Deepening the Bond Between Humans and Animals – Exclusive Interview with Arlana Tanner-Sibelle

Arlana Tanner-Sibelle, a holistic wellness guide and lifelong animal guardian, shares her transformative journey of helping animal guardians foster deeper, healing connections with their companions. Through her approach, combining energy work, intuition, and scientific principles, Arlana reveals how addressing stress, trauma, and imbalance can create lasting bonds.

Arlana Tanner-Sibelle, Interspecies Connection, Wellness Coach | Author

Who is Arlana Tanner-Sibelle?

I’m Arlana Tanner-Sibelle, and I like to describe myself as both a lifelong animal guardian and a holistic wellness guide. At home, you’ll often find me with a cup of herbal tea, working on an art project, enjoying live music with friends, or spending time in nature here in the Okanagan Valley, especially near the water, where I feel most grounded. The elements of nature play a crucial role in my sense of balance. Creativity has always been part of who I am. I’ve been a potter for over 30 years, and I also love singing and dancing.

Animals have always been central to my life. I grew up surrounded by horses, dogs, cats, birds, and even goats. As a teenager, my mom and I traveled to dog shows together, where I earned my junior trainer’s certification in Conformation and Obedience. I also had the opportunity to work with wild Shetland ponies, which taught me patience and respect at a very young age. By the time I was 21, I was a licensed Quarter Horse trainer in Alberta, Washington, and Oregon. Later, as an adult, I trained dogs for agility and even worked with my dog in search and rescue. These experiences not only gave me a broad foundation in animal training and behavior but also shaped the deep respect and connection I have for animals today.

Professionally, I’ve spent more than 25 years in holistic wellness, blending intuitive insight with integrative practices. My passion is helping guardians move from frustration and stress into calm, trust, and a deeper connection with their animal companions. I also enjoy writing and speaking, sharing my knowledge and passion for animal wellness and the extraordinary bond we share with our animal partners.

What inspired you to specialize in holistic animal wellness, and how did your journey begin?

Although I had years of experience training horses and dogs, what truly inspired me to specialize in holistic animal wellness was a little Basset Hound named Lacey. She belonged to my brother and was experiencing severe separation anxiety, especially during a difficult period when his health and family circumstances were in turmoil. Lacey’s fear and trembling were heartbreaking, and traditional approaches simply weren’t helping her.

I began drawing on my background in holistic wellness, energy work, intuitive communication, somatic practices, and natural remedies, combining them with the skills I had built through years of animal training. Slowly, Lacey began to relax, heal, and rebuild her sense of safety and trust. The transformation wasn’t just hers, it was mine as well. I realized that the missing piece in much of traditional training was the guardian’s role in creating safety, connection, and healing.

That experience shifted everything for me. What began as a personal mission to help Lacey became the foundation of my life’s work. It showed me that when we address the root causes of behavior, stress, trauma, and imbalance, and bring guardians into the equation, we not only change behavior, we transform our relationship with them, improving both our lives in the process.

Your approach emphasizes intuitive communication with animal companions, could you describe a moment where this deep connection made a significant difference?

One experience that stands out was helping Cassandra, a guardian who had recently rescued a parakeet named Bologna. Like many animals with a history of trauma, Bologna was torn between curiosity and fear. She would perch on Cassandra’s hand but was terrified of being touched. It was clear that while she wanted connection, her trust had been deeply shaken.

I worked with Cassandra to slow everything down and approach their interactions with presence and mindfulness. Instead of focusing on “getting” Bologna to do something, I guided Cassandra to simply be with her bird energetically, calm, grounded, and open. By layering in gentle techniques of intention, energy awareness, and respect for boundaries, the shift came gradually, and then suddenly: Bologna relaxed and allowed touch. Soon after, Cassandra was even able to trim her flight feathers safely, which had previously seemed impossible.

What moved me most was Cassandra’s reflection afterward: that while her parakeet had healed from trauma, she herself had also experienced healing through the process. That’s what I love about this work: when we enter into connection with animals at this level, the transformation is mutual.

“While I feel that Bologna has healed, I believe your energy methods healed a part of me even more.” – Cassandra

How do science-based techniques play into your holistic methods, and can you share an example of how they’ve helped clients?

