My name is Dr. Mark Swaim, and for two decades, my passion and drive to help children with mental, emotional, and cognitive disabilities drove me to become a child psychologist. So many children around the country are struggling in developing and thriving. A stimulus or a toxic environment constantly bombard them, or perhaps they were born with disabilities that make it challenging for them to grow and thrive the way other children do. I’ve seen first hand how these issues and limitations frustrate and affect a child’s growth, potentially robbing them of the ability to enjoy life and the world around them.

I’ve had many parents ask, “Dr. Mark Swaim, what other options beyond medication and therapy can we do?” There are still many parents who hesitate in fully medicating their children, or are concerned that therapy won’t have a real effect, especially with issues such as autism, which make it difficult for a child to focus. What I’ve discovered is that children respond amazingly well to the company of emotional support animals or therapy animals. They can traverse the world around them with a companion and a friend they trust, allowing them to grow and thrive in ways they couldn’t before.