There was only one good thing about getting into a car accident and ending up with a concussion — it led me to meet a man who could heal with just the slightest touch. Looking back over a year, there was a series of serendipitous meetings, subtle suggestions, and a chain of connections that led me to follow my intuition to call Dr. Keith.

Within a month of seeing him, the brain fog had lifted, and the pain had melted away. As someone who boxed through the first year of college, I can tell you that recovery like that usually takes three times as long.

But the best part wasn’t how quickly I healed — it was that Dr. Keith didn’t just work on me. He also worked on my little thirteen-year-old dog, Sophia. Trained in Donald Epstein’s method of Network Chiropractic (no popping or cracking), which deals with “twelve basic rhythms, or stages of consciousness and levels of healing shared by all humanity,” Dr. Keith’s training was for helping humans reconnect with their natural and internal rhythms of the body.

I was sure that his gentle, healing touches could be as good for humans as for animals, and I am so grateful he was open to my less-than-subtle suggestion that healing is healing – whatever the species.

Healing in Motion

Sophia had been struggling with mobility issues. She could no longer go out the doggie door, down the four steps, and potty outside. So out went the wall-to-wall carpet, in came the hardwood floors — an act of desperation disguised as a renovation.

When Dr. Keith works on her, it’s brief — maybe a minute or two. Then she trots off, explores the room, and somehow integrates her new sense of freedom. A few minutes later, she’s back — sitting in front of him, tongue hanging out in pure delight, her eyes saying:
“Do some more!”

And, so he does.

He moves gently between me on the table then to Sophia on the floor — the two of us receiving and releasing, like waves rolling in and out. Watching her made me realize something profound: healing happens in rhythm — not as a single event, but as a dance of receiving, assimilating, and moving freely again.

After just a month of these treatments, Sophia began hopping around like a bunny rabbit. She still limps now and then, but her joy is contagious. Friends who hadn’t seen her in weeks couldn’t believe the transformation.

Sophia, my 13-year-old girl getting a treatment

When Animals Teach Us About Energy

I’ve now brought four other dogs to see Dr. Keith, and he’s even been out to The Human-Animal Connection Sanctuary to work on my mini-donkeys, Rosie and Lilly.

Animals don’t fake improvement, and they certainly don’t respond to placebo effects. Their bodies tell the truth. When Rosie sighs, or Sophia stretches luxuriously after a session, you can see the flow of energy returning — the kind that comes from feeling safe, seen, and touched with compassion.

Rosie and Lilly enjoyed their treatment

Here’s a short video of Dr. Keith explaining his approach:

Dr. Keith

Listening with Our Hands

Do you ever wonder what your animal is feeling? Are they tight, tired, or sore — and if so, how would you know?

The good news is that we can learn to listen with our hands. By placing our palms gently on their body, we can begin to sense the subtle language of energy. With time and attention, you can notice where warmth flows, where it feels cool or blocked, where a small twitch tells you something is shifting.

At first, it may feel mysterious — like trying to hear a whisper underwater. But as your awareness grows, you start to sense that healing is less about “fixing” and more about listening deeply.

Healing Is in Our Hands

What if we all practiced this kind of touch — not just with animals, but with each other? What if healing began not with medicine, but with presence?

I believe it does.

Sophia reminds me every day: healing is not a command we give the body. It’s an invitation to return to balance, one loving touch at a time.

“Healing is not something we do to another being.
It’s something we awaken with them.”

🌿 Try This at Home: The One-Minute Hand Listening Exercise

1. Find a quiet moment with your animal — while they’re resting, not playing.

2. Place one hand gently on their shoulder or chest. Keep your hand soft and open.

3. Breathe slowly. Notice what you feel — warmth, pulse, stillness, a gentle vibration.

4. Move your hand an inch to another area. Notice: Does it feel the same? Cooler? Warmer?

5. Pause after a minute. Thank your animal silently. Observe how they respond — a sigh, stretch, a shake, or a subtle shift in energy.

Do this once a day for a week and notice what changes — not only in them, but in you. Many people describe feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected after this simple practice.

Healing Is in Our Hands

What if we all practiced this kind of touch — not just with animals, but with each other? What if healing began not with medicine, but with presence?

I believe it does.

Sophia reminds me every day: healing is not a command we give the body. It’s an invitation to return to balance, one loving touch at a time.

Releasing old aches and pains

Dr. Keith and I will be presenting a hands-on workshop to learn this healing touch, practicing on our therapy Donkeys, Rosie and Lilly. Sign up for our newsletter to find out more. TheHumanAnimalConnection.org

In Dr Keith’s office, Sophia jumped up onto his couch, she hasn’t done that in years.

Finding and releasing old trauma for Harry.

Dr. Keith felt some of Harry’s trauma the moment he touched him. I had not told him about a situation before Harry came into my life that almost cost him his. Even just one treatment helped Harry be more comfortable in his body, and his tail wagged more than ever before.

For more information about the workshop with Dr. Keith and genie Joseph, PhD, Executive Director of The Human-Animal Connection, please visit TheHumanAnimalConnection.org