#214: Can Dogs Heal What Therapy Alone Cannot? On Recovery, Mental Health, and the Human-Animal Bond with Shannon Kopp
Abbie is joined by Shannon Kopp, founder of SoulPaws Recovery Project, to explore the role of the human-animal connection in recovery from eating disorders, substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges.
Shannon shares her personal experience with bulimia, depression, and loss—and how her relationships with animals became a turning point in her healing. They also talk about the science behind why animals can help regulate the nervous system and support emotional healing in ways that traditional approaches sometimes can’t.
This conversation is a deeper look at connection, safety, and what it actually takes to access healing.
Tune in for more on:
Shannon’s recovery from bulimia and depression—and how animals became a turning point
Why shame keeps people stuck (even when they’re in therapy)
The frustrating gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it
How animals help regulate the nervous system and create a sense of safety
Why healing requires connection—not just behavior change or control
Powerful moments with Buster and Bella, and what they reveal about healing
How animals interrupt panic, dissociation, and harmful coping patterns
The neuroscience behind calm → connect → heal and why it matters
What SoulPaws Healing Circles are and how they support recovery
How the human-animal bond can build trust, connection, and access to healing
Simple ways to incorporate your own animal into grounding and recovery
About Shannon:
Shannon Kopp (she/her) is the founder and Executive Director of SoulPaws® Recovery Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unleashes the healing power of the human-animal connection to support individuals recovering from eating disorders, substance use disorders, and other regulatory challenges.
She is also the best-selling author of Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman’s Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life and a national speaker on mental health, eating disorders, and animal-assisted healing. Her work has been featured in PEOPLE, NPR, CNN, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today.
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Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Group program:
Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership, which meets every other week: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy
Podcast Administrative Support by Alexis Glaubach
Podcast Editing by Brian Walters
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