• Our Services

  • Rio – Registered Therapy Dog who works with Arolyn Burns LMFT, LPCC in CDM and on location

  • Rio is a Yorkshire Terrier registered with the National Alliance of Therapy Dogs where he volunteers at Schools, Hospitals and other public agencies. He also loves his profession as a therapy dog in private practice. He is a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and attended a year of training at Hollywood Paws Acting School. He loves to make people happy!

    Rio assists humans in getting in touch with their emotions and adds additional health benefits with his presence. It is a proven fact that petting a dog will lower your blood pressure and calm your heart rate. There are also studies that indicate petting a dog releases endorphins that can block pain. It is also a proven fact that Rio is a cuddle bug and loves being petted. Rio's therapeutic specialties include calming people who are angry, afraid, anxious or depressed.

    Outside of the therapeutic environment, Rio can be found shopping, doing tricks for treats, playing fetch with squeaky toys and taking his much loved naps.

    Birthday: February 13, 2006

    Nicknames: Bubba, Bug

    Favorite things: Chicken, Treats, Cuddles, being in fashion, posing for pictures, showing off his Acting Tricks

    Dislikes: Being left home alone, Not being allowed people food

    Trade Mark: Underbite so he is always smiling

    Motto: “Will work for treats"

  • AB 468: Changes to Definition of Support Dog

    Pursuant to this legislation, as of January 1, 2022, health care practitioners may not provide documentation in support of their patients’ need for emotional support dogs
    (“ESDs”) without satisfying the following criteria:
    1. The practitioner must possess a valid active license or associate registration;
      Note: The BBS interprets this provision to allow pre-licensees with valid, active associate registrations to provide ESD documentation so long as their supervisors review and approve the documentation.
    2. The practitioner must be licensed or registered to provide therapy services in the jurisdiction in which the documentation is provided (i.e. where the patient is located);
    3. The practitioner must:
          a) establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient at least 30 days prior to providing the ESD documentation; AND
          ​b) complete a clinical evaluation regarding the individual’s need for an ESD;
    4. The practitioner must notify the patient seeking ED documentation, verbally or in writing, that:
      •“[K]nowingly and fraudulently representing oneself to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed as, to be qualified as, or identified as, a guide, signal, or service dog is a misdemeanor violation of Section 365.7 of the Penal Code.”
    5. The practitioner must include their:
    • license/registration number;
    • effective date of licensure/registration;
    • jurisdiction of licensure/registration (e.g. California); and
    • license/registration type in the ESD documentation.
    • Note: Associates must also include their supervisors' information.