Joan Esnayra

Joan Esnayra, Ph.D.

Joan Esnayra, Ph.D. is President and Founder of the Psychiatric Service Dog Society, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that assists persons living with mental illness in how to train their own Psychiatric Service Dog for the purpose of symptom management.  Dr. Esnayra's pioneering work in this emerging field has been recognized by numerous federal agencies and private groups throughout the country.  She is a scientist by training, and her research group was recently awarded a research grant by the U.S. Army to test the Psychiatric Service Dog therapeutic model in the context of a pilot study that will be conducted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and include soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  She has much experience working with veterans and others living with PTSD.   She asserts that a well trained Service Dog can be extremely helpful with the management of PTSD symptoms. 

 

Psychiatric Service Dog Society