Meet Judith
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Steady Compass Counseling Services, offering virtual sessions and in-person appointments in Nyack, NY, and Stamford, CT. For more than a decade, I have combined professional mental health care with my extensive experience working directly with animals to help clients navigate grief, anxiety, fear, and life transitions.
Since earning my Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University in 2003, I have pursued advanced training that allows me to integrate animals into therapy in intentional and effective ways. I hold an Animal Behavior and Conservation certification from Hunter College, which deepens my understanding of animal behavior and supports safe, therapeutic interactions.
My specialized training in Pet Loss Counseling through the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement gives me the tools to guide clients through one of life’s most difficult forms of grief with both compassion and clinical insight. As a Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist through the American Association of Animal Intervention Professionals, I ensure that animals are incorporated into sessions ethically and purposefully.
My training in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy through the EAGALA & Natural Lifemanship models have provided me the opportunity to work alongside equine specialists in creating experiential sessions that promote trust, emotional growth, and healing.
In addition, I am a Registered Therapy Animal Evaluator and Handler with Pet Partners, which enables me to prepare other therapy teams to safely share the healing power of the human–animal bond.
My background also includes over ten years of hands-on experience with animals in a variety of settings, from volunteering with rescues and fostering animals in need, to working extensively with horses, to providing animal-assisted therapy on a farm. I have worked with children in therapeutic facilities, where I have seen firsthand how animals can help break down barriers and foster connection.
This foundation allows me to offer a range of specialized services: grief counseling for pet loss, emotional support animal evaluations, therapy for cynophobia (fear of dogs), and animal-assisted psychotherapy with my certified therapy partners, Ruby and Grogu. In each area, my training and experience work hand-in-hand, ensuring that clients receive care that is both deeply empathetic and professionally grounded.
Whether the goal is to process grief, overcome fear, strengthen coping skills, or experience the comfort of working with animals in a therapeutic setting, I provide a safe and compassionate space that honors each person’s unique journey—and the animals who have walked it with them. 🐾
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Director of Clinical Services at Steady Compass Counseling Services
EAP Provider
Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
Certified Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist
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48 Burd Street, Nyack, NY
1200 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT
