I’ve been studying and practicing animal training for nearly two decades, and I began training Maslow when he was just two months old. His foundation is in traditional obedience — learning to stay with me, wait when told, walk politely without pulling, and interact with the world with calm, respectful manners. What matters just as much, though, is that our training has always been a two-way street. Maslow and I are a team. I listen to him just as much as I ask him to listen to me, and that mutual trust has shaped how we work together in the world.

What makes Maslow a true therapy dog is not only his training but his natural personality. He is calm, patient, and deeply compassionate, with a curiosity that draws him gently toward people who need him most. He can be silly and playful, but also steady and grounding — offering exactly what each moment calls for. People feel seen and safe in his presence, and it is often his loving, kind spirit that becomes the bridge to trust, connection, and the possibility of thriving.

Maslow has been volunteering and working since he was just five months old. Over the years, he has supported people across all ages — from infants to seniors — in a wide variety of settings. His visits have included hospitals, nursing homes, schools, summer camps, and businesses. He has worked with children and adolescents, individuals in crisis, people with intellectual and physical disabilities, and many more. No matter the environment, Maslow has a way of meeting each person right where they are, bringing comfort, joy, and presence.

With a background in mental health counseling and nearly twenty years of animal training experience, I bring both professional knowledge and personal devotion to this work.

What matters most to me is meeting people with authenticity, kindness, and compassion. I bring a steady, calming presence into every space I enter, trusting that healing often begins in the safety of simply being with one another. I believe that when we reconnect with ourselves, with each other, and with the living world around us, we rediscover the possibility of thriving.

I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have three years of direct counseling experience, supporting people through a wide range of challenges. What sets me apart as a therapy dog handler is the depth of my professional background in emotional wellbeing, combined with nearly two decades of animal training. This blend of skills allows me to recognize the subtle ways people and animals communicate, and to create safe, meaningful interactions that reach beyond what traditional obedience or dog handling alone can offer.