Content Warning: This episode does include a discussion of mental illness, depression, and suicide.Disclaimer: Discussions about mental health are personal and unique. In this podcast, Meghan is not acting as a therapist or providing therapy in any capacity. This podcast covers broad discussions of topics related to mental health and is not intended to serve as therapy or a replacement for therapy. Views and experiences expressed by Meghan are her own and do not represent the field of counseling. This week we welcome back Dr. Meghan Breedlove to discuss seeking out a therapy experience that fits YOU. Not only do we talk about what to look for in the process of finding a therapist but also what to look for once you've started having visits with your mental health professional.Spoiler: It's okay to re-evaluate after a few sessions to be sure you and your therapist or counselour are a good fit for each other. Meghan Breedlove Bio:Meghan Breedlove is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio. She graduated with her Masters in Human Development and Family Science with a specialization in Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. She also graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters in Clinical Counseling and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at The Ohio State University. Her dissertation is focused on using restorative justice practices to repair harm and resolve conflicts among individuals in school settings. Meghan has worked with couples, adults, teenagers, and families in various settings. She has experience empowering clients to resolve relationship issues and family conflicts, navigate major life transitions, explore values and career interests, build communication skills, and cope with anxiety and depression. She believes in the importance of creating, communicating, and maintaining healthy boundaries in all aspects in life and seeks to support clients in this process. Meghan uses a range of interventions in therapy and is flexible in her approach depending on the needs of the client. She uses a Client-Centered approach and draws on techniques from Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in her work with clients. Show resources:https://www.psychologytoday.com/Support the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

A comprehensive behavior program, along with quality animal care standards, can increase adoptions and profoundly impact the well-being of the animals at your shelter and the humans caring for them. This week we welcome Amanda Kowalski, the vice president of behavior programs for the San Diego Humane Society, to discuss addressing the mental health needs of animals in our care. We discuss the importance of these programs, tips to get started, challenges she has encountered, and more! Amanda Kowalski M.S., CPDT-KA, CAWAAmanda is San Diego Humane Society’s first vice president of Behavior Programs, leading our impact as a regional and national behavior and training resource. Amanda and her Behavior & Training team are entrusted with changing the lives of thousands of animals who need behavior intervention in order to become adoptable — or to stay with the families who love them.Amanda is dedicated to the animals and has a passion for research, education and collaboration. She is known for loving “crazy ideas” as she encourages her team to innovate, be creative and think big. She is a huge source of support (and baked goods!) and always brings her best to the table, especially when her team needs her most. Amanda specialized in behavioral care in shelters for more than 13 years before taking on this role, including five years leading our Behavior Center, which has helped more than 4,000 shelter animals — who otherwise would have been out of options — since its beginning in 2013. She also played a crucial role in designing the new state-of-the-art Behavior Center facility, which opened in 2019 as the first of its kind in California.Amanda is overseeing the expansion of our resources to treat more shelter animals, help other shelters and rescue organizations, expand our community training services, conduct applied behavior research, and develop and launch a Behavior Center Academy to train shelter behavior professionals both locally and nationally.Amanda holds a master’s of science in animals and public policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She is a certified animal welfare administrator (CAWA) through the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, a Fear Free-Certified Professional Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and the vice president of the board of directors for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.Resources mentioned in this weeks episode:Fear Free Shelters https://www.Fearfreeshelters.comFear Free Happy Homes https://www.Fearfreehappyhomes.comShelter Playgroup Alliance https://www.shelterdogplay.org/San Diego Humane Society behavior resources https://www.sdhumane.org/behavior-and-training/resources/Center for Shelter Dogs https://centerforshelterdogs.tufts.edu/Mental health and well-being in animals by Franklin McMillan Support Amanda's work with the San Diego Human Society:https://www.sdhumane.org/Support the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This week we talk with Crystal Vaquera about her career with the Viticus Group who offer some really wonderful Veterniary Symposiums. In addition we spend some time discussing her work with the newly non-profit Veterinary Giving Tree. Tune in to hear all about the work they do and how you can get involved in a charity that is near and dear to Tails from a Vet Tech.Crystal Vaquera currently paves the way for licensed veterinary technicians by developing cutting edge courses for continuing education at the Viticus Group. As the Program Director, Veterinary Initiatives  she developed over 350 courses and for the last 10 years she has overseen the hands on veterinary labs for the Western Veterinary Conference, the second largest conference of its kind attended by 14000 veterinary professionals and veterinary technicians from all of the world. Crystal is the cofounder of The Veterinary Giving Tree, a non-profit established to assist veterinary professionals who have given of themselves tirelessly to the health and welfare of animals yet have fallen on hard times. When she is not at home spending time with her husband and three sons, Crystal volunteers as a big sister with the community youth and assist with spays and neuters at the Tails of Nye County nonprofit in Pahrump, Nevada. Support and donate to the veterinary industry giving tree- https://www.veterinarygivingtree.com/Viticus Group- https://www.viticusgroup.org/splashSupport the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