I see science and holistic practices not as opposites but as partners. The science behind animal behavior, the nervous system, and biochemistry validates what many holistic practitioners have observed for years: that stress, trauma, and environment profoundly influence behavior and health. For example, research shows that oxytocin, the “bonding hormone”, is released in both humans and animals through touch, eye contact, and shared experiences. I use this knowledge in my work by guiding guardians into intentional touch, grounding exercises, and calm presence, all of which regulate the nervous system and build trust.

Alongside modern science, I also draw from my studies in Ayurvedic wellness and the Five Elements, which offer a holistic framework for understanding temperament, nutrition, and personality traits, both in humans and animals. These principles help guardians recognize not only their companion’s unique needs but also how their own personality and energy influence the relationship. It’s why I created the Elemental Compatibility Quiz and my courses on connection: they give guardians practical tools to apply this wisdom in everyday life.

A simple example is working with anxious dogs. Once guardians understand that their animal’s stress response mirrors their own physiology, they see why deep breathing, mindfulness, and even adjusting diet or routine matter just as much as training. When science and holistic systems are brought together, the results are both measurable and deeply felt, for the guardian and the animal alike.

What is the core principle behind your book Moving Beyond Words: Our Shared Journey, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

At its heart, Moving Beyond Words is about redefining the way we see and experience our relationships with animals. Too often, guardians are taught to focus on controlling or correcting behavior, but the real transformation happens when we step back and listen, when we recognize behavior as communication. Our animals are constantly telling us how they feel, what they need, and where they may be carrying stress or trauma.

The core principle of the book is that healing flows in both directions. When we learn to meet our companions with presence, empathy, and respect, we don’t just help them feel safe and understood; we also uncover parts of ourselves that need healing. It becomes a shared journey where frustration turns into trust, chaos softens into calm, and the bond deepens in ways that change both lives.

The title Moving Beyond Words reflects this truth: the most powerful communication with our animals doesn’t happen through commands or language, but through the physical, emotional, and energetic connection we share. When we move beyond words, we step into a relationship that transcends traditional “owner-pet” roles and becomes one of partnership, deeper understanding, and mutual healing.

My hope is that readers walk away not only with practical tools but with a new way of interacting with their animals, as partners and teachers who can guide us into greater connection, wellness, and love.

What’s the most common challenge owners face in their relationship with their animal companions, and how do you guide them through it?

The most common challenge I see is misunderstanding behavior. Guardians often see barking, chewing, reactivity, or withdrawal as “bad” behaviors that need to be fixed. But in truth, these are expressions of stress, unmet needs, or even trauma. When we only try to stop the behavior, we miss the deeper message our animals are giving us.

My role is to guide guardians to look beyond the surface and learn to listen in new ways, physically, emotionally, and energetically. When they begin to see behavior as communication, everything changes. Instead of frustration, there’s curiosity; instead of conflict, there’s compassion. I teach simple, holistic practices that help guardians regulate their own energy, create safety, and respond with presence and empathy.

This shift transforms the relationship. Guardians realize that their animal isn’t giving them a problem; they’re giving them information. And when that information is received and understood, the bond grows stronger, trust deepens, and harmony returns to the home.

How do you envision the future of animal wellness evolving, and what role do you hope WE Wellness Solutions will play in that evolution?

I believe the future of animal wellness lies in integration, where science, holistic practices, and intuitive communication are no longer seen as separate approaches but as complementary parts of whole-being care. Guardians are becoming more aware that wellness isn’t just about the physical body, but also the emotional, energetic, and relational health of their animals.

I envision a shift away from quick fixes and control-based methods toward practices that honor the bond between humans and animals as a source of mutual healing. More guardians will begin to see behavior not as something to suppress, but as communication to understand. With that understanding, we can create homes and communities where animals feel safe, balanced, and truly seen.

Through WE Wellness Solutions, my goal is to contribute to this evolution by offering education, tools, and supportive programs that empower guardians to embrace a holistic and heart-centered approach. I want to be part of a movement that helps people and their animal companions thrive together, creating happier, healthier, and more harmonious lives for both.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

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