Leo (short for “Leonardo”) is a Goldendoodle (a mix between a Standard Parti Poodle who was black/white and an English Golden Retriever). He has inherited his mother’s non-shedding coat, and is as hypoallergenic as a dog can get. This means there’s no dog hair in the room and it’s highly unlikely you will experience any allergy problems.
Leo’s current loves are exploring the great outdoors and trying to eat anything he can. He loves his comfort toys, and believes in taking lots of long naps. He would like to give you a very warm and enthusiastic greeting.
What is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog differs from a service dog. Service dogs are trained to perform tasks for one person with a specific disability and can accompany this person in all aspects of their life. Therapy dogs are dogs who receive specialized training. They are used in a variety of settings, providing animal-assisted interventions such as reducing anxiety with children, adults and elders, supporting children’s literacy (“Read To The Dogs” program in the libraries), and providing emotional support and comfort to clients. Often petting a dog can be calming when you are distressed as it leads to the release of oxytocin, a hormone which promotes a sense of calmness and well-being, and facilitates connection between individuals. While Leo has undergone some of the training to become a certified therapy dog, he has not received his final certification. This is primarily due to his vigilance in saving the world from squirrels and bunnies.
What if I don’t want Leo in session?
I strongly support you in making sure that the environment you choose to work with a therapist is one that feels supportive and welcoming for you. If the presence of a dog gets in the way of this, please let me know and I can refer you to another therapist who does not provide animal-assisted interventions.
Benefits of a therapy dog
The American Psychiatric Association(APA) provides the following mental health benefits of therapy dogs:
Dogs can create a safe point to start conversation and their nonjudgmental, accepting nature makes them good for this therapy role. The presence of dog can be calming, and animal therapy allows the benefits of touch in therapy.
Mental health benefits associated with the use of therapy dogs include:
- decreased anxiety
- increased sense of comfort and safety
- reduced loneliness
- enhanced self-esteem and confidence
- increased prosocial behaviors
- decreased behavioral problems 1.2.
- Amerine JL, Hubard, GB. Using Animal -assisted Therapy to Enrich Psychotherapy. Adv. Mind Body Med. 2016 Summer;30(3):11-1.
- O’Haire, ME, Guerin, MA, and Kirkham, AC. Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 2015, Vol 6, Article 1121.
A study of people with Alzheimer’s found that spending time with therapy dogs increased time recounting memories and feelings and helping to improve quality of life. When working with people with autism, therapy dogs have been found to increase social interaction and communication and decreased problem behaviors, autistic severity, and stress. One study of therapy dogs in a psychiatric inpatient setting concluded that the dogs can significantly enhance conventional therapies.
