Lauren came to Soul Friends in 2019 as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Lauren set a career goal of working in animal assisted therapy while completing her undergraduate degree in psychology. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2016. Lauren has primarily worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings including residential, in-home, outpatient and school. Lauren just completed the certification process with her rescue dog Fiona in November 2019.
Christie joined Soul Friends as a per diem clinician in 2020, providing play therapy and family therapy in the Waterbury location and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Meriden. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) as well as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Christie received her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University in 2015 and then went on to receive her Play Therapy Credential by obtaining specialized education (WCSU), training, and supervised experience in utilizing play as a medium to support kids in uncovering and working through various mental health challenges. Christie believes that traditional talk therapy can be challenging for many children and has found play to be a more natural form of communication with undeniable therapeutic strengths. Christie enjoys working together collaboratively with the family system in an effort to support family members in creating sustainable change and increasing functional patterns of interaction. She has experience working in Extended Day Treatment (EDT) programs where she provided group, individual, and family therapy to children experiencing significant emotional and behavioral concerns. She rescued her playful puppy, Ziva, in 2020 and hopes to have her become a registered therapy dog.
Alissa Wurtzel,a licensed clinical social worker , is a graduate of UCONN School of Social Work Alissa has been a clinician at Soul Friends for over 10 years bringing children and families her expertise in trauma-informed work and EMDR. She has partnered with two of her therapy dogs and has specialized training in Gestalt therapy in equine facial items psychotherapy
Kate brings to Soul Friends more than 30 years of clinical experience working with families coping with grief, trauma and illness. Kate earned her MSW from Smith College and her BSW from Elms College; as well, she completed a graduate certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy and Education from DePaul University. Kate’s extensive mental health experience includes work with inpatient medical and psychiatric hospitals, children’s clinic, private practice, homecare agencies and hospice. She has presented across the country on the power of body-centered psychotherapy and animal assisted interventions for children. She has specialized in working with children with severe trauma and grief – and has partnered with community agencies and the state in adding the comfort of an animal partner to specific treatment plans. Over the past 16 years, Kate has created five group curriculum based programs for children that has consistently demonstrated through outcome measures and research positive benefits for children including : increased eye contact for children with autism and ADHD; increased hopefulness for children living with trauma and improved peer relationships for teens.
As the principal investigator of a year long humane education study, Kate and her partners demonstrated the benefits of adding therapy animals in a classroom setting in a published journal article in Society and Animals. Kate is the author of Soul Friends: Finding Healing with Animals and A Therapy Dog at Work and Play; Teaching Children about Body Clues. Kate is a member of EAGALA, and a certified Level 2 Practitioner. In the year 2008-2009, she was selected to be a Annie E. Casey Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Foundation to assist in her vision to bring Soul Friends, Inc to all the children in need of Connecticut.
Jodi first came to Soul Friends as a student intern. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2002 with a major is Psychology and Sociology. She graduated from UCONN in 2007 with her MSW. Jodi is the Director of a Therapeutic Foster Care Agency and also oversees their PPSP program. Her specializations include; child welfare, divorce, trauma early in life and autism. Jodi has a love of animals and rescued her first dog a few years ago. Jodi works for Soul Friends part time and oversees of Come, Follow Me! Program.
Stephanie Harris is a psychotherapist and addiction specialist. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). She is training her English yellow Labrador to be a Canine Good Citizen. She is also training to work with equine assisted interventions.
Stephanie is certified as a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Counselor and she has worked extensively with individuals who have experienced trauma. In addition to working with individuals with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Stephanie has experience with treating individuals who have cooccurring disorders like anxiety and depression, as well as those who struggle with loss and spirituality. Stephanie has experience working with individuals who are involved with the legal system and the Department of Children and Families.
Lori Ratchelous LMSW came to Soul Friends in 2013. Lori earned her MSW from UCONN School of Social Work in 2000 with a focus on group work and will have completed a Nonprofit Management certification through UCONN in May 2019. Lori also completed a certification in animal assisted therapy through Harcum College in the fall of 2013. In August 2013 Lori was gifted a therapy dog, Nutmeg, from Freedom Service Dogs in Denver, CO to work with families in Newtown after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Nutmeg would also begin her working career at Soul Friends. Though Nutmeg was an already trained therapy dog, Lori and Nutmeg went through the process to become a Pet Partners therapy team.
Lori and Nutmeg have received specialized training as K9 First Responder which assists victims of disaster, catastrophe, crisis and violence team. We serve communities and individuals as well as police, fire, EMS and other public safety personnel.
Sully Rodriguez is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker fluent in Spanish. Sully earned her Masters in Social Work in 2015 with a focus on case work from the University of Connecticut School of School of Social Work. Sully has worked with children, adolescents and families who have experienced trauma, reunification work with families involved in DCF, and working with children and families within the school setting.
