Mental Wellbeing and Positive Psychology for Veterinary Professionals

Laura Woodward, MVB; CertVR; CertSAS; Dip Couns; MRCVS is the Founder of a counselling and mindfulness practice for veterinary professionals and also a surgical veterinarian at the Hampstead Village Vet Hospital in London in the United Kingdom. She is also a mindfulness teacher, a positive psychologist, and is training to be an equine psychotherapist.The Author has assigned a 50% of their Royalty to Vetlife and the rest to providing free of charge therapy for Veterinary nurses.

• Foreword xviHow the Book and Ideas Were Developed xxiiHow to Use This Book xxivPart 1 Strategies 1Mindfulness 3What Does ‘Mindfulness’ Mean? 3Paying Attention to the Present Moment 3Non-judgement 3Mindful Living 4Mindfulness: How to Do It 6An Introduction to Mindful Meditation 8Mindful Meditation: Paying Attention, on Purpose 9Mindful Meditation: Non- judgement of Emotions 11The Case for Mindfulness versus I’m Already Too Busy 15Mindfulness in the Veterinary Practice 17Mindfulness and Management 20Emotional Intelligence 21The Five Competencies of Emotional Intelligence 21Self- awareness 23How Do I Become More Self- aware? 24Self-regulation 25Motivation 27Empathy 29Social Skills 29Empathy 31The Three Types of Empathy 31Leadership and Empathy for Line Managers 34The Evidence- based Case for Leadership: Empathic Concern versus Empathy Alone 39Acceptance and Proactivity 39How Do I Do It? 40What’s Not Helpful 40What Is Helpful 41The Empathy–Profitability Link 42Secular Buddhist Concepts 45Basic Elements of Secular Buddhism 45The Four Noble Truths 45The Nature of Impermanence 48Attachment 49Positive Psychology 50The Three Circles of Control 50Reference 52Part 2 How to Meditate 53How to Meditate: Part 1 55Introduction 55Gain Control of Your Mind 57Mindful Drinking 58Mindful Breathing 58Mindful Body Scan 58Loving Kindness Meditation 59Hand- on- Heart Meditation 61How to Meditate: Part 2 63Observe an Emotion 63Anger 63Anxiety 65How to Meditate: Part 3 67How to Meditate: Part 4 69Opening Shutters Meditation 69The Fortress 71The Heavy Bucket 71Climbing Up the Branches of a Tree 72Conveyor Belt Meditation 72Part 3 Difficulties and Applying Strategies 75Anxiety 77Fear of Failure 80The Dalai Lama Advises 81How Do I Stop Fearing Fear? 81Disputing Irrational Beliefs and Doing Our Cognitive Homework 82Change Your Language in Order to Change Your Thought Process 83Exercises for Attacking Shame 83Imagery and Role Play 84Desensitisation 84Loss of Confidence 86Perfectionism 88Imposter Syndrome 93Feel Like a Fraud? 93What Can I Do? 94Recognise Your Expertise 95Remember What You Do Well 95Talk About It 95Compassion Fatigue 96What are the Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue? 98How Do I Prevent or Recover from Compassion Fatigue? 99References 101Lack of Assertiveness 102Empathy 104Motivation 105Social Media and Doom Surfing 106How Do I Stop Doom Surfing? 108References 110Yearning, Striving and Wishing Things Were Different 111‘Letting Go’ of Striving 111What is Striving? 111Blissful Happiness 113Moral Injury 116What Can We Do About Moral Injury? 118Moral Courage 119References 120Identity 121When Being a Veterinary Professional is Your Whole Identity 121How Do You Know if Your Identity Has Become Enmeshed with Your Career? 122Start Small 122Bullying 124Cancel Culture 125How to Refrain from Punitive Actions 126Conflict and Client Complaints 127Team Dynamics 131Team Dynamics and Difficult Colleagues 131Team Dynamics and Helping Colleagues 133Depression 136Anger 138What’s Normal? 139Knowing How and When to Express Your Anger is a Skill Worth Developing 141Sleep on It 141Grief 142How to Grieve Mindfully 143Competitive Grief 144Comparative Grief 145The Emotional Burden of Error 147Guilt 147Fear 148Isolation 148Guilt 151I Feel Guilty 152What is Guilt? 152Misuse of Guilt 153Helpful Guilt 153Misplaced Guilt 153When Your World Falls Apart 156References 161Euthanasia and Suicide 162References 164Chronic Pain 165References 167Burnout 169The Three Dimensions of Burnout 169Emotional Exhaustion (Focus, Language and Posture) 170Depersonalisation 172Disconnection from Purpose 173Summary of Strategies to Combat Burnout 174Neuroplasticity and Reversing Burnout 175The Evidence Base 176Suicide, Burnout and Chronic Stress 176Recognising Burnout 176Mindfulness and Burnout 176References 179Management and Mindfulness 180Mindfulness as an Evidence- based Tool to Prevent Stress, Burnout and Depersonalisation 180How Do We Promote Mindfulness Training in Our Practices? 