Paws To Connect Counseling, LLC is a private practice owned by Rachel Wright, MSW, LICSW, VSW-CP (Veterinary Social Work). Rachel is  veterinary social worker for the Pacific Northwest, and practices as a licensed independent clinical social worker, therapist, consultant, approved supervisor, and regional/national presenter. Rachel has been a field instructor/supervisor for students, interns and externs within the fields of social work, mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy for the last 7 years. Previous practicum placements for MSW students and interns were offered in a large local specialty and emergency veterinary hospital. Please see the information below for specific information on the current opportunities:

Paws To Connect Counseling, LLC specializes in anticipatory loss, grief, trauma, caregiver fatigue, and
the intersection of veterinary medicine and mental health.  Veterinary social work is a specialization of social work which focuses on attending to the human needs at the intersection of veterinary and social work practice. Utilizing a strengths perspective and evidence-based practices, it includes four key areas: animal-related grief and loss, compassion fatigue, animal-assisted interventions (therapy and service animals), and the link between human violence and animal abuse. Veterinary social work is a fast-growing field, and social workers are being called upon to work in settings where animals and people are in relationship with one another and in need of supportive services (e.g., veterinary hospitals,
domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, schools, human health care settings). Veterinarians have the highest rates of suicide out of all the helping professions; veterinary technicians (nurses) have high rates of burnout, compassion fatigue and suicidal ideation; and all veterinary professionals (doctors, nurses, assistants, support staff, management and leadership) have higher rates of clinical depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD than the general population. And, the compounded intersectionality of animal and human related grief and trauma experienced by pet owners often results in disenfranchised loss, complicated bereavement, and other diagnosed mental health issues.

Students and interns will be focused on the following scope of practice: working with clients who are navigating caregiving, grief, loss, and the intersection of bereavement and trauma; and veterinary professionals in the following areas: mental health support and therapy, debriefing, topic-focused groups, special events, presentations, individual interventions.

Student/Intern Role:
• Provide individual and/or group counseling and therapy, psychoeducation, and other therapeutic
interventions with the following populations:

➢ Clients and community members within the scope and intersectionality of both human and animal-related bereavement, loss and trauma.
➢ Veterinary professionals, practices and organizations within the scope of
compassion fatigue, burnout, moral distress/injury, mental health diagnoses and support and wellbeing, and professional-personal stress management.

• All support, counseling, and interventions, are psychoeducational, clinical, rooted in evidence-based best practices, and therapeutic in nature. Please note: completion of in-person on-boarding training (approximately 25-30 hours) is required prior to direct work with clients and community members.

Students and Interns are also required to complete a project (micro, mezzo, or macro focused) within the scope of the intersection of the human-animal bond and mental health. Projects are due in the last quarter of practicum.

Individual clinical counseling and therapy.

Groups: support, debriefing, topic-focused and/or solution-focused; presentations and special community or regional events (memorial art events, CE events for veterinary professionals, etc.).

Opportunity to assess, evaluate, discuss and process veterinary cultures and systems.

- Experience with the human-animal bond; professional or personal experience with human and/or animal related grief, loss, or caregiving.
- Clinical or healthcare experience working with different populations (individuals or groups)
- See below for the application steps, general parameters, and expectations:

Requirements:
• Student/Intern provides resume-cv
• Interview via Zoom or in-person
• Verification of requirements/parameters from school
• Verification of professional liability insurance in place for duration of placement
• Student/Intern provides 3 references

Final Steps:
• Confirmation of start/end date
• Confirmation of schedule
• Confirmation of onboarding training (25-30 hours of in-person onboarding training required prior to
working with any clients, community members, veterinary professionals receiving services)
• Signed job description

Requirements for Student/Intern Role:
• Completion of initial on-boarding training (25-30 hours).
• Ability and commitment to facilitate and/or co-facilitate groups, special events,
presentations for clients and veterinary professionals, either virtually or in-person (at the
veterinary practice or organization). In-person events will be confirmed and discussed well
in advance.
• Ability to facilitate individual interventions, support, debriefing, counseling and therapy (as applicable
and appropriate) virtually and potentially in-person (or hybrid).
• Protect the confidentiality of all client and practice information (written and verbal).
• Maintain any necessary documentation (as applicable and appropriate) in a timely and
professional manner.
• Comply with all laws and ethical codes related to the practices of social work and/or
psychotherapy in the State of Washington, including HIPAA and the reporting of suspected
child abuse, elder abuse, and dependent adult abuse.
• Refer to other agencies, organizations, professionals in the community as well as well
provide referrals to clients, as appropriate.
• Commit to weekly scheduled time/shifts; communicate with supervisor immediately if
schedule changes. Attend weekly scheduled orientation, on-boarding, training, and
supervision, as scheduled.
• Attend scheduled individual and group supervision meetings. Group supervision meetings
are either bi-weekly or monthly (scheduled in advance on the same day/time), individual
supervision meetings are bi-weekly. Provide clinical presentations to team, complete
required readings, process recordings, and any assignments, research, other activities, and
actively engage in team discussions.
• Log clinical hours on appropriate forms and provide them to placement supervisor weekly
for review and signing (as applicable). Be responsible for maintaining required hours, as
agreed upon, per quarter.
• Complete self-evaluations and meet with placement supervisor to discuss evaluation(s), as
required by each school program.
• Be responsible for meeting all requirements of qualifying degree program and providing
degree program forms and information to the supervisor as requested.
• Perform other related duties, tasks, and responsibilities as directed or assigned

English

Please contact Rachel Wright, MSW, LICSW, VSW-CP (Veterinary Social Work) directly by email or phone for details and to apply:

www.pawstoconnect.com
pawstoconnectcounseling@gmail.com
206-925-3546

Application deadline(s) vary, depending on program. This placement accepts applications year-round.