Patricia Ciampi

Ciampi’s creative teaching project, “Assistance Dog,” involves getting a well-trained assistance dog (bred, raised and trained through the National Education for Assistance Dog Services – NEADS) to work closely with students facing a range of social, emotional and behavioral challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma and difficulty with self-regulation. She believes an assistance dog will enhance the supportive, trauma-informed environment in her counseling space. According to Ciampi, a well-trained assistance dog can help reduce stress, promote emotional regulation and strengthen rapport with students who may be hesitant to engage in counseling. The dog would serve as a calming, nonjudgmental presence, supporting students during individual sessions, small groups and moments of crisis. By thoughtfully and ethically integrating an assistance dog into her adjustment counselor space, she aims to increase student comfort, engagement and access to meaningful mental health support within the school setting. Ciampi will use the Voya grant to go towards the NEADS in Breed organization that will raise and train a service dog and eventually match her with one.