Bridging Minds and Paws: Exploring the Synergy Between CBT and Force-Free Dog Training for Mental Wellness
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Bridging Minds and Paws: Exploring the Synergy Between CBT and Force-Free Dog Training for Mental Wellness

Welcome to a journey of discovery where minds and paws converge in harmony! In this blog, we embark on an exploration of the fascinating parallels and shared principles between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Force-Free Dog Training. Join us as we unveil the profound connections that contribute to healthier minds, happier dogs, and stronger human-canine relationships.

Read More
Overcoming Negative Thinking: How Force-Free Dog Training Can Help
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Overcoming Negative Thinking: How Force-Free Dog Training Can Help

Have you ever wondered why bad experiences seem to stick in our minds longer than good ones? It's all thanks to something called negativity bias, a natural instinct of our brains. But don’t worry! We have the tools to train our brains to focus on the positive and boost our happiness. In this blog, we'll explore how positive reinforcement dog training is one great tool to help transform mindsets and promote a brighter outlook on life.

Read More
Canine Connections: Enhancing Mental Wellness Through Force-Free Training
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Canine Connections: Enhancing Mental Wellness Through Force-Free Training

In this blog, we'll explore how embracing force-free dog training can positively influence our mental health, enhance our bond with our canine companions, and translate to improved relationships in other areas of our lives, drawing parallels with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and overcoming natural negativity bias.

Read More
Harnessing the Power of Feel-Good Chemicals: Activities to do with your Dog to Boost Mental Well-Being
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Harnessing the Power of Feel-Good Chemicals: Activities to do with your Dog to Boost Mental Well-Being

Incorporating activities that promote the release of feel-good chemicals into our daily lives can have profound effects on our mental health and well-being. By engaging in these activities with our canine companions we can boost mood, reduce stress, and cultivate a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment. Get a copy of my FREE ebook to learn more about Canine Assisted Therapy.

Read More
The Mental Health Benefits of Dogs: How Our Furry Friends Improve Well-Being
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

The Mental Health Benefits of Dogs: How Our Furry Friends Improve Well-Being

As a therapist, I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact that dogs can have on our mental health and well-being. In my practice, I've seen clients find solace, support, and healing through their relationships with their furry companions. In this blog, I aim to delve into the therapeutic value of dogs and shed light on the profound ways in which they contribute to our mental wellness.

Read More
Paws and Progress: A Journey Towards Canine-Assisted Therapy
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Paws and Progress: A Journey Towards Canine-Assisted Therapy

As a therapist and a dog trainer, I have been on a journey to forge a link between these two passions. Over the years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of human-animal bonds and the profound impact that canine companionship can have on mental health and well-being. That's why I’m excited to announce a shift towards canine-assisted therapy. Learn more..

Read More
Celebrate Success: The Impact of Positive Reinforcement on Goal Achievement
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Celebrate Success: The Impact of Positive Reinforcement on Goal Achievement

Positive reinforcement is a concept in psychology that involves adding a rewarding consequence to strengthen a behavior, making it more likely to be repeated in the future. It is a way of encouraging and reinforcing desired actions by providing a positive association.

In this blog, I share a case study that demonstrates the transformative power of positive reinforcement on goal achievement, exploring how a positive mindset can be the catalyst for changing your life.

Read More
Strategic Success: The Power of Focused Goals
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Strategic Success: The Power of Focused Goals

In our culture of instant gratification we want to achieve ALL our goals ALL at once. We forget that true goal achievement is often a long game, taking focus and commitment. New Years Resolutions often result in long lists of goals. According to data from the Statistic Brain Research Institute, the success rate for New Year's resolutions was reported to be around 9.2% .

This blog explores one strategy to help you be in that 9.2%.

Read More
Living with Purpose: A Journey into Intentional Living
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Living with Purpose: A Journey into Intentional Living

As we go through the process of our day to day lives, it's easy to get caught up in activities, obligations, and routines that may not necessarily align with what truly matters to us. We often find ourselves giving time and energy to activities that don’t actually make any contribution to our goals, values, well-being or personal fulfillment. Social media anyone?

But what if we could shift our focus, intentionally set aside time for what genuinely matters to us?

Read More
The Motivation Myth: Why Relying Solely on Motivation Won't Guarantee Goal Achievement
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

The Motivation Myth: Why Relying Solely on Motivation Won't Guarantee Goal Achievement

Motivation is never there when you really need it.

It’s like a rainy weather friend, abandoning you when the going gets tough.

Goals are rarely achieved without facing challenges and setbacks. When the initial motivation wanes, you may struggle to persevere through tough times. Without some solid tools, the first obstacle can become a roadblock, hindering progress.

So what do we do when striving for our goals starts to get tough and no longer brings us any pleasure?

Read More
The Power of Purpose: Why Goals Matter
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

The Power of Purpose: Why Goals Matter

Goals give life a sense of meaning, infusing each day with purpose and passion. As we embark on this journey of goal-setting, let's embrace the transformative power they hold and witness the magic of progress unfold in every step we take.

Read More
Best tips for staying out of jail
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

Best tips for staying out of jail

I know, I know, you don’t plan on going to jail this year, or in this lifetime, says EVERYONE, yet, it happens!

The truth is most of us will have some sort of interaction with law enforcement in our lifetime, whether it’s a routine traffic stop, investigation of a crime , or calling them ourselves for help and protection.

Sometimes these interactions can go sideways leading to being arrested. Often this can be avoided.

Read More
10 Steps to a Successful Back-to-School Plan [For Parents]
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

10 Steps to a Successful Back-to-School Plan [For Parents]

Back to school time can often be stressful. It usually means a change in routine and expectations. I’ve written out a 10 step process to help take the stress and conflict out of making this transition. Following this guide will help things go more smoothly and set everyone up for a successful school year.

Read More
What does R+ mean?
Carrie Raap Carrie Raap

What does R+ mean?

As I became more involved in learning and using positive reinforcement for dog training I realized how similar it was to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy! With CBT we focus on changing negative thinking patterns and behaviors. Positive Reinforcement training focuses on looking for and rewarding the behaviors you DO want and ignoring the behaviors you do NOT want.

Read More