As a non-veterinarian, I do not diagnose or treat. As an animal communicator, I do sometimes get information about sore hips and hooves, tummy discomfort, itchy spots and more.

Sometimes the animal’s human caretaker tells me about any health issues going in. When I’m on regular rounds I always check in with the humans ahead of time for any updates (health included). Sometimes the animal himself will tell me about a health issue — or show me through images or feelings — during the communication session.

“What does your vet say?” is always my first question when a client arranges a session. I want to make sure that any medical reasons for the cat not using the litter box or the dog’s increasing anxiety have been addressed and ruled out.

Medical or otherwise, “what’s wrong” is never the focus of a communication session anyway. That’s because all of us living beings are so much more than our symptoms, illnesses, injuries and seemingly odd behaviors. Nothing that happens to an animal changes the fact that she is a unique creation with an inner light all her own.

I relay any information the animal chooses to share, including anything that might relate to health, to the human carer. The human can then choose to ignore it, keep an eye on it or share it with the vet. As I always tell clients: Take from this only what resonates and is helpful, and leave the rest.

Much the same goes for my Let Animals Lead® sessions. In this specialized form of Reiki, the practitioner never “beams” energy to the animal or any body part thereof the way a practitioner might in a human Reiki session. Because Let Animals Lead® is meditation-based, a session is a quiet time to relax and reset. Though this method is not about fixing anything (and I keep the Serenity Prayer close), relaxation can only help with healing, whatever healing might mean for the animal in that moment.

It’s important to note that Let Animals Lead® is hands off unless the animal initiates contact … and many do, especially if they’ve been working with me for a while. Animals know what they need. I once had Mojo, a Tennessee Walking Horse, back up against the fence between us and ask for hands-on energy. He showed me some pain in his hips and along the left side. I placed both hands on his hips and began my meditation. After a while he began licking and chewing, then walked off to join the rest of the herd. I passed this along to Mojo’s human and to the equine bodyworker who also worked with him. After her session with him a day or two later, she told me she adjusted a misalignment on the left.

The codes of ethics I follow for both animal communication and Let Animals Lead® are clear about not dispensing medical advice or treatment. They’re also pretty clear about showing up and doing what we can do. It does take a village, and I try to do my part in it.