The Animal Effect

Barbara Karnes RN has written a guide on taking care of a pet with a terminal diagnosis or old age. It also covers how to handle euthanasia and thoughts on ceremonies for a beloved pet as well as how to cope with deep pet grief. Join me as we discuss what the dying process looks like. Knowledge is power.

Join me on this episode as we speak with Dr. Taylor Chastain Griffin, the National Director of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) Advancement at Pet Partners. In this role, she oversees the organizations’ empirical research collaborations and works with other field leaders to motivate standardization and professionalization of the intervention.

For more than 25 years, and with an ever-growing menagerie of animals at her California ranch, licensed psychotherapist and lifelong cowgirl, Beth Anstandig has worked with human herds providing leadership, corporate culture, and well-being programs through The Circle Up Experience. Join us as we talk about her new book The Human Herd, to be release April 12th!

Join me as I speak with Ginger Gaffney, author of Half Broke, a riveting memoir that offers profound insight into the profound relationship between horse and human. Based in the alternative prison ranch in New Mexico ran by the prisoners, Ginger brings healing and hope to both horses and humans alike.

500,000 pets are put down annually because their guardians can't afford veterinary care. That's where https://wagglefoundation.org/ steps in. At Waggle, they imagine a world in which all pets are given equal opportunity to live long healthy lives, providing the companionship and love that guardians seek to manage their own physical and emotional health and well-being. Listen in as we explore how Waggle is working to end economic euthanasia.www.waggle.org

Honest Paws is a CBD oil company that creates high quality, lab tested products for your pet. Join as as we meet Chelsea Rivera, content writer for Honest Paws and Simple Wag, as we discuss how CBD Oil can make for a happier, healthier pet.

"There’s an assumption that these working dogs are automatically being taken care of after they leave service but that’s not the case. A lot of them are stuck in kennels — not just in the U.S., but overseas. We really need to get them back. We want to honor these dogs that have given their lives for us. We want to make sure they come back and get the retirement they deserve." - Mission K9 Rescue

Mia Lykke Nielsen starts where others quit. She never gives up. With 300 wild Californian horses as her instructors, Mia has developed a unique knowledge of horses and horse behaviour. In just one month, Mia tamed and trained five wild mustangs to become calm and trusting domestic horses. Join Prairie Conlon as she explores the fascinating relationship Mia has developed with horses and their healing power.

Host Prairie Conlon sits down with Carol Novello, founder of Mutual Rescue™, a national initiative that highlights the connection between people and pets in order to inspire and support life-saving efforts in communities across the nation and world. Mutual Rescue’s first short film, “Eric & Peety,” went viral around the globe and has been viewed more than 100 million times. For more information, visit www.MutualRescue.org.

An incredible story of a woman’s cross-country journey to escape an abusive past. Think Wild, but on a horse. When Kathy decides to leave her abusive marriage, she is 59 years old. She feels completely stuck with her husband hiding his assets from the court, angry children, and impossible rental prices. There is something, though, that makes her feel at least halfway sane: riding horses.

Join the CEO of Mental Health News Radio Network, Kristin Sunanta Walker, and host of The Animal Effect, Prairie Conlon, talking about the new direction of the podcast. A favorite show on the network that needed the perfect host. Tune in to hear about Prairie, her love of animals, and her work as a counselor in the mental health field. About Prairie: I believe that you are ultimately the expert on you. Let me act as a motivational guide through your struggles and together we can reach your goals. I believe in holistic treatment plans that involve working in several areas of your life to approach the issue comprehensively and thoroughly. I have both professional and personal experience in working with military service members and their families. I have extensive knowledge in animal-assisted therapy and believe strongly in emotional support animals as well as other forms of alternative treatments to include yoga, meditation, essential oils and homeopathic medicine, exercise, and mindfulness training. The best part, we provide all services online so no driving to sessions or taking time away from work of family! We can do this when you want and where you want!My StoryI’m a mother, a wife, and a working professional. I know first hand what struggling to be a success in all those areas looks like. I’ve discovered that the only thing that is constant is change and we must continue with the times in order to find our way. Let me walk beside you in your journey. I am a clinically trained therapist offering distance counseling in the states of North Carolina, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Together we can work to address and resolve problems that impair ability to function well, such as anxiety and depression, as well as helping people achieve their goals by creating motivation for change and developing and implementing a plan. www.journeyswithprairie.com

Jennifer Pearson with Animals on the Mind, the Human Animal Connection conference is a student of social work at the University of Colorado, Denver. She is also an activist for animal rights and discusses her role at the university in working with students and animals.

Adam Clark joins us to discuss his work as a grief counselor working with pet bereavement.

Jeff Fink, Founder of GoFetchWellness.com, speaks about his mental illness advocacy. After joining us at www.nctide.org's conference in North Carolina in 2016 where we spoke together about animal assisted therapy, Jeff is back to talk more about his journey. Earl, his Golden Retriever which is his service dog, joins Jeff on the show and we take a deeper walk this time into how his advocacy is helping others dealing with mental illness.

Melanie Watt who has a Masters of Education and a background as Special Education teacher joins us to talk about equine therapy and its impact on people with autism. She is the Founder & Executive Director of Hope Remains Youth Ranch, an equine program that offers riding lessons, after school programs, certified equine therapy session and professional counseling to children and families throughout the Upstate of SC. Melanie has a heart for seeing children succeed and sees Hope Remains Youth Ranch as a place of healing, both physically, emotionally and spiritually for children and families. Melanie is one of the speakers and exhibitors at the first annual Converge Autism Summit by Springbrook Behavioral Health.https://hoperemains.org/

Join us for an interview with Dr. Temple Grandin live at The Institute for Human Animal Connection conference: Animals on the Mind at the University of Denver.

Jill Queen is the Regional Quality Manager for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions and President of North Carolina Training, Instruction, Development and Education (NC TIDE), one of North Carolina’s premier training organizations for the behavioral healthcare industry. She is also an avid animal assisted therapy advocate. Listen in as we discuss Jill's passion as a mental health provider, educator, and voice for the benefits of animal assisted therapy.https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/mental-health-news-radio-an-interview-with-jill-queen-of-cardinal-innovations-and-nc-tide-2/

Join us for a discussion about the therapeutic benefits of using horses in Behavioral Health therapy. All of us at Mental Health News Radio are animal lovers with a passion for animal-assisted therapy. Our guests, Kristin Fitzgerald and Melanie Vann, discuss the benefits, roots, and models for Equine Assisted Therapy. Some of the questions we ask are listed below:Share a little about the history of using equines as tools for therapy. How does horse behavior relate to therapy? Why horses?What is EAP? Explain to us what the EAGALA MODEL representsWhat does an EAGALA Session look like? What have some of your EAP session looked like? What is the treatment population for the use of equine therapy? Do you have any sessions that stick out in your mind?Share with us some empirical research that supports equine therapy.

Carly Robbins from Animals on the Mind, the Human Animal Connection Conference. Carly is a student of the social work program at the University of Denver Colorado. She stops by to discuss the program and talk about why working with animals in therapy is important to her.