Grace Olson, a therapist from Leeds in West Yorkshire, has found unlikely allies in her work helping patients find inner peace: her flock of pet sheep.
Originally trained in equine-assisted therapy, Olson discovered her sheep's healing potential during a session with a grieving widow. "My sheep Merlin pushed himself into her knee, and as she bent down to cuddle him, she laughed," said Olson. "She hadn't even smiled for a year. It was brilliant."
“Originally trained in equine-assisted therapy, Olson discovered her sheep's healing potential during a session with a grieving widow.”
Olson has since grown her flock of ovine assistants to five and works mainly with terminally ill patients dealing with cancer. The calm nature of the sheep encourages clients to relax and open up.
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📎 Cite this article
Good News Good Vibes. (2026, February 6). Therapy Sheep Help Patients Find Emotional Healing in Yorkshire. Retrieved from https://goodnewsgoodvibes.com/en/article/sheep-therapy-emotional-healing
https://goodnewsgoodvibes.com/en/article/sheep-therapy-emotional-healing
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Last reviewed: February 6, 2026
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