Background: Work and Education
Dr Vanessa Rohlf has a PhD with a specialisation in psychology (human-animal interactions) and a Masters degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has blended her knowledge of human psychology and human-animal interactions in a number of previous roles over the last 20 years. These include veterinary nursing, psychology lecturer at Monash University, and animal welfare researcher at the Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne. She is a certified compassion fatigue therapist and educator and has additional training and qualifications in EMDR, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, animal bereavement, and suicide prevention. Vanessa is a member of the American Psychological Association, a clinical registrant with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), and a research fellow in the School of Psychology & Public Health at La Trobe University. She also regularly presents her work in peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as international and national conferences.
Vanessa works with a range of animal care industries including animal shelters, veterinary clinics, zoos, and research facilities. She also regularly provides individual counselling and support to pet owners and professional animal caregivers from a range of industries.