183Reference 183Suicide in the Veterinary Professions 184The Perfect Storm in Vets 185How Do We Increase Our Production of Oxytocin? 186Understanding the Steps Towards Suicide 187References 188Part 4 Therapy 189Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 191Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy 191Mindfulness- based Stress Reduction 193Evidence Base for MBSR 194Aims of MBSR 194References 195Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 196Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cancer 200Animal- assisted Therapies 202Communication 204Collaboration 205Respect 206References 206Part 5 Case Studies 207Introduction: The Counselling Process 209Ann (A New Graduate Vet) 211First Session 211Acceptance 214Second Session 215Homework 217Third Session 218Summary 220Ben (An Experienced Vet) 221First Session 221Second Session 225Third Session 227Summary 227Darren (A Specialist Vet) 229First Session 229Second Session 233Third Session 235Summary 237Claire (Head Nurse) 239First Session 240Second Session 242Summary 244Part 6 Positive Psychology 245Gratitude 247What Gratitude Isn’t 247Grateful for Nothing 248Reference 250Kindness 251Small Acts of Kindness 251Random Acts of Kindness 253References 253Mindful Gift Giving and Receiving 254How to Practise Mindful Gift Giving 255Mindful Receiving of Gifts 256Pride and Profitability 257Self- focused Pride and Other- focused Pride 257Positive Psychology 258Enhancing Self- focused Pride 259How Do I Notice the Mini- victories? 259Enhancing Other-focused Pride 259References 260Stubborn Optimism 261What Can I Do? 263Resilience 265Mindfulness and Resilience 265Positive Emotion 267Engagement 267Relationships 267Meaning 268Accomplishments 268References 269Two Ways of Looking 270How Mindfulness Can Improve Cardiac Health 272References 274Self- compassion versus Self- care 275Mindfulness 276Loving Kindness Towards Yourself 277Hand-on-heart Meditation 277A Sense of Common Humanity 278Being Ready for Some Good News 279Why We Tend to Ignore the Good Moments 280Three Practices to Help Us Notice the Good News 280The Use of Language 282Internal Monologue 282External Words to Self 283External Words to Others 283Exercise and Work–Life Balance 286Mindful versus Mindless Exercise – Your Call 286Lacking in Motivation? Find an Exercise You Actually Like 287Reference 288Learning from Our Pets 289Lesson One – The Importance of a Good Routine 291Lesson Two – Feel What I Need to Feel When I Need to Feel It 291Lesson Three – How to Truly Be Present 292Resolutions and Intentions and Mindfulness- based Eating Awareness Therapy 294New Year Intentions 296Postponing Mindfulness and Self- compassion 300Index 305

This book is a readily accessible, positive psychology manual for those working in veterinary practice. It has been written by Laura Woodward, melding her intimate knowledge and experience of being both a busy veterinary surgeon and counsellor of others working within veterinary practice. Her background as a trained counsellor, mindfulness practitioner and positive psychologist shines through on every page providing an easy to read, go-to resource for everyone in the veterinary team.-Kirstie Pickles, EDI Lead,  Harper & Keele Veterinary School and Founder, Unedited Minds. Published by Veterinary Woman This book delivers on the author’s promise – it is a portable and extremely useful resource for all members of the veterinary team. It is practical for referring to in the moment, as well as being valuable for more extensive reading when time permits, with references for those who wish to read more widely on any of the topics.- Kate Richards, Mental Health Advocate, Mind Matters Initiative ambassador, and Vetlife volunteer. Published in Vet Record (Aug 24)The UK’s leading veterinary service providers are also backing the book which is set to become the definitive industry guide to mental health issues.- Business Mondays (Oct 23)Mental Wellbeing and Positive Psychology for Veterinary Professionals is full of insightful and informative information to help any and all veterinary professionals throughout their career, no matter what stage they are currently at.- Veterinary Practice, Improve International (Oct 23)