Introducing...Lady the Therapy Dog!

The Healing Group has a new furry staff member in the Salt Lake office on Wednesdays! We are so excited to have a newly certified therapy dog, Lady, join us to provide additional layers of support to clients who are interested.

Get To Know Lady

What kind of dog is Lady?

Lady is an Australian Labradoodle, which means she is hypoallergenic, super smart, and has the temperament to be a therapy dog! When she isn’t working as a therapy dog she loves playing catch, going to the park, and playing in the water — especially the hose and sprinklers. She loves her cat sister, Lulu, and her three human siblings.

Does Lady work with a specific therapist?

Yes! Our founder and CEO, Kristin Hodson, is Lady’s handler. Kristin and Lady are a certified therapy team through Pet Partners. Lady will only work alongside Kristin at The Healing Group and out in the community.

What does a therapy dog do?

Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support through calm attention and safe, loving touch. Therapy dogs and their handlers are required to undergo rigorous training and pass an hours-long certification exam. Therapy dogs are uniquely attuned to the emotions of people and are able to provide extra comfort. Studies have shown a decrease in blood pressure and stress levels, an increase in overall emotional well-being, and unique brain stimulation during therapy dog visits.

Therapy dogs are not the same as an emotional support animal as they are trained to bring emotional support to many different people, versus providing emotional support to just their owner.

What if I am uncomfortable around dogs?

The Healing Group is committed to your comfort when visiting our office. We can assure you that Lady will be leashed and with her handler at all times and never left to roam. If you are visiting our office on Wednesdays and don’t feel comfortable around dogs, please speak to your clinician or a Client Care Coordinator and we will create a plan to ensure your comfort.

The Healing Group looks forward to continuing to provide multi-faceted approaches to healing and wellness. We are passionate about your mental health and aim to provide the best treatment possible. We are thrilled to have Lady as a member of our healing team!