Alumni Profile - Jonell Chudyk
Jonell Chudyk, '10
My experience at State University of New York at Fredonia (2010) propelled me into the most rewarding career I could have imagined! As a Psychology major, my goal was to become a mental health clinician. I was interested in animal assisted therapy, but at the time there wasn't a clear path or many academic opportunities to explore that field of study. Then I met Dr. Gee, and my life forever changed! I joined her canine assisted interventions research team and completed an independent study that focused on memory task performance of pre school children in the presence of a therapy dog. I was also given the opportunity to present our (now published) research in many different academic environments across the East Coast. State University of New York at Fredonia's psychology department has a level of research opportunity, mentorship and academic standard that is unparalleled.
After my incredibly supportive experience at Fredonia, I received my Masters of Social Work and certification in Animal Assisted Social Work at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. After graduation I was employed by a pioneer animal assisted counseling agency in Colorado. I have since operated a private practice, providing equine assisted psychotherapy, animal assisted therapy as well as traditional forms of talk therapy. My co-therapists are my registered therapy dog Harper, therapy horses Honey, Luca and Peggy as well as Tom Hanks the guinea pig! I primarily provide therapy to children and their families within the child welfare system as well as veterans. My work has allowed me to travel and speak at many different institutions about the therapeutic benefits of the human-animal bond. I recently opened a small therapeutic farm in Western NY and hope to bring EAP and AAT to the area!
I could not be more grateful for the foundation I received at State University of New York at Fredonia. All of my professors genuinely wanted their students to succeed, and I still remain in touch with many of them! I am forever grateful!