In Dr. Clement’s practice, various animals are taking part in a psychotherapy group session, sharing their concerns about how to accept their true selves and develop the skills to deal with their more basic instincts, in this quirky examination of animal nature and the dichotomy between innate and acquired characteristics. In addition to the canine therapist, Dr. Clement, who is also dealing with a fetish for rear ends, we meet a leech who suffers from separation anxiety, a cat obsessed with cleanliness, a pig with eating disorders, a praying mantis that can only have fleeting relationships and a sparrow with guilt issues. However, the session is thrown into confusion when an ape, who does not think he has any behaviour problems at all and is reluctant to accept the benefits of therapy, joins the group. (NM)