Veterinary social work is about supporting the human in the human-animal bond. The tenets of veterinary social work are grief and pet loss, the link between human & animal violence, animal assisted interactions, and compassion fatigue & conflict management.
I have completed my certification in Veterinary Social Work at University of Tennessee, which has included completing training in all of the aspects of veterinary social work as well as an externship with Dr. Kelly Ballantyne at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic.
My specialization within veterinary social work is providing emotional support to pet owners through counseling and support groups. I support owners dealing with grief and pet loss and I work closely with owners dealing with the joys and struggles of having a pet with behavior issues.
I also provide case consultation and referral support to professionals, as well as compassion fatigue presentations.