Animal Assisted Therapy in North West Indiana
Mental Health Counseling with the support of a therapy animal
Discover Animal Assisted Counseling
At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, we provide compassionate, personalized mental health services for adults, teens, children, and families—because everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. We understand that reaching out for help can be hard, especially when you’re carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, trauma, or life’s daily stressors. That’s why we offer a unique, heart-centered approach to healing, through the gentle, grounding presence of a therapy dog. Our canine partners help create a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can open up more easily, feel emotionally safe, and begin to build trust, often when words alone aren’t enough. Whether it’s a child learning to manage big feelings, a teen navigating self-worth, or an adult working through long-held pain, animal-assisted therapy offers comfort, connection, and a path toward emotional balance. When you’re ready, we’re here to walk alongside you— change is possible with compassion, care, and a therapy dog by your side.
- Dr.Juliann Steinbeigle
Our Services
Adult Therapy
Teen Therapy
Family Therapy
How is it Different From Traditional Therapy?
Meet our dynamic duos: Therapist & Canine Partner
Dr. Julie & Sadie
Mental health therapist in North West Indiana treats patients with anxiety and depression in partnership with a canine co- therapist. Dr. Julie is an experienced licensed mental health clinical therapist. She has helped thousands of patients overcome depression and anxiety by exploring root causes. Dr. Julie’s goal is to help others find strength and well-being with the assistance of her canine therapy partner, Sadie.
Meet Sadie Quinn, a St. Bernard born in Cabool, MO on Aug 19, 2017. She works as a canine therapy partner and passed her first obedience training in May 2018. Sadie loves greeting clients and may lean into you or lay her head on your lap to provide support and comfort. Research has shown that her presence in therapy sessions can help people overcome depression and anxiety.
Kimberly, LMHC, LCAC & Darling
Kimberly has been working in Mental Health and Addiction since 2019. She has experience in different settings like inpatient residential, intensive outpatient, group psychotherapy, and outpatient individual therapy. Kimberly is licensed as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Addiction Counselor in Indiana. She also holds certifications with the National Board of Certified Counselors, ICCADA, and NADDAC. Kimberly helps clients identify their strengths and resilience in their mental health journey.
Darling Louise is a 7-year-old mixed breed adopted from the Humane Society of Chicago. She loves people and is friendly and affectionate. She completed AKC, and CGC trainings and enjoys greeting people with a wagging tail and a smile. She may lay next to you, or ask you for head or belly scratches to welcome you.
- Kimberly, LMHC, LCAC
We specialize in Anxiety, Depression and Addiction
Our animal-assisted counseling sessions are conducted by licensed therapists trained in CCAAC. Therapists work with a canine co-therapist, carefully matched to patients’ preferences and needs.
Dr. Julie Steinbeigle, a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience, treats anxiety and depression patients. She has helped thousands uncover the root causes of their issues. Her mission is to aid others in finding personal strength and well-being, in collaboration with her therapy dog, Sadie.
Kimberly, a licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addiction Counselor, has been in the field since 2019. She brings experience from various therapeutic settings to AACI. Her approach focuses on identifying client’s strengths and resilience in their mental health journey.
Meet Sadie Our Canine Co-Therapist
Meet Margo, Our Practice Manager
Margo is the practice manager for AACI, responsible for appointment scheduling, billing, and counseling process inquiries. She works remotely and has experience in guiding clients through treatment services and offers caring support. Margo is available for any questions or concerns through text, email or phone. She is also a proud pet owner of two bulldogs named Seymour and Audrey.
