All Is Well: PAWS
Connection, co-regulation and emotional wellbeing through Animal Assisted Intervention.
At All Is Well: PAWS, we believe some children find it easier to connect, communicate and engage when a calm, trusted dog is part of the journey.
Lola isn't there simply to provide comfort or entertainment. She is part of a carefully planned, child centred approach where her presence can create opportunities for connection, shared attention, communication, confidence and co-regulation.
Every session is shaped around the individual child, their needs and what helps them feel safe enough to engage.
What is PAWS?
At All Is Well: PAWS, Animal Assisted Intervention is woven into a wider trauma informed, relationship based approach to wellbeing.
Working alongside Lola, children are supported to connect, communicate and engage at their own pace. Her presence can create opportunities for shared attention, conversation, play and exploration, particularly for children who may find traditional talking based approaches tricky or difficult.
PAWS isn't simply about spending time with a dog. It is about the relationship between child, practitioner and dog, and how that relationship can create opportunities for connection, co-regulation, confidence and communication.
Every session is planned around the individual child, with no expectation that they have to interact with Lola or talk before they are ready.
Meet Lola
Therapy Dog | Award Recognisee | Connection Specialist | Professional Snack Negotiator
Lola is more than a Therapy Dog. She is a calm, trusted presence who can help create opportunities for children to connect, engage and explore at their own pace.
Working alongside Catherine and the wider All Is Well Approach, Lola may support children experiencing anxiety, bereavement, emotional overwhelm, school based challenges and difficult life experiences. Her gentle presence can offer another way into connection when words feel hard to find.
Lola's work has been recognised through Highly Commended in the Animal Star Awards 2025 and as a Finalist in the National School Dog Alliance Awards 2025.
Children often find it easier to share a moment, join an activity or begin a conversation when Lola is nearby. Sometimes that might mean talking about feelings. Sometimes it might mean playing a game, sitting quietly together or simply enjoying the company of a very fluffy colleague.
Lola's wellbeing is always part of the work. She is supported through careful, welfare-led practice, with her needs, choices and comfort considered throughout every session. She is never expected to interact when she doesn't want to.
What Can PAWS Support
Emotional wellbeing
Anxiety
Bereavement
Emotional overwhelm
Big feelings
Low confidence
Connection & communication
Finding it easier to talk
Building trust
Emotional literacy
Communication
Social connection
School & regulation
School based challenges
Regulation and co-regulation
Engagement with learning
Confidence in school
Managing difficult experiences
How Lola Supports Co-Regulation
Lola isn't the intervention. She supports it.
Lola's presence can provide a calm, predictable point of connection within a session. She may:
Offer a comforting and grounding presence
Provide opportunities for shared attention and gentle interaction
Help create moments of calm during periods of overwhelm
Encourage communication and connection
Give children opportunities to practise regulation alongside a trusted animal
Create a natural starting point for conversation, play or emotional exploration
When a child feels more settled and connected, there may be more space for conversation, storytelling, emotional literacy, problem solving or simply enjoying a shared activity.
The aim isn't for Lola to "fix" how a child feels. It is about using the relationship and the moment to create opportunities for connection and support.
What PAWS Sessions Look Like
Every session is different because every child is different
Depending on the child, their needs and what feels right for them, sessions might include:
Time spent interacting with Lola
Shared games and activities
Sensory or movement based activities
Emotional check-ins and conversation
Storytelling and creative exploration
Simple regulation strategies
Opportunities to practise communication and emotional literacy
Quiet connection time
Space simply to be alongside Lola without pressure to talk
There is no expectation that a child must interact with Lola, talk about their feelings or take part in a particular activity.
Children are invited, not pressured, and sessions are adapted around the individual child.
Why All Is Well: PAWS is Different
PAWS is not simply about bringing a Therapy Dog into school and spending time with children.
Lola is part of a carefully planned approach, working alongside Catherine and the wider All Is Well Approach. Sessions are shaped around the individual child, with connection, communication, emotional wellbeing and genuine relationship at the centre.
There are no forced interactions, no expectation that every child will respond in the same way, and no promise of a quick fix.
PAWS is about creating opportunities for children to connect, communicate, explore and grow, with Lola alongside them when she is the right part of the journey.
Ready to Find Out More?
If you're wondering whether PAWS could be right for your school or setting, we'd love to hear from you.
Let's have a conversation about the children you're supporting, what you're hoping to achieve and how All Is Well: PAWS could fit alongside the support you already have in place.