Paw Pause

If you’re raising a tween or teen, you’ll already know that navigating friendships can be one of the hardest parts of growing up.

This book is written for parents and professionals, but it’s also designed to be shared with your tweens and teens. Inside, you’ll find 30 years of my work in this area, and my fresh Friendship Smart Framework.

I know that my community often pre-order, so my team and I have been BUSY (Christmas kind of busy) getting ready to gift you some bonuses.

If you pre-order on my website you will also get:
✔️ A personally signed copy. I am going to keep signing as many as you give me!
✔️ Delivered before the public release date. My book release elves will be packing!
✔️ Exclusive access to the Friendship Smart podcast episodes. I can’t wait to share these with you!
✔️ 30% off Friendship Smart events running until December 2026. Current dates are on my website, with more to be added soon.
✔️ I may have one more surprise up my sleeve 💗💗

Of course, Friendship Smart is available everywhere you want to buy your books or audiobooks. I want to thank Penguin Books Australia for enabling me to help as many families as possible.

Friendships aren’t failing because kids don’t care. They are struggling because too many have never been given the right tools. This is where I can genuinely help.

Together I know can do more to support these dear kids of ours.

Get on board early! You can grab your copy here:
https://michellemitchell.org/friendship-smart-book/

🐾❤️

Just because a child is physically in the classroom doesn’t mean they feel safe, regulated or ready to learn.

Many children spend their school day in survival mode — overwhelmed by noise, pressure, uncertainty, social demands or the constant effort of masking how hard things really feel.

From the outside, it can look like they’re “coping.”

But internally, their nervous system may be overloaded.

When children are dysregulated, anxious or emotionally exhausted, learning becomes incredibly difficult. This isn’t about behaviour, motivation or “trying harder.”

It’s about understanding that emotional safety and connection are essential foundations for learning.

At Animal Therapies Ltd, we often see how animal-assisted learning can help children feel calmer, more connected and more emotionally secure.

Animals can provide a sense of safety without judgment or pressure. They help create opportunities for regulation, confidence, communication and engagement in ways that feel natural and supportive.

For some children, meaningful learning begins only after their nervous system feels safe enough to participate.

The ATL National Directory Listing Guidelines are here to help Professional Members accurately represent their qualifications, experience, and areas of expertise when providing animal-assisted services.

These guidelines support:
✔ Ethical and professional practice
✔ Clear and accurate service listings
✔ Better outcomes for participants and referring agencies
✔ Safe, qualified, and evidence-informed animal-assisted support

Whether you work in:
🐾 Mental Health Support
🐾 Neurodiversity
🐾 Physical Disability
🐾 Veterans & First Responders
🐾 Skills Building & Personal Development
🐾 Assistance Animal Training & Assessment

…it’s important that your listing reflects your training, human qualifications, and experience working alongside animals.

The guidelines also outline:
✅ Membership requirements
✅ Professional development expectations
✅ Recommended qualifications by service category
✅ NDIS disability criteria references
✅ Best practice standards for animal-assisted practitioners

Together, we can strengthen professionalism, transparency, and trust across the animal-assisted services sector.

Read the ATL National Directory Listing Guidelines today and ensure your listing is current and aligned with best practice standards.

Looking for an animal-assisted service provider? ATL proudly hosts Australia’s largest directory of animal-assisted practitioners, helping individuals, families, organisations, schools, allied health professionals, and communities connect with qualified and ethical providers across the country.

Whether you’re searching for support in:
🐴 Equine-assisted services
🐶 Animal-assisted therapy
🧠 Mental health & wellbeing
🌱 Personal development
🎓 Learning support
♿ Disability support
❤️ Trauma-informed services

…our National Directory makes it easy to find a practitioner that suits your needs.

All ATL Professional Members agree to uphold our:
✔ Code of Ethics
✔ Code of Conduct
✔ Professional Membership standards

Search the ATL National Directory today:
https://animaltherapies.org.au/providers/

Together, we are strengthening trust, professionalism, and best practice in animal-assisted services across Australia.

🐾

Animal-assisted learning (AAL) programs integrate structured interactions with animals into educational, social, and therapeutic environments to support the development, wellbeing, and engagement of people, including children and young people.

For neurodiverse youth — including autistic children, young people with ADHD, sensory processing differences, learning disabilities, anxiety, trauma backgrounds, and other developmental differences — these programs provide a highly effective, strengths-based approach to learning and participation.

Research and practical experience demonstrate that interactions with animals can help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, increase motivation, and enhance communication and social connection.

Animals create a non-judgmental and calming presence that can support young people who may experience barriers in traditional educational or therapeutic settings.

Animal-assisted learning programs are particularly valuable because they combine experiential learning with emotional safety and engagement. Through guided activities with specially selected animals, participants can develop:

Emotional regulation and self-confidence
Social and communication skills
Literacy and learning engagement
Sensory integration and calming strategies
Empathy, responsibility, and relationship-building
Attendance, participation, and school connection

🐾

How do animal-assisted programs actually work?

Emerging research (2025–2026) is starting to answer this question—and it’s more than just “feel good” moments.

Studies now show that interactions between people and animals can lead to physiological co-regulation, including:
• Reduced cortisol (stress hormone)
• Increased oxytocin (connection & bonding)
• Improved heart rate and emotional regulation

This growing body of evidence highlights the powerful biological connection between humans and animals, helping explain why these programs can be so effective in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

You can read more here:

https://www.cureus.com/articles/452523-the-role-of-oxytocin-and-cortisol-as-biomarkers-of-efficacy-in-animal-assisted-interventions-for-patients-with-major-depressive-disorder-a-narrative-review

Today we’re reaching out to our community 💙

ATL supports individuals who may not otherwise be able to access life-changing animal-assisted therapy. Every day, we see the difference these sessions make — building confidence, improving wellbeing, and creating meaningful connections.

But we can’t do it alone.

As a registered charity, we rely on donations to meet the growing demand for our services. If you’re in a position to give, your support can help ensure that no one misses out due to financial barriers.

https://chuffed.org/project/104921-atlneedsyoursupport25

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Every contribution — big or small — makes a real impact.

Donate today and help us continue this important work.