Healing Acres Professional Counseling & Therapeutic Activity Center, LLC.

12/09/2025

What do I do when I have some free time? In the past I used to take the therapy dogs for walks but Tinsley needs a winter coat so right now I’m hanging out with Healing Acres indoor therapy cats!

I’ll have to go invest in a coat for Tinsley during my next break! She has very short fur and as we all know it’s been super cold as of late!

12/09/2025

Hmm, yes, even Santa gets stressed! Particularly during this time of year.

Are you stressed too!? I’ll be here all week and next week (with the exception of Friday 12/19/25) to help you through. Let’s talk about it at Healing Acres!

12/08/2025

Fun fact:

Did you know that up until about the late 1990’s therapists often had clients (particularly child clients) manage their anger by punching pillows or screaming into pillows in therapy sessions!? In fact I remember learning in graduate school that some therapists even had clients take bats and hit blow up dolls or whatever in sessions as a way to relieve anger. We learned (graduating class of 2005) that this was found to NOT be an effective way of managing anger and actually made children more aggressive and so rage therapy no longer was seen as an evidence based approach or treatment (or was it ever really!?)

Anyways the video below is strictly for entertainment purposes and in no way an actual form of therapy (although my volunteer did say he felt it was quite therapeutic lol)

We smashed frozen pumpkins just for some fun and to make this funny video. Hmmm maybe someday pumpkin smashing will be considered an evidence based mode of treatment and I can offer that lol.

All I can say it was fun smashing frozen pumpkins prior to the start of the session!
LOL

12/03/2025

This morning we are at the Vet taking care of 2 of the therapy pups

11/24/2025

Scenes from another walk and talk therapy session earlier this afternoon. 😀

11/24/2025

11/24/2025

Flash from the past.. wow Keebler got big!

Just reminiscing on this Sunday night before my last client of the day arrives for session. 😊

What do we do here at Healing Acres? A lot!

I’m Sonia- the sole therapist and business owner of Healing Acres Professional Counseling & Therapeutic Activity Center located on our small idyllic farm in Pomfret, CT.

My husband Kurt helps to manage the farm side of things! My amazing biller manages the behind the scenes work- the insurance and billing work.

That means I get to help and work directly with you! My current and prospective clients 😀

I’m a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor with an accumulated 20 years of clinical experience! Despite my schooling and clinical experience, I pride myself in providing a humanistic perspective and therapeutic approach to counseling and your treatment and care!

I provide traditional in office talk therapy but I also provide animal assisted therapy, walk and talk therapy, and therapy that incorporates the use of art to explore and cope with emotions.
I work with individuals of all ages!

I have limited availability and hours now available for new clients but I always am accepting new referrals and clients because it’s my passion to help.

As many of you know, I enjoy incorporating our 3 therapy dogs, 3 indoor therapy cats, countless therapeutic Holstein cows and calves, and even the friendly barn cats, into as many sessions as I can. Animals are a gift and add to the therapeutic mileu for so many clients 😀

In the near future I’d love to add a like minded and experienced counselor with an easy going style and approach (much like myself) who also appreciates animals to my practice!

If you are a prospective client or therapist please reach out to me whenever you feel the time is right for you.

I‘m always here and am happy to connect.

Yours sincerely in good health and healing,

Sonia Nieminen

Pictured below is my miracle therapy cat- Keebler.

Many of you know his story. ❤️

11/23/2025

There is something very therapeutic about cloudy day walk and talk sessions.

Maybe it’s the brisk cool air, or maybe it’s about finding hope, beauty, and inspiration even on the grayest days in our lives.

I love doing walk and talks with my clients. There is always something special or unique we find during each walk and talk.

Also bilateral stimulation is very therapeutic for the brain! Walking in nature helps alleviate some symptoms associated with anxiety and even depression!

Who wants to walk with me this week? I’ll make sure to have my sneakers ready! 🫶🏻😀

11/22/2025

How did I forget to post these adorable pictures of our therapy calf (and therapy barn kitty) in September!? Snapshot blast to the recent past!

Aww! 🥰

11/16/2025

Just some snapshots from a cat assisted therapy session at Healing Acres on a Sunday evening.

3 therapy cats definitely add warmth, laughter, and comfort to therapy sessions.

The therapy animals are always available upon the client’s request and we have many therapy animals to choose from here at Healing Acres! 🥰

11/07/2025

Meet Adrianna!

One of our fluffy & friendly therapy cows. 🐄

11/07/2025

Just another scene from an animal assisted therapy session at Healing Acres 🥰

Meet Alfie: happy friendly therapy barn cat