Local clinician celebrates 25 years

MONTROSE  —  Susan Danner sees about six to eight children a day as a senior clinician at Midwestern Colorado Mental Health Center in Montrose. But for more than a decade, there’s always been another by her side, helping comfort her patients — a dog.

“You come to the door and get met by a dog; it’s not scary anymore,” Danner said.

Children from all different types of situations walk through Danner’s door. She sees children who are struggling with their parent’s divorce, who have been in foster care, others have anxiety or depression issues and others have been abused or have genetic problems.

But over the years, she’s not met one child that hasn’t warmed up to her furry companion.

Danner came to Montrose in 1982. She moved from Gunnison where she had attended Western State College and worked 10 years for campus ministry. Since her move, she has worked for the center providing mental health services to Montrose and the surrounding areas.

About eight years into her career at the center, Danner was struggling to reach one of her clients.

“I had a boy I was seeing that wasn’t responding to therapy,” she said. The little boy really wanted a dog, but couldn’t because of his situation. Danner agreed he could meet her dog, a collie named Megan.

“All of a sudden he was a whole different kid in therapy,” she said.

Megan visited the office a few times after, but it wasn’t until three years after she got Dobie, a golden retriever, that Danner had a full-time, four-legged co-worker.

Dobie passed both obedience tests from American Kennel Club and Delta Society, and was at the office as much as Danner.

Dobie sat in on therapy sessions and followed Danner to local schools.

Danner said she remembers one time while talking to the secretary at Olathe Elementary, several female students ran up to pet the dog, but one girl was frightened and stayed away. While being petted, Dobie didn’t take her eyes off the little girl, Danner said. Dobie stood there wagging her tail and taking a few steps closer to the girl every few seconds.

“It was like she desensitized her,” Danner said.

Danner also saw the mood change in the office and in her co-workers when Dobie was around.

“The interesting thing about goldens, they have a whole different set of vibes,” she said.

But this spring, Dobie passed away at 14 years old.

On Sept. 16, Danner’s 25th anniversary at the center, her new co-worker, Tessa, arrived in Montrose. Tessa, a 14-week-old golden retriever, now roams the halls of the mental heath center greeting and spreading her happiness with others.

Danner chose to buy another golden because of their sensitivity to moods, comforting disposition and “pretty” coat.

“This is someone that will come in and just love them,” Danner said.

Still a pup, Tessa has to wait to take her Delta Society training test until she is one year old. But she’s currently working on sits and downs, Danner said. Tessa seems to know her role at the office even at such a young age — greeting people and giving them attention.

Danner expects to retire in three years, but her work, and Tessa’s, are not finished in the community. Danner said she hopes to get involved with Reading To Rover, a program that has children read to canines.

“Reading to a dog, the dog doesn’t correct them when they make a mistake,” she said.

The program is designed for children who struggle with reading aloud in a group. The dog offers a calm, accepting listener to practice reading skills to.

Danner has also thought about other opportunities for her and her dog to help, such as visiting retirement communities.

But until that day, Danner and Tessa work together as a team at the mental health center.

To celebrate Danner’s 25 years, the public is invited to an open house on Thursday, Nov. 8 at the center, 2130 E. Main St. in Montrose. The party is from 4 to 6 p.m. and those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP by stopping by the center, calling 252-3221 or by e-mailing mhanna@midwestmhc.org.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com