Stacy Schoolfield Mendell, LCSW, AASW, CAIS and Chazz, CGC, ATD of Animal Assisted Therapy of the Western Slope, in Grand Junction, have been working together since August of 2015, when Stacy found him at the Canon City Inmate Training Program.

About

Stacy Schoolfield Mendell

Stacy Mendell, LSCW, AASW, CAIS, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds  certificates in Animal Assisted Social Work and Canine Assisted Intervention Specialist from the University of Denver’s Institute for Human Animal Connection.

Stacy has worked in mental health in the western slope community along with her four legged co-therapists,  for the past nine years in schools, non profits, residential facilities and juvenile facilities.

Stacy is a volunteer and board member at Roice Hurst Humane Society where she leads Humane Education and Pet Loss groups.

Chazz

Chazz and Stacy met 5 years ago, at the Colorado Cell Dog Training program in Canon City, Colorado. Chazz had been found in southern Colorado, wagging and hungry and covered in mud. He was sent to the Canon City Inmate Training program where he learned to be a very good dog and was restored to health. He lived with inmates while he trained and was ready for work when Stacy was looking for her next Therapy Dog. Less than three weeks after he and Stacy met, they became a certified therapy team through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Chazz is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen.

Animal Assisted Therapy, directed by Stacy Schoolfield Mendell and Chazz, serves the Western Slope communities of Grand Junction, Colorado, by providing goal-directed animal assisted therapy for children and adolescents, all with the help of animals…

Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal Assisted Therapy is an evidence-based practice that includes animals as part of the therapeutic process when it is appropriate for the client.

  • Animals provide a sense of comfort and security and help improve motivation and engagement in therapy. 

  • Animals provide a sense of security and can be instruments of learning, which can increase self-confidence and self-esteem and help clients engage in therapy.  

  • Animals help the client learn frustration tolerance and other anger management techniques, help in the areas of focus and attention, and offer humor and fun due to their playful nature.

  • Animals in therapy help clients develop empathy, nurturance,  and responsibility, and model forgiveness and patience.

  • Through the use of positive reinforcement, clients can learn the importance of rewarding good behaviors in themselves and others.