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Ask About Pets!: A Necessity in Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health Care
This presentation will be an ONLINE VIRTUAL LIVE on May 8, 2026, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET. While this activity is LIVE and can only be viewed during the time specified, the evaluation will be available online until June 5, 2026. Go to the Register tab above to learn how to participate for continuing education credit, watch the broadcast and download the slides.
While 70% of U.S. households report at least one pet – and over 90% identify pets as family – these vital relationships are often overlooked in behavioral health care, despite their importance to safety planning, housing stability, social support, and grief support. For many trauma survivors, companion animals are sources of safety, regulation, and connection. When these relationships are ignored, providers risk missing critical elements of a client’s support system and resilience, as well as potential sources of distress or danger.
Grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care, the NASW Code of Ethics, and relevant interdisciplinary standards, this webinar provides behavioral health providers with the knowledge and tools to integrate three core pet-related questions into clinical practice. Participants will learn how to approach these conversations in ways that promote emotional safety, respect lived experience, and strengthen trust. The session emphasizes collaborative problem-solving, empowering clients to make informed choices, and using resources like the national Pet Help Finder database to support human–animal well-being.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to:
- Identify at least 3 trauma-informed care principles that support asking about pets in behavioral health practice.
- Describe at least 3 types of risks clients – particularly those with trauma histories – may face when pet-related concerns are unaddressed.
- Explain how the biological, psychological, social, and emotional benefits of companion animals (at least one of each type) can support trauma recovery and resilience.
- Discuss the 3 core “Ask About Pets!” questions and how to apply them in a trauma-informed manner.
- Identify at least 3 intake, assessment, or service entry points where pet-related questions can be integrated into forms/EHRs.
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Price: Free. All courses offered through Sheppard Pratt are free of charge. There is no need to cancel if you cannot attend or complete a course, as no refund is necessary. Not completing an activity acts as a cancellation.
For more information on how to participate in this course, please read to the bottom of the page to review all of the directions.
For directions on how to participate in the program, refer to the FAQ page.
To participate in the interactive synchronous distance learning format course, you will download the handout, watch a webcast of the live broadcast hosted through Notified, and complete the required posttest, evaluation, and attestation for credit. A 75% is required for the posttest. You may retake it as many times as necessary to achieve that score. Once you have completed all the components of the Course Progress bar, the certificate will be available for immediate download. The certificate will also be saved in your account transcript.
Attendees claiming APA and ACE credits must attend the entire course. No partial credit will be awarded. If you are late to the event or need to leave early, you should not claim APA or ACE credits.
Outline of Activity:
1:00- 1:05 pm: Introduction
1:06- 1:50 pm: Presentation
1:51- 2:00 pm: Q&A
2:00 pm: End of event
Registration closes on May 8, 2026, at 12:59 pm ET. The course expires and cannot be completed after June 5, 2026.
Please contact [email protected] if you have questions, concerns, grievances, or for ADA accommodations.
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TO EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE
1. Before the Event
- Log in to Your Ethos Account:
Access your Sheppard Pratt Ethos account and locate the activity by series, title, or speaker name. - Register for the Course:
Go to the Register tab, click the green Take Course button, and follow the prompts. - Access the Broadcast Link:
Close out of the course and go back to the Overview Tab of the course page to access the broadcast link. The live broadcast link is located on the Overview tab of the course page. You do not need the codeword to watch the broadcast.
2. Register to Watch the Live Broadcast (Separate from Course Registration)
Important: This registration is different from registering for the course in Ethos. You must complete both registrations to watch the broadcast and earn credit.
How to Register:
- Click the Broadcast Registration Link (also located in the Overview tab): https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=3B1F05B1-BC39-44E8-9960-0C808C5696A1
- Enter your first name, last name, and email address. Click Submit.
How to Join:
- At the scheduled time use the same link.
- If you have already registered, scroll down and click Already Registered, then enter your registered email address and click Submit.
- The broadcast link will be active at 12:30 PM.
3. Download the Handout
- The handout will be available for download on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.
Download Handout:
4. During the Event
- Attendance Verification:
A codeword will be announced during the live broadcast. This codeword confirms your attendance and unlocks the remaining required components for credit. - How to Submit the Codeword:
- Via Website: Go to https://cme.sheppardpratt.org/code and enter the codeword.
- Via SMS: Text the codeword to 410-291-8061.
Tip: Save this number in your contacts for convenience. - Via Course Progress Bar: You can type in the codeword in the box where it asks for it after you complete the Pretest.
Important:
The codeword submission window remains open for nearly four weeks. High traffic may cause delays immediately after the event. If the system is slow, wait and try again later.
5. After the Lecture
- Go to My Account > Pending Courses and select the course by clicking the course title.
- Click Take Course and use the navigation buttons in the lower right corner for best results.
