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081 Annual Report 2.019
MEETJORDYN
A, ima s cm pro»ide of se, se of calm comfort 01· safety. De»etopi, g a bond w ·t, a dog a,
f etp witf setf-wo1·tfi 1 trn.st and e,notion.s.
Jordyn ts a certified therapy dog. She and her handler, Kimberly Hirano, Director of
Access and Spectalt}r Services at the Agency, joined our staff in October 2018. Since
then, Jordyn has helped many of our children tn therapy se sions who struggle to
share their feelings.
Petting an animal ts believed to cause the release of endorphin (feel-good
neurotransmitters) which can have an e.'"tremely positive impact on clients dealtng
with problems like depression and addiction. By focu ing on the animal and its needs,
the client's attention ts drawn away from their O'Nn problem . Patients al o have an
opportunity to develop their nurturing skills and are encouraged to develop a sense of
empathy wtth the animal involved .
