Sit, Stay, Grow is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which Angelika describes as “an invitation to notice how it feels to be present and choose what matters – to unhook from unhelpful thoughts and to engage with life more joyfully.”
Russ Harris writes in his foreword: “Dogs are awesome. And one of the things the book makes beautifully clear is that there is so much we can learn from them.”
by Angelika von Sanden
For Professionals: Counselors/Psychologists/Social Workers/ Psychotherapists
All of you have worked with clients who have lost trust in humans.
Emotionally and physically abused, often by those who should have cared and should have provided safety and unconditional love.
Trauma created a sense of threat, now repeatedly and painfully felt in human relationships. Closeness with humans is as difficult as feeling isolated and alone. Commonly, self-compassion and self-care seem concepts furthest from their mind - while at the same time, their dogs are treated with kindness, thoughtful considerations and endless patience.
The dogs are experiencing unconditional love, and receive, what the child would have needed!
One day I started to ask clients:
“What if you would treat yourself the same way you treat your dog?”
The subsequent conversations with them and changes in other clients were profound and inspiring!
The book covers all six core processes of ACT:
-
Being in the present moment - a dog as an example and teacher.
-
Identifying values - by for example exploring why we feed our dogs every day.
-
Committing to doing what matters - like walking a dog daily.
-
Embracing discomfort - when walking a dog in pouring rain.
-
Defusing from unhelpful thoughts - by observing them and letting them be, like we let dogs be, running wild in a dog park.
-
Strengthening the observing self, with metaphors straight out of the life with a four legged companion.
The book does not shy away from difficult topics, like guilt and shame, and invites to practice self-compassion.
Each chapter ends with simple, practical and life changing exercises and invites to ‘Take a thought for a walk.’
These thoughts and questions are impactful resources for home practice, openings for sessions and conversation starters to address the six core processes with dog loving clients.
Sit, Stay, Grow is a stand alone self-help book, or accompanying the work with a client, chapter by chapter, or sustaining and enhancing psychological flexibility towards the end of the therapeutic journey and beyond. It is unique by NOT featuring any humans!
Russ Harris wrote in the foreword:
"Packed full of creative, playful, canine-oriented exercises for developing powerful new psychological skills, this book will help you to handle painful emotions more effectively unhook from negative thoughts, behave more like the person you want to be, focus on what’s important, and engage in whatever you want to do."
The book is published in the US, UK and Australia and available for order here.