u/LavenderFade04

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on finding a legitimate psychiatric service dog (PSD) program or options near me in Virginia. I’ve been researching a lot, but it’s honestly a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what’s real vs scams, and what would actually be realistic for my situation. I’m specifically looking for: A PSD for anxiety/panic-related symptoms A dog that can be trained to perform tasks like grounding, interrupting anxiety episodes, and general support in public A dog that would also be compatible with a home that has cats I’m open to different routes (programs, trainers, or owner-training with guidance), but I’m trying to understand: Are there any legitimate PSD programs or organizations in Virginia or nearby states that accept civilian applicants? Is owner-training realistically the best route for someone in my situation? Are there any reputable trainers who work with PSD task training or behavior foundations at a reasonable cost? I’m not looking for anything “instant” or unqualified—I just want to make sure I’m going in the right direction and not wasting time or money on scams. Any guidance, experiences, or recommendations would really help. Thank you in advance..