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Therapeutic Sessions
Sanctuary can be a place to heal. In these small-group and one-on-one sessions, you'll spend unhurried time with our rescued animal residents, guided by Therapeutic Support Specialist Gracy Bondy of Practice Catharsis. Rather than a one-time visit, these sessions are about building real, consent-based relationships over time, and noticing what those relationships can teach us about trust, boundaries, and care.
🌿 Who This Is For
These sessions are for adolescents and adults looking for meaningful connection, time to reflect, and support through a difficult season, such as loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, or a major life transition.
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Small groups: Two to six participants, with separate groups for high-school-age participants and adults.
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Individual sessions: For middle-school age through adults, with the pace and focus tailored to you.
🤝Meet Gracy
Gracy Bondy is a Therapeutic Support Specialist with twenty years of experience in humanitarian work in the United States and abroad. Her background includes education in counseling and international studies, and she has supported children, adults, and families through trauma, grief, disability, crisis, and major life transitions. She holds certifications in animal-assisted interventions, art-assisted grief support, and nature-based therapeutic practices, and offers individual and family sessions, groups, workshops, and retreats through the Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts and her independent practice, Practice Catharsis.
Gracy is a member of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations and a board member of Best Friends Farm Animal Sanctuary and Rescue in Oxford, GA. She has also worked with equine, elephant, and canine therapeutic programs.
🗓️ How It Works
Each session follows a gentle rhythm:
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Observe: Settle into the sanctuary and notice each resident's personality, communication, and boundaries.
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Connect: Make space for encounters that the residents choose, exploring trust, consent, and care.
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Reflect: Explore what sanctuary life brings up for you through guided writing, creative expression, and discussion.
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Care: Choose insights to carry into daily life, and ways to support the animals and the sanctuary.
Group immersions are a half day (about 3 hours) on Sundays. Individual sessions are 60 to 90 minutes and scheduled separately. To give relationships time to grow, groups and individuals commit to a minimum of 4 sessions.
2026 Session Dates (all on Sunday)
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November cohort:
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Sunday, November 1, 2026
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Sunday, November 8, 2026
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Sunday, November 15, 2026
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December cohort:
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Sunday, December 6, 2026
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Sunday, December 13, 2026
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Sunday, December 20, 2026
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Time & Location
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: 1701 Launius Rd, Good Hope, GA 30641
✍️ How to Sign Up
Gracy handles registration and payment through Practice Catharsis. Choose your cohort to register:
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November cohort: [add registration link]
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December cohort: [add registration link]
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Individual sessions: Contact Gracy to find a time that works for you.
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Cost: [add pricing]
Questions? Reach Gracy at gracy.bondy@gmail.com or 470-984-5097.
Sanctuary Rules
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Before you arrive, please complete a visitor form.
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As caregivers, your respect for our residents is essential.
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If a resident walks away, please respect their space and don't follow them.
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Please do not bring food into animal enclosures.
What to Bring
Bring a refillable water bottle, sunblock, bug spray, comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and closed-toed shoes. Boots are preferred.
Parking
Drive through the two gates and park inside the sanctuary. Please do not park on the roadside grass.
Therapeutic Sessions
FAQ
Do the animal residents have to interact with people?
No. The animals always get to choose. If a resident doesn't want to interact, we respect their choice and give them space.
Is this therapy?
Gracy offers therapeutic support that is non-clinical. These sessions aren't a substitute for mental health treatment, though many people find they complement it.
How long are the sessions?
Group immersions are a half day, about 3 hours. Individual sessions are 60 to 90 minutes.
How often are the sessions?
Group immersions take place one or two Saturdays a month. Individual sessions are arranged separately.
Do I come once or several times?
The minimum commitment is 3 sessions for groups and individuals, which gives relationships time to grow.
How is this different from a tour?
A tour is a one-time introduction to the sanctuary. These sessions are about building ongoing, mutually caring relationships with the animal residents. Gracy's approach draws on relational attachment science and interpersonal neurobiology, particularly how trust grows through choice, consistency, and responsive care.
How do the animal residents benefit?
Depending on each resident's willingness and our guidance, benefits can include:
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Enjoyable companionship with familiar, respectful friends
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Attention that responds to their individual preferences
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Greater understanding of how they communicate and set boundaries
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Additional approved enrichment and care
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More sponsors, donors, and volunteers supporting their needs
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Advocates who care about them and support their protection
Who is welcome?
Everyone. We are an inclusive sanctuary, and all are welcome here.
I have accessibility or accommodation needs. Can I still join?
Yes, and please tell us. Share your needs when you register, and we'll work with you to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
What is the terrain like?
The sanctuary is spread across 10 acres of farmland, and the ground is uneven. Please wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, and reach out before your visit if you have questions about getting around.
How do I contact Gracy?
Gracy Bondy, Practice Catharsis: gracy.bondy@gmail.com or 470-984-5097.