needs of the group, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to benefit from the presence of our wonderful canine companions. We work closely with teachers and staff to make sure our visits align with your classroom goals, be it to encourage confidence, reduce anxiety, or simply add a bit of magic to the school day.
If you’d like to explore how Classroom Companionship could support your pupils, please get in touch — we’d love to chat about bringing Mindful Paws into your school.
Family Coaching with Mindful Paws
Every family has its ups and downs — moments of harmony and moments of challenge and disconnect , but it doesn't have to stay that way . Our role at Mindful Paws is to support you through the tricky bits, with kindness, clarity, and connection.
Our Family Coaching sessions are designed to support families in building stronger communication, emotional awareness, and resilience — with a little help from our gentle therapy dogs.
What is Family Coaching?
Family coaching offers a safe, non-judgemental space for families to explore what’s working — and what’s not — in their relationships and daily life. Together, we look at patterns, needs, and emotions, helping each family member feel heard and understood.
Whether you're facing sibling struggles, parenting pressures, emotional overwhelm, or just want to feel more connected as a unit, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Why include a therapy dog?
Therapy dogs offer calm, grounding energy — often becoming a bridge for communication. They help lower cortisol and raise oxytocin, their presence helps regulate your nervous system , and make sessions feel more approachable, especially for children and young people who may find it hard to talk.
Our Approach - At Mindful Paws, our approach is:
- Empathic and relational – we meet you where you are.
- Child- and parent-inclusive – every voice matters.
- Emotionally safe – with a focus on trust, regulation and connection.
- Solution-focused – helping you move forward with confidence and clarity.
Ready to reconnect?
If your family is feeling disconnected, stuck, or just in need of support, we’re here. You don’t have to figure it all out alone — let us help you build a more mindful, compassionate home.
Contact us to find out more or book an initial conversation.
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