This semester, the team of doctors and counselors at Brown Counseling and Psychological Services has been joined by a new four-legged staff member — a six-year-old soft-coated wheaten terrier named Willow.
During “Paws with Willow” sessions from 3 to 4 p.m. on Fridays, students can attend a 10-minute small-group visit with Willow. To register for a spot, students can call CAPS or visit the CAPS window at the Student Health and Wellness Center during the hour.
In each session, Willow roams freely and plays with students. She sometimes whines for tasty cheese snacks or frolics through her multicolored tunnel.
Despite all the playing, Willow is hard at work practicing her skills as a credentialed therapy dog. She works alongside Michele Zager, a psychotherapist at CAPS, who is also Willow’s owner. The dog joined Zager's family at ten weeks old in November 2019.
“Willow has a gentle personality and she is most excited whenever she can meet and spend time with people,” Zager wrote in an email to The Herald. “For this reason, it seemed natural to explore whether Willow would enjoy interacting in the capacity of a therapy dog.”
The two became officially credentialed as a pet-assisted therapy team in July 2024 through the Windwalker Humane Coalition for Professional Pet Assisted Therapy. Willow and Zager took three courses to earn their credentials, Zager wrote.
Willow has to pass "temperament screening test” while Zager completed a semester-long class about “history, research, ethics and guidelines around the human-animal partnership and providing professional pet-assisted therapy,” Zager wrote.
In course two, the pair developed training skills together through patient interactions at Elmhurst Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Accompanied by instructors, they were tested on their performance and skill development.
The third course was “experiential” and involved accruing practice hours, receiving mentorship and “designing a pet-assisted therapy option that was not previously in place,” according to Zager.
Once the two became credentialed, Zager approached CAPS to see if “pet-assisted therapy” and “animal-assisted interventions” could be brought to the Brown community, Zager wrote.
Citing research conducted with university student populations, Zager explained that pet-assisted therapy programs can benefit students by helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. The dogs can also help act as a “social lubricant” — a way to break the ice between peers, allowing students to connect with each other more easily.
For students missing their pets or animal companions from home, Willow can also provide a sense of temporary comfort.
“The human-animal bond, even limited contact with a therapy dog, is a means for connection with a non-threatening, nonjudgmental, spontaneous being,” wrote Zager.
“Students are welcome to sign up week after week and it has been positive to see some students return,” Zager wrote.
Lillian Castrillon ’27 heard about Paws with Willow, and decided to attend because she missed her dog at home. “Spending time with a dog always helps you feel better,“ she said. “I feel like it makes me feel better, like, chemically.”
Chloe Jazzy Lau ’27 ran into Castrillon outside Wellness and decided to join for the session.
“I didn't know this event was happening, but I'm so glad I'm here,” Lau said. “It honestly brightened my day,” she said.
Lucia Santiago is a senior staff writer covering undergraduate student life.
