Meet Psychologist Naomi Adams & Therapy Dog ‘Darcy’ - an experienced Animal Assisted Therapy Team, delivering various types of engaging, goal directed AAT interventions for a wide range of clients ☺️ 🐶 🐾 NAOMI & DARCY - ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY TEAM
ABOUT NAOMI:
* Professional Information *
Naomi Adams (she/her) is a Psychologist and Animal Assisted Therapist, who works with her trained and registered Therapy Dog, Darcy (an older male tri-colour Border Collie).
- Qualifications:
Naomi's qualifications include Graduate Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology; Bachelor of Human Services (Social Welfare); and Cert IV Community Services – Alcohol & Other Drugs. Naomi's Psychology Thesis topic: 'Animal Assisted Interventions for Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioural Problems'.
- Experience:
Naomi has over 25 years counselling experience working with adolescents and adults through the lifespan, in a wide range of settings and roles. Naomi has worked in a wide range of settings including Community Organisations, Health Services, Custodial Settings, Private Psychology Practices and Hospitals, and an Animal Assisted Therapy Farm! Along with generalist counselling roles, Naomi has worked extensively in drug and alcohol counselling; counselling victims of crime (including victim/survivors of family violence and/or sexual assault); and in the assessment and treatment of forensic clients in the criminal justice system. Prior to commencing counselling roles, Naomi worked as a Youth Worker.
- Clients and Clinical Interests:
Naomi's current clients include: Adults; Adolescents; Older children; Victims of crime (inc. family violence, sexual assault); Individuals involved in the Criminal Justice system; LGBTIQA+ community members; Neurodivergent individuals; and NDIS participants
Naomi's current clinical interests include: Trauma; Personality Disorders; Neurodivergence; Adjustment Disorders; Attachment Difficulties; Mood Disorders; Self-Worth; Identity; Addictions; and Offending Behaviours.
- Therapeutic Approaches:
Naomi's approach is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, disability inclusive, neuro-affirming, and LGBTIQA+/gender diversity inclusive. She celebrates diversity and individuality, and endeavours to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for all, that is free from judgment, and promotes trust, honest communication, and collaboration. Naomi draws from her lived experiences where appropriate, while respecting her clients’ individual experiences and learning from them! She values openness, authenticity, and the use of humour, and utilises these qualities in therapy, while maintaining ethical and professional standards of practice. In her therapeutic work Naomi takes an integrative, holistic approach, drawing from a range of evidence based therapeutic models to tailor therapy to the individual client's needs. Her preferred therapeutic interventions include:
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) & Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(TF-CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Naomi is fully registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
* Personal Information *
Naomi is a cis gender, bisexual woman. She is neurodivergent (late diagnosed ADHD) and has experienced several significant personal challenges in her life. Originally from Melbourne, Naomi has lived in Ocean Grove for 18 years and enjoys working in her local community. Her partner lives in Melbourne and they share time between the city and the coast. Naomi currently lives with her companion dog (also her Therapy Dog), Darcy. When not working, Naomi enjoys: taking Darcy dog out for a run (to be clear – its Darcy who runs!); practicing yoga & meditation; spending time in nature on the Bellarine ... or in the vibrant Melbourne culture; taking photos (passion project is capturing the human-animal bond); watching true crime; seeing movies; going to live music events; having lazy brunches; and generally spending time with loved ones. Naomi also spends time volunteering in the following areas:
- Animal Rights & Welfare
- Human Rights/Social Justice
- Environmental matters
- Animal Rescue
Animal Assisted Therapy brings two of Naomi's passions together - Animals and Psychology/Therapy. Naomi honours and treasures the Human-Animal Bond in all areas of her life - in her personal relationships with her companion animals, in her voluntary advocacy roles, and in her work as an Animal Assisted Therapist. She recognises that this bond underpins the efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy - it is integral for effective teamwork between the Therapist and the Therapy Dog; and for the interactions between the Therapy Dog and the Client, during the intervention. Naomi also integrates her values regarding animals into her work. For many years now she has rescued/adopted dogs, and five of her dogs have been trained and certified as Therapy Dogs, working with her in various roles. As an Animal Assisted Therapist and an Animal Rights & Welfare advocate, she equally prioritises the wellbeing of the Therapy Dog and the Client in her work. ABOUT DARCY:
Darcy - The Wonder Dog
Therapy Dog & Welcome Ambassador
A Very Good Boy
Works with: Adolescents, Adults, Children
Special interests: Anxiety & Panic Disorders, Behavioural Difficulties, Childhood Trauma, Depression, Grief & Loss, Stress & Anger Management, ADHD, Autism (ASD), Emotional & Behavioural Regulation, Interpersonal Issues, Stress, Trauma
Favoured interventions: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Darcy is a friendly, male, tri-colour Border Collie. He is a trained and certified Therapy Dog, and an integral member of the Bellarine Psychology team! Darcy works with Naomi Adams, Psychologist and Animal Assisted Therapist. However, he enjoys popping in on our other therapists for cuddles and has occasionally supported their work (with Naomi s guidance). Darcy also enjoys greeting his clients (hence the Welcome Ambassador title), but he is always supervised in shared spaces. While many of Naomi s clients are actively engaging in structured Animal Assisted Therapy interventions, some just enjoy having him in the room during sessions. However, clients can choose not to have Darcy in the room , on these occasions he takes a break. Darcy is not only Naomi s fluffy co-therapist, he is also her companion dog (pet). He was rescued in 2022 (at age 9) after spending most of his life as a breeding dog in a puppy farm. So, Mr Darcy is becoming an older gentleman, but you wouldn’t t always know it! Border Collies are known for their energy and their intelligence. Darcy still loves to run, especially chasing tennis balls. His mind is still eager to learn new things, and he loves to please people and make them happy. Darcy is also very happy to just relax, a benefit of him entering his senior years. Darcy is a happy boy who loves being with people. He is responsive to clients’ emotions and behaviours, and his interactions with them are guided by their needs and goals, and the associated activities or roles that form the treatment plans. These plans may include dog training and other interactive activities using observation and modelling, and association via discussion about Darcy’s experiences and behaviours; or providing clients with comfort (as an attachment figure, or a mindfulness/grounding tool), snuggling in and giving and receiving touch, while clients work through difficult emotions. This range of qualities and traits make Darcy a wonderful, versatile Therapy Dog! Therapy Dogs working with therapists in professional settings are a team. They have worked together to pass specific standards for certification (including assessing canine temperament, the human-canine bond, and obedience training). Animal Assisted Therapists should have also studied/undertaken training in the underpinning theories and application of this model. Naomi’s Professional Insurance covers the provision of Animal Assisted Therapy as a therapeutic modality, and also covers working Therapy Dogs. Naomi adheres to the Occupational Health and Safety protocols she developed specifically for Animal Assisted Therapy with canines in clinical practice. If you would like to know more about Animal Assisted Therapy or would like to work with Darcy (and Naomi!) please don’t hesitate to contact us. Again, if you are seeing Naomi for therapy and you would prefer NOT to have Darcy in the room, that’s totally fine. Thank you for reading 😊🐾
