More and more of today's
veterinarians sincerely want to help their clients deal with emotional,
pet-related situations. In fact, many believe they have a moral and ethical
responsibility to respond to their clients' emotional needs. If you share
this belief, you need to know how to establish effective helping relationships
with clients and their families. Helping relationships are based on skilled
communication, yet these skills are not taught as part of the traditional
curriculum in most veterinary schools.
To "fill the gaps" in their educational training, many practicing veterinarians
have asked for a guide to show them how to reach out to others during
emotional times. The Guidelines for Bond-Centered Practice serves
that purpose, describing a systematic approach to dealing with the emotional,
non-medical needs of pet owners and staff. The Guidelines show
you how to implement useful, practical, and realistic protocols, referral
networks, communication techniques, and direct service programs in order
to provide human support. The Guidelines are specific to the areas
of building trust and loyalty, animal behavior and pet loss.
The human-animal bond is a much-discussed topic these days, yet it's difficult
to know how to apply the dynamic energy of the bond to everyday practice.
The Guidelines for Bond-Centered Practice demonstrate how you and
your veterinary team can apply what is known about the bond to create
a Bond-Centered Practice that supports and responds to the emotional needs
created by the human-animal bond.
