Parker, Certified Therapy Dog

Meet Parker, Amanda’s certified therapy dog. They are certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs and passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. Parker works alongside Amanda Schmidt, LPC to provide Animal Assisted Therapy.

Animal Assisted Therapy can provide many benefits, such as reducing stress, anger, anxiety, and depression, increasing happiness hormones, improving self-esteem, and providing non-judgmental, selfless love. This, in turn, can further decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation. Integrating work with a therapy dog into counseling sessions can also promote prosocial behaviors in children and improve cognitive function, helping children learn empathy, compassion, responsibility and respect.

Parker likes to meet new people, get belly rubs, and to make clients smile. He also likes to roll in the grass and play with his siblings.