Prairie is a licensed mental health therapist who utilizes animal assisted interventions in all walks of her mental health practice. She has a master’s degree in professional counseling and a postgraduate degree in military behavioral health counseling. She is certified as an equine assisted psychotherapist and has presented at national conferences on her techniques for providing equine therapy for military members and their families, with special emphasis on transitioning from the military back to civilian life. She consults for several non-profits for veteran and first responder trauma work to include the Lone Survivor Foundation and Horses that Heal. Prairie is a passionate supporter of emotional support animals as a means of finding hope and healing. She is the Clinical Director of Therapetic and consults for CertaPet, one of the largest emotional support animal companies in the nation. Prairie was recently featured on Military Makeover and in The Guardian documentary Creature Comforts for her work as the founder and developer of Emotional Support Animal Assisted Therapy (ESAAT) to further enhance the effectiveness of emotional support animals, and has developed techniques to decrease anxiety and panic attacks, depressive symptoms, and sleep difficulty.
Love, Sex and TBI Beyond the Chocolates
Valentine’s Day is around the corner .. A commercial holiday retail wouldn’t let you miss, right? For some it’s a day to celebrate that special someone in their life. For others, it shines a spotlight on the lack of a loving partner. I would contend that “Love” should be celebrated every day, not just on Feb 14th. Whether you are part of a “couple” of not .. You can still have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Kim and Caren will be discussing the changes in love, sex, relationships, and our sense of self after suffering a brain injury. The dangers that can enter the new aspects of the relationship, and the simple joys we can be empwered to create on our own, or with someone.
Survivor on Board! BAF Hears Our Call
Tom Tinlin is an Associate Principal at Howard Stein Hudson, a Boston based transportation consulting firm. Tom previously had an almost 30 year public sector career serving at the highest levels of the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Tom serves as a Director of the City of Boston Credit Union, Zoo New England, and the Children’s Trust. On April 30, 2017 Tom suffered a ruptured Brain Aneurysm. It was during his recovery that he learned about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, and credits the foundation with providing valuable information and support to him and his family. Tom is also one of the 15% of patients who have more than one aneurysm. He has a second unruptured aneurysm that is closely monitored. Since obtaining this knowledge Tom and his family have dedicated themselves to doing what they can to help raise money and awareness for the cause as an active volunteer and fundraiser for the foundation. Recently Tom has been named the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s (BAF) Chairman of the Board. Tinlin will help to support BAF’s mission and continue its work as the globally recognized leader in brain aneurysm awareness, education, support, advocacy and research funding.