“Service Dogs for Mental Health” Offers Evidence-Based Guidance for Veterans, Clinicians, Families, and Communities
October 2025 — Millions of Americans living with PTSD, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions could benefit from service dogs—but face a maze of misinformation, scams, and legal confusion.
That’s the gap Navy Hospital Corpsman veteran and healthcare data scientist Frank Cohen seeks to close with his newly released book, Service Dogs for Mental Health: Breaking Barriers, Building Independence, Transforming Lives.
Combining over 40 years of experience in healthcare analytics, personal partnership with a psychiatric service dog, and service on the board of K9 Partners for Patriots, Cohen delivers the most comprehensive, evidence-based guide to psychiatric service dog partnerships available today.
“When I began researching psychiatric service dogs for my own PTSD, I discovered that mental health professionals lacked guidance to advise clients, prospective handlers faced a confusing mix of legitimate programs and scams, and businesses often didn’t understand their legal obligations,” said Cohen. “I wrote the resource I desperately needed but couldn’t find.”
Unlike memoirs or training manuals, Service Dogs for Mental Health offers practical, accessible insights for multiple audiences—mental health professionals, individuals exploring service dog partnerships, family members, and community stakeholders.
Topics include:
- Navigating legal protections under the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and workplace laws
- Understanding the science behind psychiatric service dog tasks
- Managing the cost, time, and training realities
- Adapting to daily lifestyle changes and long-term planning
- Combating fake service dog fraud and its impact on legitimacy
“This book isn’t about promoting service dogs as miracle cures,” Cohen notes. “It’s about making informed, realistic decisions—and equipping our communities to support those choices.”
Cohen’s unique combination of lived experience, professional data analysis, and organizational leadership offers rare credibility in the growing field of service dog advocacy.
Service Dogs for Mental Health: Breaking Barriers, Building Independence, Transforming Lives is available now wherever books are sold.
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