Mental Health Assistance Dogs - Age old companions. A new way of living.
About Us

Darcie Boltz is the training director and owner of Heeling Allies, LLC and is in private practice as a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Coach. 
Darcie is an expert on the therapeutic aspects of the human-canine relationship. One of Darcie’s greatest abilities is bridging relationships between people and dogs in a way that enables people to rise above many of life's challenges.
 
Darcie graduated from Bastyr University in 2007 with a degree in Health Psychology. She holds particular interest in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution focused brief therapy, and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as the interrelationship between psychology and health, well being and mindfulness, and ecopsychology.  Darcie views mental health from a holistic perspective and asserts that Assistance Dogs are a highly effective tyope of alternative medicine, and a wonderful adjunct to traditional mental health therapies.  

In addition to her degree in Health Psychology, Darcie was trained as a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills training coach through Behavioral Tech, LLC, and has completed the most current and cutting edge DBT training available in 2010. Darcie has also completed course work in Chemical Dependency Counseling, and has earned academic certificates in Animal Assisted Intervention and Therapy in Counseling, Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders, and Suicide Information & Intervention; and she is member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). 

Darcie has worked with dogs in the areas of rescue & rehabilitation, and basic & advanced obedience training since 2005; she has worked with people who have mental impairments and Assistance Dogs since April 2008; and she is a certified American Kennel Club (AKC), Canine Good Citizen® (CGC®) evaluator.  Darcie has been in private practice as a DBT Skills trainer since 2008. 

Darcie developed a Mental Health Assistance Dog training model which combines specialized Assistance Dog training with therapeutic principals such as mindfulness & communication effectiveness.  Darcie’s training model lends itself to creating mutually beneficial and solidly functional,  human-canine partnerships.  Heeling Allies offers two Mental Health Assistance Dog Training Programs: Mental Health/Psychiatric Service Dog training and Emotional Support Dog training.
 
 “Animals, especially dogs, have an innate ability to reach to the depths of the human spirit in a way that other humans simply cannot.  I have seen a dog soothe and bring a smile to the face of a person who was in a tremendous amount emotional pain.  Assistance Dogs enable people to live fuller, happier, and healthier lives.  Training serves an important purpose, but a dog’s ability to heal has nothing at all to do with training, and everything to do with its purely magnificent spirit.  I have a profound love for dogs, and a deep respect for individuals who struggle with mental impairments”.
- Darcie Boltz, Founder of Heeling Allies, LLC

To learn more about Darcie's DBT coaching services
 
Julie Forbes is Seattle’s dog behavior, training and nutrition specialist.  Graduate of The University of Vermont, with a degree in Animal Science, and owner of Sensitive Dog; Julie conducts in-home private lessons, behavior and nutrition evaluations, as well as an in-home two-week intensive training program called “Higher Education”. Julie is the creator and host of “The Dog Talk Show – An Evolved Perspective on Life with Dogs”, a talk radio show all about dogs.

Julie Forbes performs Heeling Allies, extended evaluations for dog being considered for one of our Assistance Dog programs.  

Visit www.sensitivedog.com and www.dogtalkshow.com for more information about Julie and her services.


Jennifer Lackie is an exceptional trainer, with a natural gift for educating animals and over ten years experience training dogs.  In 1998, she achieved a Master Trainer certificate at the National K-9 Learning Center in Columbus, Ohio, where she learned to be proficient in basic and advanced obedience training, canine personal protection training, canine scent detection and tracking training, and support dog training for the disabled. In 1999, the Academy of Canine Behavior, in Bothell, WA, hired Jennifer to train dogs, teach courses, and work with intern dog trainers.  From 2004-2007, Jennifer led sled dog tours in Upper Peninsula Michigan.  She currently lives in Sequim, WA where, in addition to training future Assistance Dogs for Heeling Allies, LLC, Jennifer trains and cares for wildlife ranging from, black bears to grey wolves.

Heeling Allies, Assistance Dogs spend their first month to two months of our intensive board and train program  with Jennifer Lackie, in Sequim WA.  With exceptional skill, Jennifer provides our dogs with a solid foundation in basic and advanced, assistance dog obedience training.  When it comes to training assistance dogs, foundation training is everything.  Jennifer is a phenomenal trainer and we are very fortunate to have her on our team.    
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For more information about our services or to schedule a  consultation, contact Darcie Boltz at:
Phone: (206) 406 - 1455 
Psychiatric service dog.  Therapy dog.  Assistance dog.  Service dog training.