The Resilient Animal
The Resilient Animal: Exploring Mental Health Through Helping Animals and Their People
The Resilient Animal podcast is hosted by Dr. Annie Petersen, an expert with a Doctorate in Education and a Master's in Mental Health Recovery and Trauma-informed Care. Listeners embark on a journey to understand how assisting other living beings can positively impact human mental health and well-being. The podcast delves into the concept of resilience and how resilience is demonstrated in both human and non-human animals.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This content is the property of the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies / Annie Petersen, Ed.D. and is for educational purposes only.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should contact your own physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical/mental health condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on information from this content. Relying on information provided by this content is done at your own risk, In the event of a medical or mental health emergency, contact your physician or contact 9-1-1 immediately.
The Resilient Animal
Pet Loss and Cultural Insights with Dr. Michele Whitney
In this episode of The Resilient Animal, host Annie Petersen continues her in-depth conversation with Dr. Michele Whitney. They explore topics such as the human-animal bond, grief associated with pet loss, and unique cultural perspectives within the African American community. Dr. Whitney discusses her groundbreaking qualitative research, which delves into the experiences of African American adults and their relationships with pets.
Key themes include disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, and post-traumatic growth, highlighting the profound emotional and spiritual impact pets have on their owners. The episode offers valuable insights into how different communities experience and cope with the loss of a pet.
00:00 Introduction to The Resilient Animal Podcast
00:30 Welcoming Back Dr. Michele Whitney
01:13 Exploring the Human-Animal Bond
02:13 Research Focus: African American Adults and Pet Loss
03:51 Conferences and Presentations
04:54 Study Overview: Grief Experiences of Pet Loss
14:24 Themes from the Study
15:55 Familial Bonds and Pet Relationships
18:56 Anticipatory Grief and Willingness to Love Again
21:03 Understanding Disenfranchised Grief
23:47 Mother's Dislike for Cats
24:20 Stigma Around Certain Pets
25:30 Fear and Disenfranchised Grief
28:12 Dual Process Model of Grief
31:04 Learned Compartmentalization
34:35 Cultural Aspects of Grief
46:12 Emotional and Spiritual Transformation
47:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
