Licensed Therapist Sarah Steelman plans to partner with her dog Sepi for Animal-Assisted Therapy in Las Vegas.

In this 65th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Sarah Steelman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD in human development, and her Whoodle, Sepi. We discuss their plans for Animal-Assisted Therapy in Las Vegas and how Sarah intends to incorporate Sepi into her private practice and professional trainings.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How Sarah’s love of dogs led her to a creative way to up-level her skills as a therapist.
• What she looked for in searching for a Therapy Dog.
• How she is pacing her training so that Sepi will be ready when she returns to in-person sessions with her clients.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/dr.sepi_pawhd

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/65

Dr. Laura Pedersen partners with her mini Aussie Jameson to implement Animal-Assisted Interventions in corrections.

In this 64th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Dr. Laura Pedersen and her miniature Australian Shepherd, Jameson. We talk about their work with Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) in a place that helps people with mental health problems who have been in trouble with the law. They have made a special program that brings therapy dogs into one-on-one and group therapy sessions.

In this episode, we discuss …

• Why Laura recommends beginning with volunteer work.
• How she learned to read Jameson’s communication.
• How Jameson helps her to reach the people she works with.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/jameson_the_aussie

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/64

Mindy and her dogs Woody & Hayes founded a network of Zen Therapy Dogs to connect volunteers in Orlando.

In this 63rd episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Mindy and her two hounds, Woody and Hayes. We talk about their volunteer work in Orlando, Florida, where they’ve worked with many organizations like Advent Health, Orlando International Airport’s Paw Pilots program, Give Kids the World, nursing homes, first responder visits, bereavement camps, children’s reading programs, and as emergency mental health partners for Seminole County.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How Mindy’s own experience with being visited by a Therapy Dog led to her volunteering with her dogs.
• What it’s like to train hounds for Therapy Dog work.
• Why she decided to create Zen Dogs Therapy Network.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/woodydabasset

https://instagram.com/zen_dogs_therapy_network

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/63

Sara and her Golden Retriever puppy Stevie are practicing for Therapy Dog work in assisted living facilities in Canada.

In this 62nd episode of Therapy Dog Talk, chat with Sara and her Golden Retriever, Stevie, about their journey to become a therapy dog team and their experiences practicing in assisted living places in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Sara shares why she wanted to do therapy dog work with Stevie and their plans to get certified by Therapeutic Paws of Canada. She also talks about the Canine Good Neighbor test that Stevie needs to pass to become a therapy dog in Canada.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How they were able to get started practicing in assisted living facilities.
• What the path to Therapy Dog looks like in Canada.
• How they plan to get certified through Therapeutic Paws of Canada.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/gsdlincoln

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/62

Aakash Lonkar is growing Therapy Dog programs in Mumbai through the Animal Angels Foundation and shares what it takes.

In this 61st episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Aakash Lonkar, a Director at Animal Angels Foundation. He manages operations and training for therapy dog programs in Mumbai. We talk about what it takes to be successful in this area. Aakash tells us how he started working with therapy dogs and how important it is to choose dogs based on their friendly nature and ability to give emotional support.

In this episode, we discuss …

• What led Aakash to working with Therapy Dogs,
• How he works with multiple Therapy Dogs
• What it takes to implement a new pet therapy program.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/animalangelsfoundation

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/61

Mel shares their insights on growing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice in Animal-Assisted Therapy.

In this 60th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, with Mel Trueblood-Stimpson, who is a Scientist, Consultant, Charity Director, and Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy professional in Ohio. Mel works with animals and focuses on making things more equal for everyone in the world of science. They also work with their therapy partner, Bowie, a special Norwegian Forest cat mix.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How working with the unhoused led Mel to Animal-Assisted Therapy.
• Why Mel got involved in training and education for Animal-Assisted Social Work.
• What we can do to address our own biases and awareness.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/ludarbehavior

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/60

Dena and her tripod Therapy Dog, a Pitbull rescue she named Petey, are helping to teach acceptance.

In this 59th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Dena and her inspiring Pitbull rescue named Petey, a tripod Therapy Dog who’s changing lives with his big heart. Together, they’ve completed over 300 therapy dog visits and earned Petey the AKC title of Therapy Dog Excellent. We discuss the importance of a dog’s temperament for therapy work, share a touching story of how Petey helped a child find strength to recover, and talk about why we should treat others with the unconditional love of our dogs.

In this episode, we discuss …

• What Dena looks for in a dog as a temperament evaluator.
• How Petey helped a child to find strength to recover.
• Why it’s important to treat others with the unconditional love of our dogs.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/tripodpetey

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/59

Finding the right fit as a Therapy Dog team can be challenging, but for Tara navigating that journey with Juno has been worth it.

In this 58th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I talk with Tara Hoover and her 14-year-old Chocolate Labrador, Juno. They have been volunteering together in Pittsburgh for 10 years with Therapy Dogs International and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. We chat about finding the best place to volunteer and how they learned that hospitals were perfect for them.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How Tara figured out the right environment for volunteering with Juno.
• Who Juno has a celebrity nickname with on the PIT PAWS.
• What Tara and Juno both enjoy about doing this work.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/tarahoover

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/58

Minal Kavishwar pioneers pet therapy and Animal-Assisted Counseling in India through the Animal Angels Foundation.

In this 57th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I talk with Minal Kavishwar, the founder of Animal Angels Foundation, about her amazing work bringing pet therapy and Animal-Assisted Counseling to India. Minal tells how she created Animal Angels in 2003 and did the first research on animal therapy in India with her therapy dog, Kuti.

In this episode, we discuss …

• Where Minal sought out research on Animal-Assisted Interventions.
• What it is like to partner with Therapy Dogs who do not live with her.
• How she continues to pioneer pet therapy and Animal-Assisted Counseling in India.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/mi_minal

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/57

Eva and Sandra are reaching children in India through their Therapy Dog initiative Woofers Snow and Sky.

In this 56th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Eva Veroeveren, who co-founded Woofers Snow and Sky. We talk about her amazing work with therapy dogs in Ahmedabad, India. Our conversation focuses on how therapy dogs help kids and teach them to be mindful.

In this episode, we discuss …

• How Eva and Sandra are reaching children in India with their Therapy Dogs.
• What it has been like to pave the way for more Therapy Dogs in Ahmedabad.
• How Woofers Snow and Sky is a catalyst for mindfulness through growing the human-animal bond.

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I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!

—

How to get started as a Therapy Dog team:

http://freeguide.therapydogtalk.com

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/woofers_snowandsky

https://instagram.com/therapydogtalk

Episode show notes:

https://sherrierohde.com/56