Creative and animal-assisted therapies

Group feline therapy – sessions with a cat

A cat does not judge, ask questions or push – which is why many people find it easier to open up and calm down around one. Sessions in a small group, at a gentle pace.

Join the waiting list 732 059 980

Signing up is free and without obligation – we'll get in touch when the group starts to form.

What does feline therapy look like?

Feline therapy means sessions with a cat trained to work with people, led by someone trained in feline therapy. The cat’s presence lowers tension, slows down the pace of the session and offers contact that needs no words – for withdrawn children, people with social anxiety or people who have been through difficult experiences, this can be the easiest starting point.

The cat works on its own terms, and that is an important part of these sessions: it cannot be forced into anything – you have to wait, observe and respect its “no”. Along the way participants learn to read signals, regulate their own arousal (because quick movements and loud noises will scare the cat away) and enjoy contact that someone agrees to of their own free will. It is a very concrete lesson in boundaries – your own and other people’s.

Sessions are shorter and smaller than in other groups, because the animal’s welfare is a condition here, not an extra: the cat always has access to a place to retreat to, and we end the session when it has had enough. We run the sessions in age-matched groups, after an initial conversation – including questions about allergies and fear of animals.

Who is this group for?

✓withdrawn, shy children who find it hard to connect with their peers
✓children and adults with anxiety, high tension or excessive arousal
✓people who have been through difficult experiences and for whom talking is too demanding
✓people learning to recognise and respect boundaries
✓older people and people experiencing loneliness

What will you gain?

✓calming down and lower tension in the presence of an animal
✓contact without the pressure to talk
✓learning to read signals and respect a refusal
✓practice in attentiveness, patience and calm movement
✓a gentle introduction to group work for very withdrawn people

What does it look like in practice?

Formatin person – the Tricity, in a room prepared for the animal

Group size3-5 people (a small group for the cat’s welfare)

Sessionsweekly, 45-60 minutes

Startonce the group is complete – people on the waiting list are invited first

Admissiona free initial conversation (we ask about allergies and fear of animals, among other things)

Join the waiting list

Group feline therapy – the group will start once enough people have signed up. Leave your contact details and when enrolment opens, we'll get in touch with you first.

The controller of the data you provide to join the waiting list will be Magdalena Raba, running a business under the business name RABA Magdalena Raba, ul. Konstantego Bergiela 4/10, 80-180 Gdańsk, NIP: 5833557278. How we process personal data: www.sztukaharmonii.pl/en/polityka-prywatnosci

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most important questions

What if I’m allergic to cats?▼

If you are allergic to cat fur, we cannot admit you to these sessions – no therapeutic benefit is worth an allergic reaction. We ask about this in the initial conversation and in that case suggest dog therapy or another group, e.g. art therapy.

Isn’t this too much of a burden on the animal?▼

The cat’s welfare sets the framework for the sessions: a very small group, a short session, constant access to a place to retreat to, and stopping the session when the cat shows signs of tiredness. The cat takes part voluntarily – we do not hold it or force it into contact.

Is feline therapy a treatment?▼

No – these are supportive sessions that complement therapy rather than replace it. They work best as part of broader work (psychotherapy, a child’s therapy) or as a safe first step for someone who is not yet ready to talk.