Kingston’s J & K Mental Health is welcoming a new four-legged team member. Faith, a two-year-old facility dog, will work alongside therapists to support clients during mental health treatment.
Fire Team K9 is a registered Canadian charity under Wounded Warriors Canada and provides service and facility dogs to veterans and first responders. They introduced Faith at an Oct. 23 event that invited the public to meet her and learn about her abilities.
Claire Lachance, a registered psychotherapist at J & K Mental Health, is Faith’s primary handler and the first psychotherapist in Kingston to work as a facility dog handler.
Lachance said Faith not only helps patients but also reminds her handlers about boundaries and self-care.
“She’s a really good reminder of taking care of yourself,” said Lachance.
Lachance described times when Faith recognized that Lachance was overstimulated or working too much and nudged her to take a break.
The inspiration behind bringing Faith to J & K began when Lachance’s family fostered a Fire Team K9 dog.
“We fostered Polly for eight months, and then she went on to be placed with a veteran, which was just so inspiring to see the work that they do and how they can enrich someone’s life,” said Lachance.
After finishing her education, Lachance reached out to FTK9 to explore integration of the facility dog program at J & K.
Faith is trained to detect cortisol and adrenaline levels by sniffing behind a patient’s ears, as well as physical comforts like hugging or covering a patient. She differs from a service dog because she is trained to work with multiple people, not just one.
“It’s something you really need to witness in a lot of ways and experience to understand the gravity of what they can do,” said Lachance.
“It is such a privilege and an honour to work with these dogs.”
Faith’s introduction marks the addition of a facility dog to Kingston’s mental health services, where she will work alongside therapists during client sessions.
Dr. Kulsoom Malik, founder and clinical director of J & K Mental Health Clinic, attended the launch and spoke further about Faith’s skills, saying she essentially acts as a translator, helping a therapist understand a patient’s feelings.
“When someone can’t tell you that ‘I’m anxious’ and they maybe are really good at hiding it, Faith will know,” said Dr. Malik.
According to Dr. Malik, Faith is the only facility dog in the area whose handlers are therapists. Dr. Malik spoke to attendees about the unique experience of introducing a facility dog to Kingston.
“I am overwhelmed and overjoyed to be able to actually introduce this today, because I think we are going to transform Kingston and do something really amazing,” said Dr. Malik.
Throughout the FTK9 event, attendees could interact with the dogs and their trainers. Kat Forder, manager of the Facility Dog Program, helps train the dogs and spoke about her bond with them.
“These dogs bring relief, hope, and connection,” said Forder.
Forder continued, explaining that facility dogs are equipped to handle emotional trauma and stress, and shared examples of how they’ve supported veterans and first responders.
“Each facility dog placement helps us reach more and more people, and ultimately, that’s what this has always been about.”
Faith and her handlers have completed training, and she is now assisting J & K in therapy sessions and out in the community.
