VIRTUAL CANINE THERAPY

Video Call With Ricochet via FaceTime or Zoom
Are you, or someone you know feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, scared, overwhelmed or any other unsettling emotion during this Covid-19 pandemic? Are you a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, first responder, essential worker, senior citizen, service member or veteran with PTSD, or family who lost a loved one & could use some stress reduction? 
If you've only got a couple minutes, please check out our virtual canine therapy page. If you have a little more time and would like a FaceTime or Zoom Visit, please email us at [email protected].

Ricochet has been finding it hard to be a therapy dog and not do something to help all those suffering emotionally from the covid-19 pandemic. In every other crisis, therapy dogs are called upon to provide comfort and healing. But, due to social distancing and quarantine, animal assisted therapy programs have been suspended. At a time when dogs could be truly valuable resources, we're offering virtual canine therapy and distance healing via FaceTime or other video conferencing. 
​
HEALING
Ricochet has been helping people through her heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul connections for over 11 years. She’s like a mirror to the people with whom she interacts, reflecting their feelings with a sense of confidence. As such, she can help people go inward to find a place of peace while, at the same time, moving outward through their greatest fears. On most occasions Ricochet can sense subtle changes in people’s physiological, psychological, and emotional well-being—even if those changes aren’t obvious to the people experiencing them.

She has a wide spectrum of incredibly powerful healing abilities including empathy, spiritual mastery, divine energy and intuitive abilities. She’s able to relieve anxiety, transform blockages, lessen painful memories, bring comfort, decrease physical ailments, reduce trauma, alert to PTSD triggers, release fear and more. She has the power to heal from a distance and doesn’t need to be physically face-to-face to get results. It doesn't matter what you need healing for... her healing will go where you most need it, and typically way beyond the surface… She goes to your soul… to your core.

​RICOCHET'S BACKGROUND
​Ricochet is a 12-year-old female golden retriever. She’s part of our non-profit, Puppy Prodigies. Our programs are rooted in the human-canine bond and dedicated to helping individuals grow in mind, body and spirit through the unconditional love and acceptance only a dog can provide. Ricochet offers a non-judgmental environment of support and comfort where emotions can be safely released. Participants are spun into a cocoon of positive energy, healing and recovery.​
​
RICOCHET'S CONNECTIONS
​Ricochet has a mystifying ability to make immediate heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul connections with everyone she encounters. When she meets a person it’s like they’re a book and she reads the whole book in a matter of seconds. She knows what they need, and she provides it… allowing for remarkable paws-on healing transformations.
​
​
Watch Ricochet and her healing power during the filming of the IMAX film, Superpower Dogs
​
HOW DISTANCE HEALING WORKS
Distance healing is the ability to connect energetically with an individual across space and time. This is done with the compassionate intention of sending healing energy to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a person.

We are all made of life force energy, also known as our Chi, Qi or prana. It vibrates at different pitches and designates different manifestations of life. Healing is a matter balancing that energy for the benefit of others.

We can never promise a particular outcome, but it is unusual for Ricochet’s supportive healing energy not to be helpful in some way.
GETTING READY FOR YOUR SESSION
Find a quiet space and get comfortable. The healing session will last about 1/2 hour. You are encouraged to use essential oils, sage, crystals, feathers, candles, incense, and other healing items you like. You can use any calming music you prefer, or we’ll have music in the background. 
BENEFITS OF DISTANCE HEALING​
  • Increases overall sense of well-being
  • Provide calmness to stressful situations
  • Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Accelerates healing
  • Rejuvenation of body & soul
  • Provides emotional, mental and spiritual support
  • Increases ability to handle life’s challenges with calmness & clarity
"I went in to this experience with and open mind and heart since in person dog therapy would be much different from this virtual session. I figured...it couldn't hurt. As I was talking about my experiences and concerns about what's been happening, I could see that Ricochet was listening and very tuned into what I was saying. Her body language and eye contact mirrored many of the concerns I had expressed. If anyone has experienced active listening without judgement, you will understand best what I was experiencing here. There were also times that Ricochet was expressing peaceful encouragement. This was incredibly soothing to me. And if you are finding yourself a little more stressed or feeling like you might need someone...Please give Ricochet a try." ~ICU Nurse treating covid-19 patients


