Animal companions can be our own personal angels during difficult times. They can comfort and soothe in a way that other friends and family members can't.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy discusses the joy of companion animals and the effectiveness of animal assisted therapy which she has used, in certain instances, in her private therapy practice. It can be especially useful with patients who prefer the company of animals to people and who may need the reassurance of a canine or feline presence in order to open up to a human therapist. Dr. McCoy talks about the two cats -- Timmy and Marina -- who helped her in her practice and who were the focus of her later book "Purr Therapy", a memoir about animal-assisted therapy and two outgoing cats who left a legacy of love. Dr. McCoy discusses the qualities that make animal companions particularly effective in healing emotional pain.
