Participants will understand the impact of social determinants of health on people and their companion animals as well as the human-animal bond as an important relationship that goes unaddressed in standard needs assessments.
Participants will apply a public health framework to interventions directed toward people and their pets.
Participants will adapt standard needs assessment/mental health evaluations to consider clients' relationships with their companion animals.
Participants will curate local resources to address human and animal needs and preserve the human-animal bond.
Lisa Townsend, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the divisions of adolescent medicine and psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University/VCU Health systems.
She provides psychotherapy for youth and young adults who struggle with chronic suicidal ideation and self-harm. Her research interests include preserving the human-animal bond through human-animal support services and studying the effects of animal-assisted interventions on human and animal health and well-being.