Our Therapy Dog Team

During her time in San Diego, our founder had the incredible opportunity to partner with Canine Companions, an organization renowned for breeding and training world-class service dogs. Through them, she has welcomed two exceptional dogs into her life and practice, allowing her to see the transformative power of the human-canine bond in a clinical setting.

• Navette is a Labrador Retriever and a certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Originally bred and trained for service work, she and Julia have been a certified therapy dog team since 2023. Navette has completed over 100 hours of therapy work across school and hospital settings, including time spent at UC San Diego Health and working with children in public schools.

• Lana is a 3-year-old Golden Retriever and Labrador mix and a certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Originally bred and trained for service work, she and Julia have been a certified therapy dog team since 2025. Lana has already completed over 30 hours of work, specifically focusing on engaging with children of all ability levels.

Clinical Philosophy

Incorporating Navette and Lana into early intervention allows for a naturalistic, motivating environment. Whether we are working on first words or social engagement, the presence of a therapy dog can reduce anxiety and provide a unique "communication partner" for a child. T herapy dogs can help with speech therapy in many ways, including: 

• Building confidence: Therapy dogs can help children build confidence and a sense of safety. 

• Reducing anxiety: Therapy dogs can help reduce children's fears and anxieties. 

• Encouraging positive behavior: Therapy dogs can help promote positive changes in a child's behavior. 

• Reinforcement: Therapy dogs can participate in therapy sessions as a form of reinforcement, such as with high-fives and snuggles

Reach out to us today to learn more!