Be Mindful- Montage Health Therapy Dog Program

(KION-TV)- When people think of dogs, they usually see them as a close companion or a member of the family.

Well, meet Lucy. Lucy and her human Kim Larson are volunteers for Montage Health's Therapy Dog Program.

“We go in and we are in individual rooms and we're also in a common area, like a kind of a group therapy setting in the psych unit,” Larson said. “So it's a nice mix of both.”

But what separates Lucy from other types of dogs like service dogs and emotional support dogs?

“Therapy dog is a dog that helps others and service dogs and emotional support dogs help the individual, the owner,” Larson said. “To be a therapy dog, you have to have certification through an organization and she's certified through Therapy Dog International.”

It's these types of dogs like Lucy that can really help people dealing with a variety of mental health issues according to Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for Ohana Behavioral Health Molly Hansen.

“Animals can just boost our moods, especially dogs in particular, because they are fiercely loyal, they're incredible companions, and they have and we feel unconditional love from our pet dogs,” Hansen said. “Dogs in particular want to please us in a way that maybe cats don't or other animals. And so it can boost our mood because we have a sense of purpose to take care of the animals.”

Not only do therapy dogs motivate you to help them, but also help get you outside which is also a boost to your mental health. But even when Lucy isn’t helping those with mental illnesses, she’s still bringing joy.

“Every time I walk past a dog, I have to pet that dog and it drives my husband nuts,” Hansen said. “But I feel a boost in my overall sense of happiness. And our body releases chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin, and that helps us feel less lonely, helps us feel connected and compassionate.”

When asked about how happy they are to help those in need, Larson spoke about a moment that stood out for her.

“One patient in particular,” Larson said. “When we came into the room, the patient was on her knees shaking and she was in and we came in and just the visual, seeing her relax and can, can I pick your ID, can I take a picture of your dog? And, you know, even for just that short time, it's so cool to see that.”

If you’d like to learn more about Montage’s therapy program, or if you’d like to be a part of it, you can visit https://www.montagehealth.org/support/volunteer/therapy-dog-program.

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