Canine Program
Canine Program
Anyone who loves dogs knows that spending time with them can boost feel-good hormones and lower stress. And yet, while dogs may naturally bring comfort to people, structured Canine Assisted Intervention (CAI) programs—like the one Rogers has started—are still rare.
What is CAI?
Unlike casual pet visits, CAI is a goal-based program a trained facility dog works with therapists to help individuals improve their mental health. At Rogers, CAI is being introduced in certain residential programs for teens and adults with OCD, anxiety, and depression to support their treatment and help them reach specific goals.
“It wasn’t just pet therapy, where you sit there and pet the dog, and then they leave and you go, ‘Oh, I feel less depressed,’ says Ian, a former patient at Rogers in Oconomowoc.
“It’s more interactive.”
Meet Kobe.
Kobe is our first four-legged team member. He has an important role as an Experiential Therapy Assistant, helping people on their journey to mental health recovery.
This friendly lab/golden retriever mix joined us in March of 2023 from Paws with a Cause, a special training center in Michigan.
Kobe is a facility dog, which means he’s trained to support many people—not just one. He works with a handler to provide comfort, motivation, social connection, and a sense of safety to those in treatment.
That’s right! “Kobe flunked out of service dog training because he didn’t connect to one person – he connected to all people. He wanted to help everybody,” says Mariah, Kobe’s primary handler.
“And that’s how he became the facility dog he is today.”
How it works.
Patient care teams identify individuals who may benefit from CAI sessions with Kobe. If appropriate, a treatment order is written with clear goals, and sessions are scheduled—typically three times a week—based on Kobe’s availability and patient consent.
Before each CAI session, patients rate their anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm urges, confidence, hope, and motivation for treatment using a seven-point scale. Additionally, they describe how they feel physically and emotionally. Following each session, they complete the same evaluation, while Mariah documents whether they achieved their goal and, if not, any challenges that prevented progress.
In partnership with Rogers Research Center and IT, session data is entered into the electronic medical record to evaluate CAI’s impact.
How it helps
Canine companions are more than just comforting presences—they’re therapeutic partners. Here’s how they help:
Rogers is deeply grateful to Steve and Rhonda Murphy—and over 100 generous donors—for helping launch the Canine-Assisted Intervention program in memory of their dog, Cross. With his gentle nature and loving spirit, Cross showed how a dog’s presence can ease the journey of recovery. His legacy now lives on through Kobe.
Kobe’s healing journey has just begun—and it’s powered by you. Thanks to donors to our Paws Against Pain initiative, his care and comfort are fully supported.
He’s more than a dog—he’s hope in motion. Will you help keep it going?
Designate your gift to Canine Assisted Intervention.
Cross, a caring canine who touched many lives at Rogers Behavioral Health inspired the program. Special thanks to Steve and Rhonda Murphy for their dedication and support.”
Learn more about mental health and addiction challenges and the work of Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation on our YouTube channel.
© 2023 Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation. All rights reserved.