What to expect at your session

  • ​Participant receives email with more info prior to session.
  • The healing process may begin prior to session by having the participant write a letter to Ricochet regarding what's bothering them. 
  • Every interaction is different, authentic and organic.
  • The session is between Ricochet and participant. Handler is only a facilitator.
  • Participant is encouraged to have candles, incense, calming music, etc to help reduce stress.
  • Session begins.
  • Ricochet will be lying quietly with the camera on her.
  • Participant will focus on Ricochet's calm demeanor to help reduce their anxiety. 
  • Ricochet will make an immediate bond & energetically connect with participant.
  • Background information about Ricochet is provided.
  • If letter was written, it will be read to Ricochet in a non-judgmental, safe and confidential environment.
  • Participants voice will cause additional vibration which will deepen the connection between them.
  • Ricochet may show handler how the participant feels via her body language.
  • Handler may interpret Ricochet’s behavior and present it to participant (metaphorical behavior).
  • Participant may validate the interpreted behavior.
  • Q&A.
  • Session ends.

    ​

Reading a letter to Ricochet


​Two of the main aspects of Ricochet's in-person, anxiety reducing canine therapy are petting and making eye contact. Unfortunately, video chats don't allow for either. So we've had to get creative in the way she provides therapy during this coronavirus pandemic. 

If you're feeling stressed because of Covid-19, you probably have a million thoughts racing through your mind... questions, anger, uncertainty, fear, overwhelm, fatigue and maybe even hate at the destruction it's causing. All these thoughts can be difficult to stop, and many of them are so unsettling you can't utter them to another person. 

But, writing a letter to Ricochet about your feelings gives you the opportunity to get your uncensored thoughts out of your head. And, reading a letter to Ricochet gives you the opportunity to share your feelings with someone who won't judge you no matter what you share. She will give you undivided attention and listen to you like only she can. She will take on your anxiety and replace it with positive energy. 

Your letter can include your emotions, thoughts, demands, anger, needs and internal dialogue. You can express whatever you want to say with no regard to spelling or punctuation because nobody will see it but you.  
  • Individuals who contracted covid-19
  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Other healthcare workers
  • First responders
  • Essential workers
  • Families of those who lost loved ones
  • Service members & veterans with PTSD
  • Individuals with anxiety or stress
  • Pharmacy employees 
  • Mass transit and airport workers
  • Grocery stores ​


​Populations we servee
  • Gas stations
  • ​Funeral services
  • Military
  • Banks
  • Utilities
  • Childcare
  • Janitorial
  • Trash collection
  • Animal shelters
  • Food banks
  • Mail & shipping
  • Delivery
  • And more


​Be sure to watch some of the videos below before your session!

RICOCHET'S HEALING VIDEOS
Ricochet is in the IMAX film, Superpower Dogs. This video highlights her work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmWhKcAcvNo&t=1s  
 
Superpower Dogs - A good representation of the work Ricochet does
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7_Vr5bwnMk&t=6s  
 
Superpower Dogs from the beginning!
https://youtu.be/dRGP6IHi5KI
 
SURFice dog video went viral and has over 6.5. million views. It touches people on a very deep level, bringing them to tears.
https://youtu.be/BGODurRfVv4
 
Extraordinary Dogs
https://youtu.be/ZevBR0GlpfU
 
Surf Dog Ricochet Docu-Series: Balancing Boards... Balancing Lives
https://youtu.be/FIXHgo_9zQU
 
Surf Dog Ricochet Docu-Series: Alerting to PTSD symptoms
https://youtu.be/2Y70Wme0fKo
 
Surf Dog Ricochet helps her soldier heal on Nat Geo Wild's Barkfest
https://youtu.be/QNNdZ-vg64I
 
Surf Dog Ricochet - Nat Geo Wild's World's Greatest Dogs
https://youtu.be/yiYUnY71r0E
 
Fox interview with Marine with PTSD
https://youtu.be/7viVBoNO8ew
 
Human/canine connection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNldio_-zlk
 
Watch how dog helps veteran with PTSD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxMyc7ACao8&t=10s
 
Veteran with PTSD describes "soul vision" of dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35lP2EalvhE&t=67s
 
Alerting to PTSD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-OGHubHJpw&t=5s
​