Join us as we celebrate Vet Tech Week with two of our favorites, Liz Hughston and Tasha McNerney!Liz Hughston, MEd., RVT, CVT, LVT, LVMT, VTS (SAIM)(ECC)Liz practices as a relief veterinary technician, trainer, and consultant in the SanFrancisco Bay Area. Since her graduation from Foothill College’s VeterinaryTechnology program in 2006, Liz went on to become certified as a VTS in bothSmall Animal Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care in 2012. Shehas authored articles and textbook chapters and is a co-editor of CannabisTherapy in Veterinary Medicine (Springer Nature) and the upcoming 2nd editionof the Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nursestextbook (Wiley).Liz is President of the National Veterinary Professionals Union,Co-Founder of the Veterinary Cannabinoid Academy, an Administrator of the Not One More Vet Support Staff group, Credentialing Committee Chair of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of dvm360.Liz is an advocates’ advocate, dedicated to advancing veterinary technology,technicians, and assistants through training, mentorship, and support.Tasha McNerney (BS, CVT, VTS)Tasha is a Certified Veterinary Technician form Glenside, PA. She is also a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and works closely with the IVAPM to educate the public about animal pain awareness. Tasha became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha loves to lecture on various anesthesia and pain management topics around the globe and was recently named the VMX 2020 speaker of the Year for veterinary technicians. Tasha has authored numerous articles on anesthesia and analgesia topics for veterinary professionals and pet parents. In her spare time Tasha enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and son, and recording the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast. Support Liz:National Veterinary Professionals Union: www.natvpu.orgVeterinary Cannabinoid Academy: www.vetcannacademy.com Not One More Vet Support Staff group: www.facebook.com/groups/nomvsupportstaff Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians: www.aimvt.comSupport Tasha:Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast: http://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.comHave a question or topic? Someone you'd like to see on the show? Send us an email: [email protected] the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

**Trigger warning**: This episode may contain subject matter that some listeners might find distrurbing. There is brief discussion of animal abuse, child abuse, and sexual violence while on the topic of veterniary forensics. Listener disgression is advised. This week, Tabitha talks to Dr. Michelle Gonzalez about her career path which led her to opening Rascal Charities, a non-profit created to help animals in need throughout the state of Ohio and her interest in veterinary forensics. We talk about how shelters and veterinary professionals can work together to benefit animals and the community as well as dig into the interesting world of veterinary forensics and how it can greatly benefit the lives of animals and humans. Dr. Michelle GonzalezDr. Gonzalez was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and was raised in Rio Piedras (suburb of San Juan). She was involved in television from a young age but her passion had always been to become a veterinarian. After a year of undergraduate studies in Puerto Rico, she finished her B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University. Michelle obtained my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University in 1999 and then completed a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She worked in private practice for 6 years before starting her own practice, a mobile clinic offering sterilization and wellness services to rural areas in Ohio. The mobile clinic rapidly grew into accessible and affordable care for individuals in need of help for their pets, as well as the ability to offer services and procedures beyond routine care. Michelle is very involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victim of cruelty and neglect. She have a passion for what she does and is always looking for ways to do more for the animals and the community. Michelle completed a master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida in 2017 and a master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University in January of 2022. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. Her goal is to provide forensic services for crimes to and involving animals and assist with education in cruelty and neglect.Rascal Charities is a 501c3 organization that provides financial assistance to individuals in the State of Ohio for medical and surgical services provided by the Rascal Unit. Information on the organization and links for tax deductible donations can be found on our website at www.rascalcharities.orgSupport the show :TwitterFacebookInstagramEmail Support the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

