Meet ML Counselor Julie Justus and Therapy Dog Leia!

by Assistant Head of Community Engagement Gordon Mathis

We are thrilled to welcome a new guidance counselor to Middle Learning! Julie Justus and her therapy dog Leia, a golden retriever named after - you guessed it - Princess Leia, have worked together since Leia was 8 weeks old in animal assisted therapy; they have been a registered pet therapy team for three years.

Previously Julie and Leia worked at Hillside, a residential psychiatric treatment center for children and adolescents, with other therapy animals, such as turtles, lizards, and rabbits. Their approach to working with young adolescents is based on Compassion-Based Cognitive Training from the Contemplative Science Center at Emory University. 

What will they do in Galloway Middle Learning? Julie and Leia will collaborate with all ML teachers through the advisory program, facilitating the acquisition of coping skills and practice in role play during which students learn to practice assertiveness and mindfulness.

Ms. Justus is excited to join the Galloway community. “Our students are articulate, friendly, warm, and welcoming,” she observes. She also perceives many opportunities to practice her skills ably assisted by Leia during the Covid pandemic. “Kids have become so involved in supporting their peers that some students are experiencing  ‘empathic fatigue;’ they have burned out from so much intensity.” Ms. Justus explains, “I am looking forward to creating compassion-based meditative groups for Middle Learning students. “We will work on learning self-compassion and nurturing and growing compassion for others.”

Please join us in welcoming Julie and Leia to the Galloway community!