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, intentional well-being, animal-assisted interventions (therapy and service animals), and the
link between human violence and animal abuse. Veterinary social work continues to be a fastly 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, etc). More information on veterinary social work as a specialization can be found here: https://vetsocialwork.tennessee.edu/

Paws To Connect Counseling, LLC is a private practice owned by Rachel Wright, MSW, LICSW, VSW-CP (Veterinary Social Work). Rachel practices as a licensed independent clinical social worker, therapist, consultant, approved supervisor, presenter; and veterinary social worker.

Paws To Connect Counseling, LLC focuses on the intersection of mental health and the human-animal bond as an integral part of therapy and clinical practice. We greatly value the importance of the interconnectedness between humans, animals, nature and the therapeutic importance between these relationships. We honor and support each client’s unique connection with the human-animal bond and how that impacts and enriches their mental health, therapeutic process, and healing at every level.

This private practice specializes in anticipatory loss, grief, trauma, women’s issues, caregiver fatigue (individuals caring for a loved one with a life-limiting or terminal condition), and the intersection of veterinary medicine and mental health. Student interns have an opportunity to provide individual and group therapy and other supportive services to clients navigating caregiving, grief, loss, and traumatic bereavement of both humans and pets; provide mental health therapy to veterinary professionals struggling with mental health concerns (e.g., clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, addiction, PTSD, ADHD, suicidal ideation, etc.), and provide veterinary social work to veterinary professional organizations through support/debriefing, topic-focused groups, special events, presentations, individual interventions.

Individual therapy to clients. Required practicum project (either micro, mezzo, or macro focused) selecting a topic related to the intersection of mental health and the human-animal bond.

Support/therapy groups to clients and the community; presentations and skills-based trainings to veterinary professionals as applicable. Required practicum project (either micro, mezzo, or macro focused) selecting a topic related to the intersection of mental health and the human-animal bond.

Opportunity to assess different healthcare and veterinary medicine systems that impact client care. Required practicum project (either micro, mezzo, or macro focused) selecting a topic related to the intersection of mental health and the human-animal bond.

- Passion and respect for the human-animal bond and the varied ways that it impacts mental health
- Professional experience in clinical and/or healthcare settings
- Personal experience with caregiving, loss, death or dying (either of humans of animals)

English

Please email your resume-cv and cover letter to Rachel Wright at: pawstoconnectcounseling@gmail.com. An initial interview via Zoom will be scheduled. If selected as a candidate the next steps will include a secondary final interview in-person and a reference check (3 references).