PTSD Service Dogs, Trauma Resilience, and Community Support in Southern IllinoisJennifer Olson and Russell Williams host Small Town Big Business from downtown Marion, Illinois, and welcome Malia (pronounced “Maria”) Nicks to discuss ThisABLE Veteran, a local nonprofit celebrating 15 years. Founded by Behesha Doan, a former police canine handler with over 40 years of experience, the organization trains and places PTSD service dogs nationwide at no cost to veterans. Dogs are purchased as puppies with at least five generations of service-dog lineage and trained for 18–24 months, then matched to veterans through a national application and interview process with an emphasis on the wellbeing of both the veteran and the dog.Nix explains the nonprofit’s Trauma Resilience Program: accepted veterans complete 10 weeks of weekly Zoom meetings with grounding and breathing techniques before arriving in Marion for a 21-day in-person stay on the organization’s acreage outside town. The program focuses on skill-building rather than retelling trauma, and the team coordinates with veterans’ clinicians. Service dogs are trained for anxiety alerts (e.g., responding to knee bouncing or jaw clenching) and nightmare interruption, with veterans taught movement and paced breathing to prevent escalation into flashbacks, rage, or other destructive outcomes.Behesha also operates Extreme Canine (public boarding and training) and created training academies to expand PTSD service-dog training nationally, including a basic academy and an annual masterclass requiring two years of experience. The episode covers how to distinguish legitimate service dogs from emotional support animals, including ADA access differences and the service dog’s focus and responsiveness to its handler.Nix shares her “chapter two” journey from business development roles in architecture, finance, and school partnerships in Dallas to studying social work, experiences with family caregiving through the VA system, and suicide awareness work after her 17-year-old nephew died by suicide. She joined This Able Veteran after being asked to support suicide-related needs for the DoD-funded program, observed life changes in veterans during 2023 sessions, and later became executive director, relocating from Texas to Southern Illinois.The hosts discuss what Nix appreciates about Southern Illinois, including community events like the Heroes United Concert, outdoor access, local amenities, and kindness from residents. The conversation ends with ways the community can support This ABLE Veteran now that Department of Defense funding was not allocated for the current year: donations, fundraisers, supplies via a Chewy wishlist, airline and hotel points to offset travel and housing, meal support for veterans during 21-day stays and four-day refreshers, and volunteering. The website is thisableveteran.org; the application portal reopens March 1. The organization is active on Facebook and Instagram, plans for TikTok, is on LinkedIn, and offers a quarterly electronic newsletter plus limited mailed updates. Sponsors and Ethos/City of Marion contact information are also shared.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://thisableveteran.org/00:00 Welcome and Sponsors00:49 Meet Malia Nicks01:30 Mission and Service Dogs04:01 Trauma Resilience Program06:20 Bahaa Origins and Canine Expertise10:40 Grant Growth and Malia Journey17:28 Serving Veterans Nationwide18:18 Why Southern Illinois Feels Like Home21:39 Service Dog Legitimacy and Laws24:12 Spotting Real Service Dogs25:55 Handler Rights and Privacy26:43 Anxiety Alerts in Action29:19 Nightmare Interruption Tasks29:56 Best Breeds and Temperament31:29 Trainer Academies Nationwide32:46 Inside the Training Facility35:11 How the Community Can Help39:26 Support PTSD Without Judgment41:41 Stay Connected and Final Thanks