On today’s episode, Tabitha talks to “The Cat LVT”, Ellen Carozza, about, you guessed it, cats! We chat about our love for cats, how they are often misunderstood, how you can advocate for the cats in your care, pediatric kitten care, and more! Ellen Carozza is a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 1996 who has worked exclusively with feline patients since 2002, Ellen (The CAT LVT)  currently resides at NOVA CAT CLINIC in Arlington, VA and is one of the founders of the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation, a 501(c)3 dedicated to the critical feline neonate and pediatric cases.In addition to her full time career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, and her “mother of kittens'' role with the foundation, she also lectures on the veterinary circuit. Known for her no-nonsense attitude and practical methods of teaching, Ellen has co-authored several guidelines with the American Association of Feline Practitioners as well as the International Society of Feline Medicine. She has been featured in “AAHA Trends Magazine”, “Today’s Veterinary Nurse”, “Vet Girl on the Run'' as well social media news outlets such as “LOVE MEOW “and “The DODO .”  She was featured as Jackson Galaxy's Cat Camp “camp nurse” before COVID teaching their veterinary nursing courses for cats as well as being a long time mentor to  Hannah Shaw, The Kitten Lady to name a few with her work on saving critical kittens instead of euthanasia. Ellen is also one of the three members of the AVTCP organization committee that created the AVTCP Feline subspecialty and holds the title of VTS (CP-Feline) in North America. Aside from not having enough hours in the day, her latest big adventure brings her expanding the CGMFF’s work to Otavalo, Ecuador in November 2022 along with CHASE where they will be providing charitable veterinary services to the local community.  After a long day at work, Ellen comes home to four cats of her own amazing cats; St. Ambrose, Michelle, Loki and Brother Noggin as well as a tolerant husband and daughter that still don’t understand her obsession over cats.Support Ellen:https://criticalkittens.orghttps://www.facebook.com/thecatlvthttps://www.instagram.com/thecatlvt/Not One More Vet:https://www.NOMV.ORGNot One More Vet - Race Around The World (Donation)https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5BQGXT8YNKUH4Support the show :TwitterFacebookInstagramEmailSupport the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

Happy Pain Awareness Month! On today’s episode, Tabitha talks to pain and rehab veterinary technician, Kirsty Oliver, about the importance of multimodal pain management, rehab, and what you can do in your practice or shelter to learn more, advocate for your patients, and be a multimodal animal pain warrior. Kirsty drops so much wisdom in this episode and announces an exciting new resource available to animal professionals to help our canine and feline friends with arthritis.  Kirsty Oliver (VN, DipAVN (Surgical), CVT, CCRP, CVPP, VTS)Rehabilitation Practitioner Kirsty Oliver earned her Veterinary Nursing Degree from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the U.K., and passed her National Veterinary Technician Exam in 2004 after relocating to New Jersey. In 2005, she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner following completion of the University of Tennessee & NE Seminars program.  In 2010, she became certified in veterinary pain management through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. Kirsty Oliver joined the VSC/VSCR family in 2016 after spending 14 years at a large veterinary hospital in New Jersey. Having dedicated the first half of her career to nursing surgical & orthopedic patients she has spent the last 16 years devoted to rehabilitation. In 2018, she obtained her VTS in physical rehabilitation with the APRVT (Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians) & added CCMT (Certified Canine Manual Therapy) in 2021. Kirst’s specialty and keen interest in manual therapy & myofascial work ensures that her cat and dog patients are moving at their best. NC State Certified Companion Animal Therapist Programhttps://www.ncsuvetce.com/instructor/kirsten-oliver/Canine Arthritis Managementhttps://caninearthritis.co.uk/IVAPM.ORGhttps://ivapm.org/Pain Trace https://paintrace.comNot One More Vethttps://www.nomv.org/Support the show :TwitterFacebookInstagramEmailSupport the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