- Complete all components in the Course Progress Bar:
- Posttest
- Evaluation
- Credit designation
- Once completed, the certificate will be available for immediate download. Your transcript will reflect the earned credits.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page or email [email protected].
This event can be taken as an interactive synchronous distance learning course. You will download the handout, watch the live broadcast, and complete the required posttest, evaluation, and attestation for credit. A 75% is required for the posttest. You may retake it as many times as necessary to achieve that score. Once you have completed all the components of the Course Progress bar, the certificate will be available for immediate download. The certificate will also be saved in your account transcript.
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There is no commercial support for this activity.
About the speaker
Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach is a practicing licensed clinical social worker, researcher, author, and a veterinary social worker at Open Door Veterinary Collective (ODVC). ODVC is a US-based training and technical assistance non-profit focused on increasing access to veterinary care and related supports that help people and companion animals stay healthy and together.
Janet’s research on Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) has been cited in sources such as Discover Magazine, Business Insider, the Guardian, and Psychology Today. She is an expert witness on ESAs for the U.S. Department of Justice, and is the lead author of Human-Animal Interaction: A Social Work Guide, a peer reviewed book published by National Association of Social Work (NASW) Press.
Janet started her career as an outreach case manager working with adults living with chronic mental illness and addiction, and provided a range of services for over two decades in urban community behavioral health settings. She then worked for over a decade at a R1 university in Ohio; where she was a tenured full professor of social work, serving as the lead faculty for the graduate social work mental health tract with a joint appointment in psychiatry. Janet now speaks and trains internationally on recognizing and supporting the mutual well-being of humans, animals, and communities within and across human and animal service systems, serves as a part-time veterinary social worker for ODVC, and provides individual outpatient therapy at Resilient Minds Behavioral Health in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Disclosure Statements
Sheppard Pratt holds the standard that its continuing medical education programs should be free of commercial bias and conflict of interest. In accord with Sheppard Pratt's Disclosure Policy, as well as standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the American Medical Association (AMA), all planners, reviewers, speakers and persons in control of content have been asked to disclose any relationship he /she has with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months. All planners, reviewers and speakers have also been asked to disclose any payments accepted for this lecture from any entity besides Sheppard Pratt, and if there will be discussion of any products, services or off-label uses of product(s) during this presentation.
Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, reports that she is a researcher/consultant for Ask About Pets! during the past 24 months. She will not discuss any products, services, or off-label uses in this presentation. All relationships have been mitigated through review.
Event Planners/Reviewers Disclosures: The following event planners and/or reviewers are reported as having no financial interest, arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months: Todd Peters, MD, Michael C. Hann, MD, MBA, Ronald Means, MD, Rajeev Krishna, MD, PhD, MBA, Louis Marino, MD, Devi Bhuyan, PsyD, Manan Shah, MD, Vittoria DeLucia, MD, Chad J. Lennon, MD, Faith Dickerson, PhD, MPH, Carrie Etheridge, LCSW-C, April Sobiech, LCSW-C, Latia Suite, LCSW-C, Tom Flis, MS, BCBA, LBA, LCPC, Lisa Illum, MLIS, MEd, and Jennifer Tornabene.
Psychologist Statements: Sheppard Pratt is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Sheppard Pratt maintains the responsibility for this program and its contents. Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hours for Psychologists.
Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of continuing education. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity. Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hours for Psychologists.
Social Worker Statements: Sheppard Pratt, 2104, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 4/22/2025- 4/22/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 General continuing education credits.
Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners of Maryland to offer continuing education for Social Workers. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hours in Category I credits for Social Workers.
Counselor Statement: Sheppard Pratt has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5098. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sheppard Pratt is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This activity is available for 1.0 NBCC clock hours.
Available Credit
- 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
- 1.00 American Psychological AssociationSheppard Pratt is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Sheppard Pratt maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- 1.00 Category I credits for Social Workers
- 1.00 Psychologists
- 1.00 Participation
Directions to attend and complete the activity for credit are located on the Overview tab.
Click the Take Course button to proceed into the course to complete the requirements for credit.
Required Hardware/software
Optimal System Configuration
Flash Player: Adobe Flash Player 10.1+
Browser: Firefox 3+, Internet Explorer 8.0+, Safari 4.0+, or Google Chrome 7.0+
Operating System: Windows XP+ or Mac OS X 10.4+
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements
Windows PC: 500-MHz Pentium II; Windows XP or higher; 128 MB RAM; Video Card at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card at least 16-bit; Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher, audio playback with speakers for programs with video content; Firefox 1.1+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, Safari 1.0+, Google Chrome, or Opera
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher with latest updates installed; 1.83MHz Intel Core Duo or faster; RAM: 128MB or more; Video Card: at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card: at least 16-bit
Hardware/Software Specifications
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using Internet Explorer 8+, Mozilla Firefox 3+, Safari 4+. This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.