A school therapy dog here at American Academy Of Innovation will allow students to be able to have an animal to comfort them.  It will allow students to be able to calm down if they’re having an anxiety or panic attack. The weight from the therapy animal is a useful coping mechanism when having an attack. It allows them to be able to have an animal there to comfort them besides an adult. Sometimes students can't form words of what's happening or how they are feeling and a therapy dog can help them clear their mind and focus on the present. A school therapy dog can help people feel welcomed into the school and that they have an animal to hug if they need to. A therapy dog will allow people to feel like they have a place to go and that the therapy dog can cause no harm to them. The therapy dog is only their to comfort and help the students even in fact the teachers too with there stress, anxiety or if they are just having a rough start to the day. It has been shown that interacting with an animal can decrease cortisol levels (a stress related hormone) and it can lower blood pressure. It has also been shown that animals can help decrease levels of loneliness, it can make you feel like you have a purpose, it can help boost your mood, and it can increase feelings of social support. I just want people to know in general and especially people who attend American Academy Of Innovation that they’re not alone. That their feelings are valid and that we can get through this together! And it is okay to ask for help. It doesn’t make you weak in fact it shows you how strong you are. Let’s work together and be open about our struggles, it is nothing to be ashamed about :)