What is the purpose of an Expeditionary Facility Dog?

• Improvement in emotional regulation.

• Decreased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms through participation in a goal-directed, purposeful, and meaningful social activity.

• Building social and relationship skills through engagement and participation in social activities.

• Facilitate social interaction, emotional interaction, and stress reduction through tasks the Expeditionary Facility Dog has been taught to perform.

• Relaxing patients' hyper-vigilant states with the presence of a non-judgmental animal.

• Provide HABs as a means of mitigating combat- and operational-related stressors.

• Enable the Mental Health Professional to facilitate conversations with Sailors and Marines.

• Assist in stress relief through tactile, auditory, and visual components of stimulation.

• Serve as a catalyst to social interaction and a bridge to interpersonal communication.

• Breaking down the stigma of speaking to a Mental Health Professional.