Horizons Fall 2016

10 NSU HORIZONS Marveline Pierre, an NSU graduate student in the mar- riage and family therapy program, remembers the day that a golden retriever named Brandy came to visit Green’s class. “There was so much going on with me, being scared, upset, and angry. I almost didn’t go to class. When I spent that time with Brandy, it was like something washed over me,” said Pierre, whose aunt was critically ill at the time. “To me, Brandy offered acceptance. She didn’t judge me. It was like, ‘it’s OK.’ I could feel my emotions starting to slow down. That changed my whole outlook. It was an amazing experience,” said Pierre, who now hopes to incor- porate canine therapy into a future career as a therapist. “We receive comments from students who share things like, ‘I wasn’t sure I could go through with my finals,’ or ‘I was ready to pack it up and go home,’ ” said Courtney Trzcinski, director of resource development at CAT. “They enjoy the chance to hug, pet, and play with the dogs,’’ said Trzcinski. “Afterward, they feel better. It’s a chance to reconnect and have a little normalcy. More people are finally recognizing the benefits of having these dogs and seeing that it’s not just playtime. There are therapeutic benefits.” Therapy dog handlers helping people with developmental disabilities are getting training from the NSU-University of Miami satellite program of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), a university-based network serving families across Florida. “We’re collaborating with Canine Assisted Therapy to of- fer guidance, training, visual materials, and enhancement strategies to utilize in settings where they’re working with individuals with disabilities,” said Sara Ferguson, NSU clinical support administrator. “We did training with the handlers on how to work with clients with autism and how to better engage their clients with the dogs.” Interacting with pets can lower blood pressure and produce changes in human physiology, said Clarice (Moreth) Yentsch, Ph.D., an NSU alumna who was one of the 17 members of NSU’s first graduating class and a volunteer who visited campus with members of Canine Assisted Therapy. “Students are coming to college and leaving their pets behind. Part of dog therapy is making up that deficit. They’re so behind their books and the computer. The dogs give them another living being whom they can be with and feel comfortable with,” said Yentsch, a former adjunct professor at the Halmos College of Natural Sci- ences and Oceanography. Some students have test anxiety and that can worsen stress, said McCoy, who grew up with dogs at home in Massachusetts and who found that fostering dogs while she was a student helped her cope. “I felt that I was less likely to get overwhelmed. It was like, I’m going to take the dog for a walk and take a little break and mentally check out from work for a little bit,’’ she said. “When the dogs were here, students were taking pictures and posting them on Instagram and on all sorts of social media. And, the dogs loved playing and being petted. It was a win-win for everybody,” added McCoy. NSU joins colleges and universities nationwide that recognize the therapeutic benefits of bringing four- legged friends—such as Della, right—to campus.