Date: Thursday, November 19
Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Location: Room 2520-D, University Capitol Centre (UCC), 200 South Capitol St., Iowa City, & via Zoom
👉RSVP by November 16.

Complimentary coffee and cookies will be available for in-person attendees beginning at 12:30 p.m.

In this talk, UI Professor Katy Schroeder will explore the human–animal bond and its potential to promote mental health and enhance counseling outcomes. Drawing on her research with therapy horses, she will share insights into this innovative approach to mental health care and its implications for the future of clinical practice.

Dr. Schroeder is an associate professor in the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Iowa and co-directs the Human–Animal Interactions for Wellbeing Collaborative, a University of Iowa Obermann Center working group on the human–animal bond. She is a National Certified Counselor and also holds certifications from PATH International as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Her research, teaching, and clinical interests center on the intersections of the human–animal bond, mental health, and clinician training. She has published and presented extensively on the incorporation of horse interactions in counseling, therapy horse behavior and welfare, as well as special topics in human–animal interactions.