peer support amongt online therapy dog handlers

Dr. Holly McKenzie is facilitating the study “Fostering PAWSitive wellbeing and support: A qualitative study with therapy dog-handler teams and service providers,” which will provide useful evidence for the substance use recovery toolkit being developed. The purpose of Dr. McKenzie' study is to understand a) how to support therapy dog-handler teams’ wellbeing, as well as b) how to foster therapy dog-handler teams’ support of people dealing with mental health and/or substance use concerns. In order to do so, Dr. McKenzie will be interviewing therapy dog handlers and service providers, as well as reviewing relevant policies and practice guidelines. These qualitative interviews with therapy dog handlers include questions about their experiences of peer support. Kayla Arisman, a Master’s student and Research Assistant is working with Dr. McKenzie on data analysis. She will analyze all of the therapy dog handler interviews to understand their experiences of peer support, and in particular when working online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This emerging evidence we will put into practice in the substance use recovery toolkit.