The Healing Power of Presence 

Sometimes, words aren’t needed. Sometimes, presence is enough. (Discover the healing power of presence with Dr. Henning’s program)

As I wrap my arms around my mini donkey, I feel the steady rise and fall of his breath. He leans into me, his small body warm against mine, and in that quiet moment, there’s an unspoken exchange—trust, reassurance, understanding. He doesn’t need me to fix anything, just to be here. 

In medicine, I’ve learned that healing isn’t always about doing. Sometimes, it’s about being. Sitting with a patient in uncertainty, standing beside them in their fear, offering comfort not through words but through presence. A reassuring nod, a steady gaze, a moment of silence shared with someone in pain—these things matter. 

Animals know this instinctively. They don’t speak, yet they communicate in ways deeper than language. Horses, donkeys, and patients alike sense when they are truly seen, when they are not alone in their experience. Healing, whether in the barn or in the ER, begins not just with treatment, but with connection. 

In the end, we all need the same thing—to know that someone is there. Sometimes, that’s the most powerful medicine of all. Stay in touch for more donkey’s updates!