Trauma recovery utilizing a service dog

This session presents a first voice perspective of living with PTSD while practicing social work and the impact of utilizing a service dog in the recovery process.  Jackie will discuss:

• her experience of integrating a service dog into day to day life, including in a full time social work job

• benefits and challenges of being a service dog handler

• the impact of a service dog on PTSD symptoms, based on subjective individual experience

Speaker: Jackie Thornhill

Jackie Thornhill is a Registered Social Worker in Nova Scotia. After her studies at Dalhousie University she worked as a social worker in mental health and addictions. Jackie's interest in recovery from trauma stems from addressing her own traumatic history and her success in recovery due in part to being matched with a service dog.