Meet the Heeling Allies' Team!
Darcie views mental health from a holistic perspective and
asserts that Assistance Dogs are a highly effective type of alternative
medicine, and a wonderful adjunct to traditional mental health
therapies.
In addition to her degree
in Health Psychology, Darcie completed intensive training Dialectical
Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech, and has earned academic
certificates in Animal Assisted Intervention and Therapy in Counseling,
Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders, Counseling Victims of Sexual Assault, and
Suicide Information & Intervention.
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 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.
“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
of 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 heads speaking
engagements about the benefits dogs can provide individuals with mental
illness. If your group,
establishment or organization would like to learn more about assistance dogs
for mental health, contact Darcie to schedule a speaking engagement.
Darcie has presented at:
The National Association
of Special Needs Trusts,
The Washington Department
of Veterans Affairs, annual PTSD conference,
The Female Faces of War,
documentary screening,
Edmunds College, and
The Alliance of People
with DisAbilities.
Jennifer Lackie CMT, is Heeling Allies head assistance dog trainer. She specializes in assistance dog task training, and public access training.
Jennifer is an exceptional trainer, with a natural gift for educating animals and over ten years experience training dogs. In 1998, Jennifer earned a Master Trainer certificate at the National K-9 Learning Center, where she received training in advanced obedience training, support dog training for individuals with disabilities, canine personal protection training, and canine scent detection and tracking training.
Julie Forbes BS, assists in performing extended evaluations for Heeling Allies assistance dog-candidates.
Julie is a dog training and behavior specialist. She is the owner of Sensitive Dog, and host of the The Dog Show – An Evolved Perspective on Life with Dogs, a talk radio show all about dogs, that she hosts. The Dog Talk Show airs live in Western Washington on Wednesdays from 2-3pm, on KKNW 1150 AM.
Jennifer DeRosa BS, OTR/L, CAPS, helps to assess and evaluate Heeling Allies applicants who have brain injuries, neurological disorders, and/or other disabilities.
Jennifer is the founder of AdaptABLE for LIFE, a therapist owned agency dedicated to providing solutions for independent living. AdaptAble for Life is committed to maintaining healthy communities by working directly with individuals with disabilities and age related issues, as well as the organizations that service them.
Cassie Salewske MA, LMHC, NCC assists in evaluating and assessing individuals applying for a Mental Health Service Dog, Emotional Support Dog, or Skilled Companion from Heeling Allies.
Cassie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has worked as a psychotherapist and case manager since 2004. Cassie also holds a Nationally Certified Counselor credential.
Psychiatric Service Dog Training. Psychiatric Service Dog Programs.
Heeling Allies is located in Seattle WA, and trains Mental Health Dogs for individuals nationally.
Serving the following states, on a case-by-case basis: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
© 2008-2012 Heeling Allies, LLC. All
Rights Reserved.