We have all felt insecure at work; sometimes, these insecurities can hold us back. This week I talk to RVT Liz Waynick, about her experience with being insecure as a veterinary technician.  She shares how this insecurity resulted in her working at clinics where she was set up to fail and almost leaving the veterinary field altogether. She also shares her challenges in finding a veterinary practice that was a good fit for her, and more.Liz Waynick (RVT), grew up all over the Midwest but has settled in Northeast Ohio. She’s been an RVT since 2010 and spent most of the beginning of her career in a general practice setting. She currently works at a Veterinary Cardiology practice and writes articles geared towards pet owners. She shares her home with her two cats (Heathcliff and Tyra), her box turtle Amelia, and her Russian tortoise Littlefoot.Healthcliff the cats’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/heathcliff.the.cat/Support the show :TwitterFacebookInstagramEmailSupport the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This week, Tabitha is joined by RVT Robin Post, co-founder of Animal Fix Clinic. Animal Fix Clinic believes every animal and every family deserves the best veterinary care. They offer spay and neuter surgeries and other essential surgical care, all at sliding-scale pricing. They are also working to change the myth that low cost care means low quality care (ie not using pain medications, managing pain and anxiety, etc) and are one of the first low cost fear free certified practices! Robin and I discuss the challenges her clients face and address the myth that if people can not afford pets, they don’t deserve them as well as offer advice for other animal professionals who are working in similar situations. Robin Post, RVT, started her medical career as a veterinary assistant in the shelter medicine department of the San Francisco SPCA. She then assumed a supervisory role in the SF SPCA spay/neuter clinic. Before joining Animal Fix Clinic, Robin was the supervisor of Off-Site Spay-Neuter Services, where she coordinated large off-site spay/neuter clinics for the public and helped develop spay/neuter programs at municipal shelters. Robin provides training to local HVHQSN clinics to teach best practices in a high-volume setting as well as other life-saving surgeries.  She is also a reserve field technician for HSVMA–RAVS,  Robin is also a Level 2 Fear Free Certified Professional.Episode Documentation: CRI GuideSupport Robin: Animal Fix Clinic Support the show : Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | EmailSupport the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

We call it practicing veterinary medicine because we are always improving. The use of inhalant chambers has been around for a long time, and some believe that this technique is safer for the staff and the animal, however, we now know so much more about the physiological and psychological risks this technique poses to both animals and humans along with alternatives.  This week, Tabitha is joined by Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, VTS to discuss why we should ban the box.  We will discuss the risks of using this technique with both humans and animals, safer and stress-reducing alternatives, and how to help advocate for this change. Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, VTSTasha is a Certified Veterinary Technician form Glenside, PA. She is also a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and works closely with the IVAPM to educate the public about animal pain awareness. Tasha became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha loves to lecture on various anesthesia and pain management topics around the globe and was recently named the VMX 2020 speaker of the Year for veterinary technicians. Tasha has authored numerous articles on anesthesia and analgesia topics for veterinary professionals and pet parents. In her spare time Tasha enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and son, and recording the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast. Ban The Box Handout Ban the Box -  Tabitha Kucera CCBC, RVT, KPA-CTP (PDF) ReferencesBan The Box ReferencesSupport Tasha:Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast: http://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.comSupport the show : Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | EmailPlease rate and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts!Support the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech