Connected Care
Clinical Consultations: Integrating Companion Animals into Clinical Practice
Why talk about companion animals in healthcare?
For many people, companion animals are family. They are part of daily routines, important relationships, major life decisions, and sometimes some of the most meaningful experiences of love, caregiving, and loss. Yet, in many healthcare settings, we rarely ask about them.
Over the past 15 years, I have been studying the human-animal bond while also hearing countless stories from clients about the role companion animals play in their lives. Again and again, I’ve seen how these conversations can deepen our understanding of attachment, identity, coping, family relationships, social support, grief, anxiety, and many other aspects of people’s lives.
This doesn’t mean that companion animals are relevant in every clinical encounter. Rather, it means being able to recognize when they are – and knowing how to explore this part of a person’s life in a thoughtful, clinically meaningful way.
Throughout my work, I use the term pet-informed approach to describe a way of thinking about clinical practice that recognizes when relationships with companion animals may be clinically relevant and worth exploring. When appropriate, making space for these conversations can help us better understand the people we work with.
My goal is to help bridge research and clinical practice by making this knowledge accessible to healthcare professionals.
From Book to Practice
Recently, I wrote Conversations about Companion Animals in Clinical Settings: An Integrative, Pet-Informed Approach for Clinicians, published by Springer Nature. The book brings together research and practical reflections on how companion animals can become part of meaningful clinical conversations.
To continue expanding this discussion, I now offer professional consultation for clinicians and healthcare organizations interested in integrating a pet-informed approach into their work.
Professional Consultation
- 15+ Years
- Research & Clinical Experience
Drawing on the topics explored in my book, as well as more than 15 years of research and clinical experience, I offer consultation for mental healthcare professionals interested in developing a pet-informed approach to clinical practice.
Consultations are collaborative and tailored to your professional interests.
Tailored Professional Guidance
What to Expect from a Consultation
Each consultation is tailored to your professional interests, clinical questions, or organizational needs. Whether you are simply curious about a pet-informed approach or looking to integrate it into your practice, our conversations can focus on practical, evidence-informed strategies that fit your work.
Examples of what we might explore include:
- How to recognize when the human–animal bond may be clinically relevant
- How to develop a pet-informed lens, rather than simply adding pet-related questions to an assessment
- When and how to ask about companion animals in ways that feel natural and clinically meaningful
- Understanding what conversations about companion animals may reveal about attachment, identity, coping, daily routines, family relationships, social support, and values
- Integrating information about companion animals into case conceptualization and treatment planning when appropriate
- Better understanding pet loss, anticipatory grief, and other experiences related to the human-animal bond
- Identifying resources, readings, and practical materials to support continued learning
- Exploring ways to incorporate a pet-informed approach within your own clinical or organizational context
The goal is not to encourage clinicians to ask about companion animals in every session, but to develop the ability to recognize when these relationships may provide meaningful clinical information and enrich our understanding of the people we serve.
Psychotherapist in Ontario
About Me
I’m Renata Roma, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario and a former psychologist in Brazil with approximately 15 years of clinical experience.
I hold a PhD in Child and Youth Studies and completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on the human-animal bond. For more than 15 years, my research has explored the relationships between people and companion animals and the ways these relationships influence health and well-being. Alongside my clinical work, I continue to explore how this knowledge can help healthcare professionals better understand the people they serve.
I am also a Certified Pet Loss Grief Support Specialist and provide psychotherapy in English and Portuguese for children, adolescents, and adults.
FAQs
Who are clinical consultations for?
Clinical consultations are designed for mental health professionals, healthcare providers, educators, veterinary professionals, organizations, and researchers seeking guidance on integrating companion animals into clinical practice or expanding their knowledge in this area.
What topics can we discuss during a consultation?
Consultations can cover a wide range of topics, including pet-informed practice, companion animals and mental health, pet loss, animal-assisted interventions, OCD involving pets, research translation, program development, and clinical case consultation.
Can you provide training or workshops for organizations?
Yes. I offer customized workshops, presentations, and professional training for clinics, organizations, universities, and professional groups. Content is tailored to the needs of your team and audience.
Do you offer clinical consultations internationally?
Yes. I offer clinical consultations to professionals and organizations both within Canada and internationally. If you’re interested in consultation, training, or collaboration, please get in touch to discuss your needs and determine the most appropriate format.
Book a Consultation
If you’re interested in exploring how a pet-informed approach could be incorporated into your practice or organization, I’d be happy to connect.