ABOUT
Leading with Love
Jaime Kuhn founded The Empowered Companion with a mission to support, celebrate, and build heart-led connections between human and non-human animals by bringing a calm, collaborative, compassionate Reiki presence to as many households and animal care businesses as possible.
“Love is the bridge between you and everything.” - Rumi
Rooted in Care:
Certified Level 3 Practitioner and Teacher in the Let Animals Lead™ Method of Reiki
Teacher/Practitioner of Excellence for Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA)
Fear Free Shelter Program Certified
Certified Companion Animal End of Life Doula
Certified Advanced Feline Training Professional
Member of International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) Certified Professional Pet Sitter
Pet First Aid Certified
Second Degree Practitioner - Usui Holy Fire III Ryoho Reiki
Mesa Carrier in the Andean Shamanic Tradition
I also have an Art History Degree, an MBA, and I'm a Virgo!
Growing The Empowered Companion~
TomTom & Me
TomTom
My journey to working full-time with animals and recognizing my desire to exist with mutual respect and compassion with all animals began in 2019 with a foster cat named Tom - TomTom for long. I can look back at my life and the animals I worked and lived with, and how they touched me, but Tom leaned into my heart and lit the fire of passion for this work.
Tom came into our home from an animal shelter, at least 10 years old, after being relinquished due to his guardian’s failing health. He lost his mom, his dog brother, and his home in one day, ending up in a kennel awaiting a foster home or an adopter. He was cage aggressive due to fear and too despondent to eat and drink to support his health.
We decided to foster Tom, and I was determined to “save” him. I smothered him around the clock and begged him to eat for the first two days and nights. He responded only with purrs and requests for pets – still unwilling to eat. I finally decided I would allow him to make the choice whether he wanted to eat and live. I told him I would respect whatever decision he made - I truly meant it.
After taking my focus and expectations off him for a full eight hours and attending to my work and home, TomTom ate a decent meal in my absence. He taught me a beautiful and poignant lesson about animal agency, the power of respect, and his lack of need to be saved by me.
Learn Tom Tom’s full story at our blog, Being One.
TomTom
This lesson is the essence of The Empowered Companion.
We Are Family
I am proud to bring together my skills as a Let Animals Lead Animal® Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, Certified Advanced Feline Training Professional, Compassionate Care Pet Sitter, and Companion Animal End of Life Doula to create and grow The Empowered Companion.
We are honored to work with so many families who meet their companion animals where they are and connect from a heart space. My heart glows daily from beautiful interactions and conversations with animal guardians and precious pets. I am awed by the healing and teaching I am gifted by the animals I encounter each day! This innate connection and joy is there when we’re open to it.
One day, the TomTom Foundation will provide funding to support animal shelters and rescue organizations who provide whole animal care to senior cats with medical needs until they can find an adoptive home or a forever foster for palliative care and dignified end of life support.
