The therapeutic power of pets has long been recognised by the medical profession, but it's being taken a step further by a Brisbane psychologist and her cat who have found a way to help people fight disease and get on with life.

Buddy's a cat who has a lot to say for himself, and what he has to say is helping a whole range of people overcome problems in their lives. Buddy's human is Dr Maureen Burke, a psychologist at the University of Queensland, who badly needed a psychological boost of her own seven years ago. After her husband died and she lost her 22 year old Siamese cat within two weeks, she was at an all time low until Budy came along. She wondered whether his healing powers could be used to help others.

She recorded every utterance of her very vocal feline on a tape, then added her own words on the power of positive thinking, to produce a tape for people fighting cancer. The first to use it was a close friend who is well on the road to a full recovery from breast cancer. Then the tapes were trialled on another twelve cancer patients.

"Eleven of the twelve people said listening to the tape had made a positive contribution to their recovery. They felt much more empowered," Dr Burke says.

Her findings are creating enormous interest among psychologists around the world. Dr Burke and Buddy have just finished a second recording - "Buddy Targets Feeling Good About Yourself".

Margaret Smith wasn't feeling so great about herself after being overlooked for promotion. She attended one of Dr Burke's courses and began using the tape. Since then Margaret hasn't looked back. She's obtained a better job with greater challenges and is ready to tackle anything.

"I just needed something to get myself feeling and thinking logically about myself again and to get me feeling good about myself again and I do," Margaret says.

Buddy's recording career is far from finished. He and Maureen have already started a new tape to target another major health issue in Australia, depression.

The next course on feeling good about yourself is in April. Contact the Queensland University Institute of Continuing Education on 3365 1111.