A new type of animal-assisted therapy business employs warm and fuzzy companions to help people of all ages struggling with mental health issues. And apparently, the outcome has been incredible.
EWE Talk was created by Emma Redman and Pippa Ashton just last year when Emma had the opportunity to buy a unique and adorable type of sheep breed known as the Valais Blacknose.
These sheep, known for their dog-like temperaments, make them perfect companions when it comes to providing emotional support. Now, the two friends have a flock of seven sheep and two goats to help those that need some emotional support as they go through difficult times in their life.
A number of studies show that animal therapy can have both psychological and physiological benefits. Emma’s personal journey has encompassed achievements, moments of joy, and cherished memories, alongside the challenges of grappling with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental conditions like OCD, anxiety, eating disorders, and ADHD. These life experiences have fueled her determination to pioneer a fresh and innovative approach to supporting others.
“One of the things we have always known is how useful animals are as a tool to help those struggling with diversities and mental health issues. Sheep aren’t used as therapy animals—people usually think of horse and dog therapy,” said Emma.
This is when Emma and Pippa realized that there wasn’t anything on the market that resembled their type of unique animal therapy, so they decided to try it out.
Emma went on to say, “We offer a safe space, if they want to talk to us then they can but maybe they just want to play and giggle and laugh and run around with the sheep. We want to be there to help anyone that needs us—we’ve got so much belief that what we can do is make a difference.”
As for their flock, they have their original duo Autumn and Maggy, their Valais Blacknoses. Part of their farm flock are their lambs, Nelly and Ziggy, as well as their two Cotswolds sheep named Hope and Pearl.
“A young girl came to the farm who had tried all different types of therapies and for the first ten minutes, she didn’t want to engage. After that, she was in the stable with the sheep being cuddled. Over the hour we started to talk and there was laughter and smiles and she’s come back weekly since,” said Emma.
However, on some occasions, they’ve transported their flock to locals seeking emotional support.
“We are a mobile service which is unique,” said Emma, explaining that they hope to secure more funding to expand their services. “We can go to people’s houses and help those struggling with loneliness and isolation. Every time we see a child benefit from their time with the animals it gives us that passion to move forwards and make a difference.”
See more about Emma, Pippa, and their adorable group of fluffy support animals.
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