Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are often available for outreach events on campus. They are limited on the number of outreach events that they can do after 5 pm. If you are interested in scheduling Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve for an event on campus, then please call the counseling center to check for availability. Drs. Nessie, Rooster, Eve, and their handlers require at least 2 weeks notice to schedule an outreach presentation.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, join Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve on Mondays at 8 am and Thursdays at 4 pm (after it cools down in the semester) for “Get Mov’in with Moose”…..a 3-mile walk around the Auburn campus. During the Fall semester, Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve will start the walks during the second week of classes. Spring semester walks start the first week of the semester. During Summer semesters, Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve will usually only be Mov’in on Mondays at 7 am. They start earlier to beat the summer heat.
You can find Drs. Nessie, Rooster, Eve, and a couple of their Student Counseling & Psychological Services handlers on the Haley Center concourse outside the Melton Student Center near the Aubie statue. Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve know that exercise positively affects mental health. When Dr.s Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are mov’in, they are there happiest, healthiest selves. In case of inclement weather, you can call SCPS directly or check out the SCPS Instagram to find out whether Get Mov’in will be happening.
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a form of therapy that incorporates a trained animal into the therapeutic process. Student Counseling & Psychological Services offers AAT with three trained dogs, Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve who have met the certification standards of Therapy Dogs International. Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are handled only by SCPS counselors who have completed the appropriate training. Participation in AAT may have many benefits, including improved motivation for treatment and improved social and emotional functioning.
How do I sign up to work with Drs. Nessie, Rooster, or Eve?
Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are available to join sessions for clients at Student Counseling & Psychological Services. If you are interested in having Nessie, Rooster, or Eve join your counseling session, discuss this with your counselor. Together, you and your counselor can decide if adding a therapy dog to your sessions would be beneficial. You will be asked to sign a release before you can have Nessie, Rooster, or Eve join your counseling sessions. Students under the age of 19 will have to get this release signed by a parent or guardian.
How often can Drs. Nessie, Rooster, or Eve be in sessions?
If you and your counselor determine that AAT would be beneficial, then the therapy dogs will be able to join your sessions as they are available. Appointments with Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are booked in advance, but if they aren’t feeling well or are otherwise unavailable, they may not be able to join your session.
Drs. Nessie, Rooster, and Eve are rarely off leash at either Student Counseling & Psychological Services locations and are kept out of common areas like the lobby. The therapy dogs sometimes spend time behind the front desk or in counselor’s offices, so please be aware you may see one of them as you check in or walk to your counselor’s office. If you have concerns about Drs. Nessie, Rooster, or Eve being at SCPS while you visit, then please let our front office staff or your counselor know, so we can make every effort to make your visit to Student Counseling & Psychological Services comfortable.
Questions or concerns about AAT with Drs. Nessie, Rooster, or Eve?
Contact Dr. Hankes at (334) 844-5123.