Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW is an award winning therapist, author, and mental health professional who has long been interested in the human animal bond. As a past trainer and evaluator for the Delta Society, Susan has spent many years witnessing the profound effects of animal/human interaction. She has studied the role of the animal companion as a major support to mental health, wellness and connection to spirituality for many years. She is the mental health consultant to the Oradell CARES team, which provides hospice services to animals and their families wishing to remain at home during the end of terminal illness.
She and her canine Dickens, piloted Animal Assisted Therapy programs in the psychiatric units of three Bergen County Hospitals where they continue today. She was the author of a column on pet bereavement for the Animal Companion Magazine and today facilitates the longest running animal companion loss support group in northern New Jersey at Oradell Animal Hospital. She started the group following the death of her adored companion and therapy champion Dickens. She is also available for individual sessions at her practice in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and can be reached at susanstonelcsw@aol.com
Stone and Dickens were the recipient of a President's Service Award from New York University (where she received her MSW) for community volunteerism. It was an historic ocassion because it was the first time an animal had been included in this honor. Susan continues to teach graduate students at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University and presents seminars for Rutgers University, the National Association of Social Workers, and other professional educational conferences nationwide.
In her capacity as a mental health expert Susan has appeared in the media on national TV, print and radio. She is a public reviewer for the National Institute of Mental Health, and is the recipient of numerous local, state and national awards. Recent 2009 awards include The Mental Health Association Golden Bell Award, The Logan Leadership Award, and the Hudson Perinatal Consortium Community Partner Award. Awards for her work in Animal Assisted Therapy came from national and local organizations such as The Delta Society, the NJ Medical Veterinary Hall of Fame and NJ community based organizations.
Stone has formed and facilitated psychotherapy programs for a variety of mental health conditions and brings this expertise to the pet loss support group at Oradell. She also presents compassion fatigue seminars to veterinary practices. She is a board member of Angels on a Leash, a national program seeking to widen the introduction of animal assisted therapy teams in institutional settings led by David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club.
