Could Your Cat Be a Therapist? posted by Samantha Shook    

Sometimes it seems as though our pets really understand how we’re feeling. They cuddle with us when we’re feeling down, and they never interrupt when we just need someone to listen. Yet, could a cat ever be qualified as a licensed psychotherapist?

One man set out to prove that it was not only possible, it was actually laughably simple.

Psychologist Steve Eichel, frustrated by the number of mental health practitioners using unmerited credentials, decided to see how hard it would be for his cat, Zoe, to get certified. First up for Zoe D. Katze: a certification whose only requirement was to pay a fee. That first certificate made it a breeze to get a few more.

With several certifications under their belts (or collars), Eichel and Katze moved on to something a little more reputable: board certification from the American Psychotherapy Association. They met a bit of a hurdle after applying to the APA when asked for a curriculum vitae from Dr. Katze. Undeterred, Eichel whipped up a resume, including such experience as working at the “Tacayllaermi Friends School” (“I’m really a cat” spelled backwards). The CV was accepted, and Zoe D. Katze was made a Diplomate. Zoe was now officially a Certified Hypnotherapist and Board Certified Psychotherapist. All without a day in the classroom. Whew.

With her newfound acclaim, Zoe D. Katze, Ph.D., C.Ht., DAPA, started receiving emails, including one from “a reporter from a major magazine [who] wrote to ‘Dr. Zoe D. Katze’ for input on an article she was writing on hypnosis for childbirthing. She had stumbled across Dr. Zoe’s name on the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists’ website. I had to tell her the truth,” wrote Dr. Eichel.

At that point the cat was out of the bag, so to speak, and Eichel had proven his point. When you’re looking for a (human) psychotherapist: “Licenses, certifications and graduate degrees do not guarantee a competent hypnotist/therapist, but they are a good start.” (If you’re looking for a non-human therapist, nutritionist, or business professional, there are many to choose from. Plus, check out Dr. Zoe’s facebook page, where you can see photos of her and some of her degrees.)

A friend forwarded this to me and I wanted to share this post with you because it touched me.  Try to keep these in mind when you are deciding on your priorities in life.

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.  People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content.  When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly. Choose happiness..