Jason & "Dog-tor" Gary
Jason holds a Master of Education degree focused on Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lindsey Wilson University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago.
Prior to his clinical career, Jason started as a police officer in 2007 in northern Illinois before moving to southern Illinois. His career includes time as a correctional officer, municipal police officer, and deputy sheriff.
"Jason believes that talking about, and through, issues is vital to understanding that it is okay to not be okay, but it is not okay to stay that way."
The K-9 Unit Legacy
In 2021, Jason founded his department’s fully self-funded Therapy K-9 Unit alongside Paw-fficer Gary.
- Gary attained "Therapy Dog Supreme" (AKC) with 600+ visits.
- Now retired from full-time police work, "Dog-tor Gary" continues his work in mental health.
Experience
- • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (~2 yrs)
- • Hostage Negotiator/Lead (2 yrs)
- • Police Officer (16+ yrs total)
- • Therapy K-9 Handler (4.5 yrs)
Certifications
- • LPC (IL 2024)
- • RMHCI (FL 2024)
- • Trauma Focused CBT
- • Crisis Intervention Team
Specialized Training
Services Offered
Specialized care for First Responders, Frontline Workers, and their families.
Counseling Sessions
Comprehensive support including Individual, Group, Family, and Couples counseling sessions tailored to the unique lifestyle of service families.
Trauma Processing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy to help process traumatic memories and reduce lingering stress responses.
Critical Incident Stress Mgmt
Debriefings (CISD) and Crisis Management for agencies or establishments dealing with recent traumatic incidents.
Resilience Training
Managing job-related stress, preventing burnout, coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and CBT techniques.
Presentations & Education
Customized presentations on mental health topics specifically for first responders and frontline workers. See below for past topics.
Presentations & Talks
How Many Strikes Until You Are Out?
US Penitentiary Marion, IL 2023; Weathering the Storm Conference ’24, ’25
A first-hand account of challenges with mental health, from the call that changed my life to how I have persevered through it.
Are we really that different from those that call upon us?
EMS Substance Misuse and Mental Health Awareness Conference ’25
Focused on the mental health epidemic in EMS and ways the population can self-check, self-care, and self-report.
Implementation and Utilization of a K-9 Unit
US Penitentiary Marion, IL
How the therapy K-9 unit began, fundraising strategies, and maintaining a self-funded unit within the department.
Your Thoughts Matter
Marion Unit 2 schools ’23-’25 (Created by Ohio State University)
Multi-part curriculum taught to 7th grade students focusing on the values of mental health and communication.
Crisis Response Instruction
Department of Veterans Affairs
Instruction to VA Officers on response to crisis calls with mentally disturbed individuals from an officer standpoint.
Target Clientele
- Those who have experienced trauma, focusing on First Responders, Frontline Workers, and their families.
- Open to anyone with trauma (preferably over 16 years of age).
- First Responder agencies looking to utilize Critical Incident Stress Debriefings to help maintain employee wellness.
- Corporate/Educational establishments looking to incorporate CISD (e.g., hospitals, schools).
Community Engagement
Jason and Gary have a history of deep community involvement and creative self-funding, including:
Ready to start the conversation?
Whether you are an individual first responder, a family member, or an agency leader, reach out today to discuss how we can move forward together.