Mental Health Assistance Dogs - Age old companions. A new way of living.
Heeling Allies, LLC                     Seattle, WA                      (206) 406 - 1455

Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs)
*Please see our Mental Health Service Dog page

Psychiatric Service Dogs and Mental Health Service Dogs are fundamentally and functionally very similar.  Both are dogs specially trained to assist individuals with mental impairments/psychiatric disabilities. Assistance Dogs are covered under the ADA and other state statutes. 

Darcie Boltz, founder of Heeling Allies, coined the terms Mental Health Service Dog and Mental Health Assistance Dog.  She chose the phrase "mental health" over the word "psychiatric", as it pertains to service dogs, because the definition of "mental health" captures the essence of our service dog training program.  "Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community" 
(World Health Organization, Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/).

Additionally, some individuals prefer the term "Mental Health" Service Dog over "Psychiatric" Service Dog because of the stigma associated with the word psychiatric.

We encourage our clients to use whichever term they feel most comfortable with.
_______________________________________________________________

Mental Health Service Dogs (MHSDs)

  • MHSDs provide assistance to individuals with mental impairments, just as Guide Dogs provide assistance to those with visual impairments.

  • Heeling Allies trains Mental Health Service Dogs to provide assistance to individuals with psychological impairments, just as Guide Dogs provide assistance to those with visual impairments.

  • Heeling Allies' team of experts, specially train Mental Health Service Dogs to enhance the lives of people with a wide range of mental impairments, from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and major depression, to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

  • Heeling Allies offers a comprehensive Mental Health Service Dog board and train program, private lessons, and much more.


To Qualify for Heeling Allies, LLC,  Mental Health Service Dog  Training  Program You Must:

  • Provide documentation that you have been formally diagnosed with a mental impairment or psychological disability by a qualified health care professional.  

  • According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual is considered disabled if they have "(1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment." A mental impairment is defined by the ADA as "any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities."

  • Provide a letter from a mental health care provider (i.e. counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.) stating A) he/she believes that you would benefit from owning a MHSD and, B) he/she is certain that you are capable of providing a dog with exceptional care. 

  • Be currently participating in one or more types mental health treatment (i.e. counseling, medication management, group therapy, support group, recovery group, etc). 

  • Provide 3 personal references.

* Please note: Heeling Allies, LLC is not able to consider you for our training services if you cannot provide all supporting documentation. 
______________________________________________________

Question & Answer

Q.  Is there a difference between Mental Health Service Dogs (MHSDs) and Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs)?

A. MHSDs and PSDs are fundamentally and functionally very similar.  Both are dogs specially trained to assist individuals with mental impairments/psychiatric disabilities.  Assistance Dogs are covered under the ADA and other state statutes.  
We have chosen to use the term "mental health" over "psychiatric", as it pertains to service dogs, because the definition of "mental health" captures the essence of our service dog training program.  "Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community" 
(World Health Organization, Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/).

Additionally, some individuals prefer the term "Mental Health" Service Dog over "Psychiatric" Service Dog because of the stigma associated with the word psychiatric.

We encourage our clients to use the term they feel most comfortable using.


Q. Who qualifies to own a Mental Health Service Dog (MHSD)?  

A.  Any individual with a documented mental  impairment/psychiatric disability, whose life would be enhanced as a result of owning trained service dog.


Q. Can I have a dog that I already own trained to be my MHSD?

A.  Yes, we call these dogs: pre-owned, untrained MHSD.   All dogs that we accept into our training program, whether they are pre-owned or newly adopted, must first pass an aptitude test and behavior evaluation. * It is important to note that not all dogs will pass the aptitude test and/or behavior evaluation.  If you own a dog that you would like to make your MHSD, but he/she does not pass the aptitude test and/or behavior evaluation, try not to be discouraged -- we can discuss with other potential options with you.

Q Where do I get my MHSD if I don't already have a dog?

A.  There are two ways to attain a MHSD if you do not already have a dog:  we will gladly assist you in finding a dog that meets the MHSD pre-training criteria.  We prefer to attain MHSDs from humane societies/shelters/rescues, however, we will be happy to evaluate potential MHSDs from elsewhere. 

