Areas of Practice

Education, Continuing Education, and Experiential-Learning

An emergent field of research and education, Veterinary Social Work is the study and practice of traditional social work, at the nexus of the human-animal bond. Education includes animal-assisted interventions (program development), grief and loss, compassion fatigue, and the Link. Professional certification strengthens practice and builds education. More information can be found here.

Emotional Resiliency Workshops

Experiencing compassion fatigue does not correlate to a professional’s dedication or ability. Compassion fatigue sets in when we lose the art of self-care so much so that we lose the ability to have a rational empathetic response. It is an incredibly difficult emotion to recognize - often it feels like we are angry, burnt out, hiding, or sad in relation to work. Rather than avoiding compassion fatigue, we strive to support skills in emotional resiliency - the ability to ensure the care of self, and note when care is needed before experiencing the point of compassion fatigue. Workshops are tailored to your organization and staff needs.

Organizational Consultations

Interested in how to incorporate animal-assisted interventions at work? Whether you are looking to implement a new program or build one within an existing organization, consultation and strategic planning are essential for program success! We offer consultation for program development (including logic models), implementation, and evaluation. This includes utilizing framework, strategic process planning, and goal setting to make a sustainable difference in your organization for clients and communities. Please reach out to us for an individualized plan!

Vincent, A., & Wiborg, L. (2017) Human-Animal Interaction in Practice: Organizational Readiness & Program Development. NASW-Ohio.

Community Networking

Whether looking to build a community dog park or add animal-assisted therapy to your clinical practice, there are conversations about logistics and sustainability. Human and animal needs need to be addressed prior to launching new, or expanding current programs. Though people often balk at them, logic models are a great resource. Let us help you navigate the considerations.

Legal Content Expert

While much of the human-animal bond is positive: empathy, compassion, love, trust…there is a dark side. The Link refers to the link between interpersonal violence and animal abuse. Animal abuse is noted as an indicator of interpersonal violence and is often cyclical and inter-generational. Cross-reporting for inter-personal violence and animal abuse are beginning to emerge, but there is much work to be done!

Vincent, A., McDonald, S. Poe, B., & Deisner, V, V. (2019). The Link Between Interpersonal Violence and Animal Abuse. Society Register, 3(3), 83-101.

Hoy-Gerlach, J., Vincent, A., & Hector, B. L. Emotional Support Animals in the United States: Emergent Guidelines for Mental Health Clinicians. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 1-10.

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