They Help When Humans Can’t: Understanding Animal-Assisted Crisis Response

Description: Mental health counselors utilize regularly the power of the human-animal bond, a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between humans and animals that promotes the healing of both (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2020). Through animal-assisted interventions (AAI), humans engage in therapeutic interactions with animals across settings and contexts. One such setting involves animal-assisted crisis response (AACR), a type of AAI that involves incorporating animals into disaster response and recovery for the purpose of comfort and support for those affected by the event (Pet Partners, 2020). AACR has been implemented widely across Florida for major events including the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and the shootings at both Pulse Nightclub and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The goal of this presentation is to introduce attendees to AAIs, specifically to the power of AACR.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-874192

This is an event sponsored by FMHCA. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1.      Attendees will list the benefits of incorporating various species of therapy animals into crisis, trauma, and grief work by learning the physiological, psychological, and emotional influence of the human-animal bond.

2.      Attendees will identify the verbal and nonverbal indicators of the human-animal bond when incorporating therapy animals into disaster mental health and crisis settings by reviewing relevant photos and scenarios.

3.      Attendees will evaluate previous events involving animal-assisted crisis-response nationwide and in the state of Florida and discuss how the aftermath of these events were shaped by the presence of animals.

About the Presenters:

Ariann Robino, Ph.D., LPC, NCC is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Nova Southeastern University. She is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Louisiana and a board-certified counselor. She completed her PhD at Virginia Tech in Counselor Education and is an affiliate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for Animal-Human Relationships. Dr. Robino has research experience in the human-animal bond and animal-assisted interventions as well as clinical experience through the pursuit of a certificate in Animal-Assisted Interventions in Counseling at Idaho State University. Her interests include animal-assisted interventions, the human-animal bond, addictions, human development, wellness, trauma, and criminal justice. 

Hailey Fitzpatrick, B.S., is a second year Clinical Mental Health Master's Student at Nova Southeastern University. Hailey has previous experience in Hippotherapy practices where horses are used as therapeutic tools rather than for equestrian goals. Hailey is on Dr. Robino's research team which investigated the effects of animal assisted interventions for those who have experienced a traumatic event. Hailey's interests include animal-assisted interventions specifically equine assisted interventions, schema therapy, and the wellness model.