LAKE MARY, Fla. — There's no question about it, life is stressful, and according to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health, more than one in five women in the United States experienced a mental health condition like depression or anxiety in the past year.

Fortunately, local therapists say they are seeing more women seeking help.

With the help of her pups Tater Tot and Ellie, licensed mental health counselor Shantala Boss says she takes pride in making her patients feel comfortable.

“I think more than anything it adds this homey vibe, you know? Its not a sterile environment," she said of her dogs' participation in counseling. "I think people go to offices and they feel a little sterile or nervous and they just kind of make it more like home."

Boss said she has been helping people work through their feelings for more than 20 years, but noticed some big changes in 2020.

“I’ve been really busy, especially since the pandemic started actually," she said. "I have been busier for sure."

Boss said her patients are predominately women, and many of them are younger. According to the American Psychological Association, 62% of women aged 18 to 34 say they are completely overwhelmed by stress most days.

“Everything being so up and down has really made it hard to adapt to a norm," she said. "So I think we are still figuring out what that new normal is."

One of Boss’s patients is 24-year-old Cailyn Hinkle, who has been coming to see her and her dogs since she was a teen. When the pandemic hit, her life was turned upside down — she graduated college and entered an unprecedented world, which left her feeling isolated and worried for the future.

“We are all struggling, but sometimes it is nice to have somebody who will listen how it is affecting you specifically,” said Hinkle. 

Through her sessions, Boss has helped Hinkle talk through her problems using techniques she thinks all women could benefit from.

“There are things in life that we can’t control, but how we handle them and the coping strategies we utilize make it better and easier to deal with, so there are a lot of different emotion-focused strategies such as reframing techniques, noticing our thoughts, trying to reframe those thoughts into a more positive way,” said Boss. 

Hinkle said all of this has made her feel better.

“Afterwards, I just kind of feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she said. "Just feeling very comforted while I am here, especially with the pups, honestly."

Boss said she also encourages women to take a mental time out for themselves to focus on things like exercise — which is why she's starting a program focused around physical activity soon.

“Another way that I think it is really important for women to connect is through exercise, because sometimes when those endorphins are going and we are feeling happy, we tend to open up more and feel more relaxed and then we are able to kind of connect more,” she said.

While Boss says therapists can't help women solve all their problems, she hopes more continue to seek out the help.

“We help them figure out what to do because the answer is inside them,” she said.