Q.  What requirements must a dog meet to legally be considered a Mental Health Service Dog? 

A. Mental Health Service Dogs are specially trained to help individuals cope with the symptom(s) of their mental impairment/psychiatric disability. A Mental Health Service Dog must be specifically trained to be of assistance to an individual with a documented psychiatric condition.

Q.  Who can benefit from working with a Mental Health Service Dog? 

A. Individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental impairment/psychiatric disability, such as:

Anxiety Disorders

•    Acute Stress Disorder
•    Panic Disorder
•    Agoraphobia
•    Social Phobia
•    Specific Phobia (formerly Simple
     Phobia)
•    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
•    Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
•    Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Childhood Disorders

•    Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
•    Asperger's Disorder
•    Autistic Disorder
•    Separation Anxiety Disorder

Mood Disorders

•    Major Depressive Disorder
•    Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
•    Cyclothymic Disorder
•    Dysthymic Disorder

Personality Disorders

•    Paranoid Personality Disorder
•    Borderline Personality Disorder
•    Histrionic Personality Disorder
•    Avoidant Personality Disorder
•    Dependent Personality Disorder
•    Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Substance-Related Disorders

Individuals in this category MUST HAVE ACHIEVED SOBRIETY, and  be actively involved in a recovery/treatment program in order to qualify for a Service Dog/ Service Dog Training through Heeling Allies, LLC.

•    Alcohol Dependence
•    Cannabis Dependence
•    Nicotine Dependence
•    Sedative Dependence

Q.  What tasks do Mental Health Service Dogs perform?

A. Mental Health Service Dogs are specifically trained to carry out  a variety of physical and non-physical tasks which mitigate an individual's psychological disability by doing something for the individual that he/she is not able to do for him/herself. 

* Mental health is on a continuum and each person experiences his/her disability differently, therefore task training is unique for each to each individual.  

Mental Health Service Dogs may be trained to:

Physical Tasks

  • Wear a vest carrying prescription medication and medical           information.
  • Remind/alert handler to take medication.
  • Alert handler to change in mental state (i.e.  panic attack, anxiety attack,manic episode, ect).
  • Prevent crowding/shield handler in crowded situations by creating a physical boundary.
  • Aid in deescalating overstimulation.
  • Environment search.
  • Wake-up handler.
  •  Decrease anxiety by licking, 
     nudging, pawing etc.
  • Lead handler to a safe place during panic attack.
  • Help find keys or telephone.
  • Turn on/off lights.
  • Help balance unsteady handler/provide physical support for balance.

Non-Physical Tasks:

  • Assist coping with emotional  overload.
  • Help to diffuse bouts of paranoia or visual/auditory hallucinations, etc. by serving as a reality check.
  • Assist during panic/anxiety attack by providing tactile stimulation (i.e. running fingers through the dog's coat & massaging the dog). 
  • Stay in close proximity to handler
  • Focus on handler.

Many of the benefits of owning a Mental Health Service Dog extend beyond having the dog's assistance with certain tasks.  Such benefits are inherent in the human-canine relationship and often include:


•    Relief from feelings of isolation.
•    An increased sense of well-being.
•    Decreased fear of being alone.
•    A distraction from focusing on worries
     and anxieties.
•    A reason to get out of bed in the   
     morning.
•    Sense of purpose.
•    Increased self-efficacy and self-esteem.
•    Encourage play.
•    Encourage exercise.
•    Provide a safe and secure relationship
     in which one can give and receive
     love and affection. 
•    Dependable and predictable love,
     affection and  nonjudgmental  
     companionship.
•    Stress reduction

Steps to getting a MHSD:

  1. Handler meets all pre-qualification requirements and provide all supporting documentation.
  2. Dog - if pre-owned & untrained,  must pass Heeling Allies, LLC temperament and aptitude test.
  3. Handler or handler & handler's caretaker successfully pass Heeling Allies, LLC formal interview.
  4. Dog successfully completes intensive MHSD board & train program.
  5. Dog & handler successfully complete intensive team training.
____________________________

For more information about our services or to schedule a  consultation, contact Darcie Boltz at:
Phone: (206) 406 - 1455 
_________________________________________

Seattle, WA


Psychiatric Service Dog Training. Mental Health Service Dog Training. Service dogs for mental illness.  Depression.  Anxiety.  Bipolar.  PTSD.  Therapeutic Assistance Dogs.  Mood disorders.