Unleashing Healing: The Impact of Canine-Assisted Intervention in OCD Treatment

By engaging with patients, Kobe helps them achieve an identified treatment goal and strengthen their skills in assertiveness, self-confidence, motivation, self-care, and overcoming contamination-related challenges.

“I think of what the patient is working on, and which activity can help promote certain thoughts and feelings,” says Mariah Skindingsrude, experiential therapist, and Kobe’s primary handler. “Kobe provides non-judgmental support. I often see people leaving their comfort zone, building trust, and being more willing to open up and talk about difficult things.”

How it works

Patient care teams meet regularly to review treatment plans and discuss whether anyone might benefit from CAI sessions with Kobe. If deemed appropriate, an order is written, and specific treatment goals are defined. Upon the patient’s agreement and depending on Kobe’s availability, sessions are scheduled three times a week.

Before each CAI session, patients rate their anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm urges, confidence, hope, and motivation for treatment using a seven-point scale. Additionally, they describe how they feel physically and emotionally. Following each session, they complete the same evaluation, while Mariah documents whether they achieved their goal and, if not, any challenges that prevented progress.

The clinical team partnered with Rogers Research Center and IT departments to create an objective session documentation in the electronic medical record with the goal of gathering data to evaluate CAI’s impact.

“We’re working to make this program more data-driven so we can better understand which patients benefit from it and how much,” says Dr. Kelly Piacsek, PhD, executive vice president of Research at Rogers.

Canine Assisted Intervention activities

Activities with Kobe can include, but are not limited to:

Exposures: Kobe carefully assists with exposing the patient to an object, activity, or situation that the patient has identified as evoking fear or avoidance. Over time, repeated exposures in a safe, secure environment help the patient reduce fear and decrease avoidance from the object, activity, or situation.

Puppy Painting: The patient is given a challenge that is reflective of their treatment and can be done on paper (identify 10 strengths or gratitude items, write out your values, etc.). Paint is applied to the back of the paper and the paper is then placed in a clear zip lock bag. The bag is sealed shut, and a treat is placed on the outside of the bag. When Kobe licks the treat off the bag, it smears the paint inside. The result is a “Kobe original painting” for the patient to keep, which also serves as a physical reminder of the items they wrote on the paper.

Walkabout: While on a walk with Kobe, the patient is encouraged to say hello to people passing by. If someone stops, the patient is responsible for answering questions about Kobe or holding a conversation.

Trick Training: The patient teaches Kobe a trick. During this process, it brings up discussions about the difficulty in learning new things, personal rewards, distractions, motivation changes, assertiveness practice, self-compassion, communication styles in general, dealing with uncertainty, and willfulness.

Mindfulness Activities: Activities include mindfulness walks on campus or utilizing the labyrinth to focus on grounding technics or mindfulness tools. Kobe participates in Progressive Muscle Relaxation “PMR” by laying on the floor with the patient as they engage. By placing a hand on him, it can be a simple reminder to remember to breathe through the exercise.

Doga: The patient does yoga with Kobe present, then reflects on healthy leisure, behavioral activation, mindfulness, self-care, motivational interviewing, expectations (did they expect Kobe to do the poses with them), and flexibility (pending patient).

Journaling: Kobe lays down next to people while they journal. Sometimes, the patient is instructed to journal via Kobe’s perspective. For example, “Journal about when Kobe had to leave his home in Michigan and become a Rogers’ employee!” It’s then used to discuss connections to patient treatment, encourage vulnerability, honesty with self, validate emotions, etc.

Dog Bowling: Bowling pins are set up with each pin representing a barrier, challenge, or something the patient doesn’t want. The patient then throws a tennis ball towards pins. Kobe runs after the ball but typically avoids knocking pins over. This promotes discussions on fear, how skills work best, asking for help, and so on.

Self-Care Lists: The patient writes a list of things they would do for Kobe to give him the best possible care, and then they make their own list. The patient identifies problem areas and how to improve them. Kobe helps by engaging in a task. For example, “I don’t like doing my laundry.” Kobe helps pick up the laundry and put it in the basket to wash or the patient creates “Kobe coping cards” to support in each situation.

“He’s been integral in our program,” says Sharon Hirsch, MD, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist at Rogers in Oconomowoc. “Giving Kobe commands builds confidence. We watch people regain the ability to function again, which is just so exciting.”