About PTDC

Carri earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Webster University in Albuquerque, NM in 1998. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado. She earned a Certificate in Animals and Human Health: Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning from Denver University’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) in 2007, and is an adjunct professor in GSSW's Animal-Assisted Social Work certificate. She has almost 25 years of clinical experience working within the systems of child protection/welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and the public-school system. In her work, she has utilized the strength of the human-animal bond while working with a variety of people in a variety of settings. She has extensive experience working in the community with high-risk youth and their families. Carri is trained and utilizes evidenced based practices to include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Carri is also trained in the Anicare-child treatment model that addresses the assessment and treatment of animal abuse. She currently runs her own counseling private practice, Animal Assisted Counseling of Colorado. She is the proud mother to three canines (Hope, Ranger, and Noah), three guinea pigs (Kiera, Nugget, and Snickers), five rats (Edison, Einstein, Acorn, Forrest, and Waffles), and therapy cat (Smokey Bear). 

Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell University in 2009 and Masters of Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2015. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Colorado and is currently taking courses to become a Certified Animal Assisted Psychotherapist with Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado. Amanda has been working as a therapist with Animal Assisted Counseling of Colorado since September 2019. Amanda has been an animal lover her entire life and is currently a proud momma of two cats (Maggie and Remi), three dogs (Loki, Dakota, and Puma), nine chickens (Fluff Nugget, Cocoa Puff, Lemon Drop, Dumpling, Waffles, Big Momma, Spunky, and Skunky), and bunny (Obi Bun Kenobi). Loki and Dakota are working towards certification as furry co-therapists with Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado. Obi Bun Kenobi spends the week at AACC with his new best friend, Snickers the guinea pig. Amanda has also been a beekeeper for three and a half years and maintains a colony of honey bees in her backyard. She is on the Board of a local non-profit, Daisy Chain Sanctuary, whose mission is to promote the overall well-being of horses, people, and the earth through harmonious land stewardship and education in equine husbandry and regenerative practices. 

    Tessa is a graduate of Karen Pryor Academy’s Dog Trainer Professional Program and a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She is dedicated to the use of reward-based training when working with her canine clients and believes that positive reinforcement methods can help strengthen the human-canine bond by allowing us to better understand our dogs’ needs and how they communicate, to teach our dogs more effectively and efficiently, and to create a learning environment that is fun and engaging for all involved. Tessa works with PTDC clients through her private dog training business, Canine Connections, to help them prepare their dogs for the PTDC test and for working life as a therapy dog. You can learn more about Tessa and her services on her website. In addition to working with her Canine Connections clients, Tessa is a trainer at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in their “Puppy Club” program. Tessa shares her home with her lovable rescue dog (and best friend), Bindi.