Canine Healers, a lively, effective and unique animal assisted
therapy program has operated on campus for two years, thanks to the generosity
of the List Family Foundation. Girls have participated in 10-week Canine Healers
sessions that have proven to reduce anxiety and increase long standing support
and happiness within the group. Consistently there have been 7 dogs and 7 handlers
participating in the therapy group sessions. Depending on new funding, a second
session of Canine Healers will run concurrently with this initial one.
Each
session is 10 weeks with one hour weekly contact with up to 10 girls who have
been identified by their primary therapist as having experienced significant trauma
(example: rape, murdered family members, auto accident). Led by an Excelsior therapist
the session will include dog handlers (volunteers) with their licensed and approved
dogs for each girl, and a research assistant. Pre and post RADS assessments for
depression will be administered to each girl by the therapist and researcher.
This
is a processing group, not just playing or grooming dogs.
Canine
Healers develop trust and bonding and will:
*Develop
an environment of unconditional love and acceptance through the dogs ability to
be a surrogate for therapeutic touch which will then serve to foster the development
of self-esteem within the individual
*Dogs will serve
as a bridge between the therapist and the group as the girls may have trouble
trusting the therapist and the dogs will serve to foster the development of rapport
between the group and the therapist
*Dogs will be
available for directed activities such as utilizing the dog as an outlet for the
projection of feelings and being available for interactions with girls who may
feel uncomfortable to tell the group about something, but will feel comfortable
with speaking in the dog's ear
*The dogs will be there
to foster a lowered state of anxiety and an increased level of support and happiness
within the group
Each
girl develops her own timeline of the traumatic events in their life and how they
coped. All the while, at every session and in every activity, the dogs are very
present for the girls: hugs, sitting in laps, curled up next to them, licking
the girls' tears, getting ears rubbed ~ comforting dogs.
Research
Project: two graduate students from Argosy University are deeply engaged in conducting
what might prove to be the first official research paper utilizing dogs for emotional
therapy (unlike using with physically disabled clients). Preliminary results indicate
Canine Healers significantly lowers anxiety and improves social interaction.
Dog Therapy
Paws 4 Trust
At
the close of this happy and emotional eight-week session there is a bond between
the selfless volunteers, their dogs and the girls. The unsung heroes are the Paws
4 Trust volunteers: Leader Jeanne Schoech with Benjamin, Marcia Eckhardt with
Logan, Shirley Durnal with Timber, Sara Epstein with Boomer, LeAnn with Tazer,
Katherine Madden with Scanner, and Linda Wanlass with Gibson.
Paws4Trust
Leader Jeanne Schoech reported from this last session: "Sometimes we don't see
a remarkable change in the girls we are teamed with (and sometimes - oh yes indeed
- we are privileged to see that change and that's when the sun shines). This last
session was very meaningful to the handler. It touched us all. Ben and I were
teamed with Sandy B. She was so patient and kind to Ben; just what that young
pup needed. I watched Sandy as her confidence and enthusiasm grew as the weeks
passed and what was on the inside began to be evident on the outside (her physical
appearance actually changed). I don't think that Ben and I made this difference,
but I think we may have contributed a little. It was a memorable time for us.
And a privilege and gift to be part of the difference Excelsior is making in these
young girls' lives."
