Me and Harper, my service dog for the kids
Lisa Golitzin is a Licensed Mental Health Professional working with kids k-12 to help them find their own strength and resilience in a world that is filled with stressors and challenges.
My beautiful little farm is located in the quiet and peaceful setting of Snohomish, Washington. Dandelion Farm is an oasis of calm in the middle of today's hectic routines. It's a place to relax and discuss challenges that are presenting themselves to kids, and a forum for self discovery where they learn to work through - and cope with - whatever life is handing them in the moment. These coping skills will be key as challenges come up all throughout their lives. Plus, they get to engage with adorable miniature farm animals!
My specialties include: anxiety, depression, self-esteem & resilience building.
Kids are experiencing record levels of anxiety and depression in today's world. Pandemic exhaustion, coupled with the transition from childhood to adulthood, can be very taxing on kids both emotionally and physically. Having a trusted adult whom they can talk to in a calm, peaceful, and fun environment helps kids find their inner strength to become the person they long to be.
It takes hard work, but kids can build up tools to help them work through challenges in their lives.
Me with Reggie the mini pig when he was a baby!
My dream of starting a counseling practice for kids on a farm filled with miniature animals began four years ago. I researched the benefits of nature and spending time with animals and how that effects the brains of young people. Many kids have pets of their own, and a common theme in therapy has been how helpful it is to have pets. So then I thought, "If dogs & cats are this beneficial, how great would it be to have a small farm that kids could come and visit?".
In the following photos you will meet some of our resident therapy friends!
Hello from Millie, one of our Nigerian Dwarf goats!
Therapy at Dandelion Farm is different from anything you have experienced before. When we first meet, ample time is taken for clients to get to know me as well as the animals. A trusting therapeutic relationship takes time. Here at the farm we have time to walk around, breathe the fresh air, and play with the animals.
The only things you need to bring to Dandelion Farm are:
Rubber boots! I have some spares if you don't have any!
A warm coat and clothes that can potentially get a little dirty!
A positive attitude and a willingness to work hard to feel better!
Meet Wuppie and Pippa - they love the yellow farm truck!
Meet our mini-donkeys - Twyla (left), Earl (right), and Finn!
Reggie and the goats love to climb in!
Jellybean (front) and Reggie
In the past 2 years we have added more friends to our therapy farm! We now have 2 miniature Scottish Highland Cows, 2 baby Nigerian dwarf goats, and 2 baby pygmy goats. They are all so much fun!
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html
To schedule an appointment, please email me at lisa.dandelionfarmcounseling@gmail.com. Please leave your name, contact phone number and email. The animals and I look forward to working with your child!
Scroll through these photos for a preview of our newest farm friends. We can't wait to meet you!
Warmly,
Lisa and her friends