Specialties & Special Interests
Pet Loss, Anticipatory grief & Bereavement Recovery
There is a reason why dogs have the nickname man's best friend. The bond between a person and their pet can be just as strong as any human relationship.
For this reason, the loss of a pet is an often undervalued and yet terrible pain which every pet-owner experiences. Feelings of guilt, deep sadness, emptiness, anger, and hopelessness can be become difficult to navigate after our loved one's passing.
This grief can hit particularly bad when the pet you are losing is a Service, ESA, or Working / Veteran K9 . For this reason, I have undergone specialized training to work with Veterans and First Responders as well as have ample experience working with Service and ESA animals personally and professionally.
This bond can also be used within therapy to help you achieve the growth you are looking for. I have specialized training to implement therapeutic practices between you and your pet for lasting growth. *Animals must be approved to join therapy.*
Specialized training and experience I have for Pet Loss and Bereavement recovery:
- Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) trained
- Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Member
- Human-Animal Interaction: Section 13 of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association Member
- Animal-Assisted Therapy Trained
- Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- Therapy Pet Unlimited Evaluator
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers Member
- International Association of Canine Professionals Member
- Exotic Animal Training and Management Graduate
- Animal Emergency Veterinary office experience
- Zoo experience
- Avid animal lover
Compassion Fatigue / Burn -out Recovery
People get into working with animals and/or helping professions because they care. Sometimes, especially recently, this passion can drive us to the brink of extinction. Excessive tiredness, callousness, guilt, irritability, wariness, depression, and/or a sense of doom can consume us. Symptoms such as flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and hypervigilance can be just as severe as any war veteran's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have many years of experience working in animal care positions such as in a zoo, critical animal emergency veterinary office, and animal trainer. I also have experience as a therapist in underprivileged communities, rehabs, and private practice. I know the struggle, I know the pain, I know the silent suffering that can spill out onto your loved ones. I know what it is like to doubt yourself, your abilities, and whether or not "all of it" even matters. I can help you get back to being the person you want to be with a new sense of Compassion Satisfaction.
Specialized training and experience I have for Compassion Fatigue:
- Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional
- Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Currently the leading treatment related to Trauma).
- SafeTALK trained
- EMDR Therapy for Suicidal Clients, Self-harming behaviors and Borderline Personality training
- Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training
- Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Member
- Human-Animal Interaction: Section 13 of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association Member
- Animal-Assisted Therapy Trained
- Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- Therapy Pet Unlimited Evaluator
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers Member
- International Association of Canine Professionals Member
- Exotic Animal Training and Management Graduate
- Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) trained
- Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) trained
- Animal Emergency Veterinary staff
- Zookeeping experience
- Intensive Out-Patient Services Therapist for transitional age youth and adults (Field therapist)
- Residential addiction center staff predominantly serving mandated, homeless, and those unable to pay for services.
Trauma Recovery
As we write the story of our life it is common to experience events which rock us to our core. These events can range from seemingly small to insurmountably huge. When experiences negatively affect the way we view ourselves, our lives, and/or our view of the world, it can lead us to feel unhappy and unfulfilled. Your experiences can not break you. I can help you feel whole and worthy again.
Specialized training I have for traumatic experiences:
- Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Currently the leading treatment related to Trauma).
- SafeTALK trained
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention trained
- Abortion, Grief and Loss trained
- Implicit Bias training
- Association for Multicultural Counseling Development Member
- EMDR Therapy for Suicidal Clients, Self-harming behaviors and Borderline Personality training
- Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training
- Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) trained
- Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) trained
Special Interests!
Here is a list of some of my special interests!
- Medical trauma recovery (Car accidents, Transplants, Birth Trauma, Cancer)
- Religious / Spiritual trauma recovery (Conversion therapy recovery, Cult recovery, and everything in-between)
- Veterans & First Responder issues
- Social Justice issues
- Therapist and Student issues
- LGBTQIA+ issues
- Women's rights and empowerment
- Natural disaster recovery (fire, hurricane, earthquake, etc.)
- Man-made disaster recovery (Shootings, War related issues)