About this Event
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People, Animals and Nature: The Restorative Power of Relationship
The 21st century is bringing greater awareness to the life-enriching interconnectedness between people, animals and the environment. Animal-assisted therapy, nature-based education and farm-based programs illustrate the diverse approaches social workers, educators, mental health practitioners, physicians and others are exploring and applying to enhance quality of life for all.
Join this dynamic two-day conference hosted by The Sam and Myra Ross Institute at Green Chimneys and presented in partnership with University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work and Institute for Human Animal Connection.
In the “living classroom” of Green Chimneys’ farm setting, learn best practices and exchange ideas with experts and peers in a wide range of professions that utilize animal-assisted and nature-based models. Participants will collaborate through interactive group work, discussions and hands-on learning with animals to facilitate the well-being of people, animals and the natural world through models that bring these elements together.
Who should attend hai2025?
- Mental Health Professionals with an interest in the human-animal connection
- Educators
- School Teachers
- Child and Animal Welfare Professionals
- Animal-Assisted Service Program Administrators
- Advocates and Explorers of the relationship between people, animals and the environment
Conference Theme
The daily agenda will be guided by the main conference theme of People, Animals and Nature: The Restorative Power of Relationship. In particular, we will focus on these subject areas:
- Innovations in human-animal and nature-based interactions
- Embodying a sense of belonging for diverse stakeholders and practitioners
- Exploring the concept of animal consent
- Examples of methodologies for studying animal-assisted interventions (AAI), particularly evaluating outcomes
- Introducing specific farm-based education and therapy options
Keynote Presentations
Attend informative and insightful presentations, including:
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Animal-Assisted Services: Obviously, I’m Not From Here – Embodying a Sense of Belonging with the Help of Horses by Veronica Lac, PhD, LPC
- Ecopsychological Praxis Towards an Informed Eco-Justice Framework by Derrick Sebree, PhD
- Understanding the Power of Relationship: Innovations in Human-Animal-Nature Interactions by Megan Mueller, PhD
- Training and Professionalizing for the Future by Nina Ekholm Fry and Kevin Morris, PhD
- Adopting a Restorative Mindset in Human-Animal Interaction Work: Connecting to Our Best Selves and to One Another by Kristin Licardi, LCSW
- The Restorative Power of Relationship by an all-speaker panel led by Kevin Morris, PhD, and Michael Kaufmann
Have a question about the conference content?
See the Conference Program for details, or please contact Michael Kaufmann via [email protected].
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Green Chimneys, 400 Doansburg Road, Brewster, United States
USD 358.91 to USD 412.21