PTSD therapist who also knows about service dog certification
Can you recommend a therapist familiar with PTSD? Do you know what are the requirements for qualifying to have a trained Service Dog (SD) --for PTSD? (I've learned that A trained SD is different from a "therapy" dog or an "Emotional support" dog. )
I have a long history of PTSD challenges. Now with husband & daughter both ill for last 2 years, my PTSD symptoms are back (& have been present for last 9 months or so). My symptoms include Insomnia, nightmares, etc. and during the day I'm tense, compulsively worrying and/or irritable. Also, I hit a wall often when I'm in public. Can't remember, get nauseated & want to leave if there are other people around. I force myself to do things that used to give me pleasure.
3 years ago our dog (a yellow lab mix) died: he was almost 15 years old. I've been without a dog ever since. Even though he wasn't trained as a Service Dog, Petey intuited when I needed him to nudge me out of depression/our of the 'wall' that causes disorientation; he'd remind me to talk a walk, and he'd wake me up if I was having a bad dream. Amazing dog!
Parent Replies
Hello.. I'm sorry for your troubles. It is possible we could help with finding a dog and the guidelines. There is no official central organization that dispenses papers. Because it is related the laws around disabilities, people can only ask you - if it is a service dog and - what service the dog performs.
If you're looking to replace your dog, there are organizations that train service dogs. Some places, like the guide dogs programs for the blind in San Rafael have breeder dogs, that are more available. I understand it is a different condition. Yet the dog's personality (high desire to please, calm, trainable) is similar.
There are also some places like Gabby Jack Ranch that have trained service dogs and have also bred dogs with service dog personalites. We were lucky enough have one of their dogs, and I would trust them. They used to be a non-profit training center, and now, I think they also have a for profit division for puppies. The owner is Jacquie is super helpful.
http://gabbyjackranch.org/