About the Author

Aviva Vincent, PhD, LMSW is a Veterinary Social Worker  and co-owner of Healing Paws LLC. She is social work faculty at Cleveland State University and a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. Dr. Vincent is trained credentialed with PATH Intl for Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and Equine Services for Heroes, and with the HERD Institute in Advanced Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. She is trained in Results Based Accountability for organizational strategic planning and evaluation. She holds facilitator training through the Harwood Institute, Sustained Dialogue, and the Institute for Social Change. As a social justice advocate, she centers DEI in her practice inclusive of Access and Belonging. She is on the board of trustees for PATH International Board of Trustees wherein she chairs the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, and she chairs the conference committee for the International Association of Veterinary Social work. Dr. Vincent was awarded Cleveland Crain’s 40 under 40 (2023), and the Early Career Success Award by Case Western Reserve University (2022). She has twenty peer-reviewed publications and chapters in Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral Scientists, The Comprehensive Guide to Interdisciplinary Veterinary Social Work, The Handbook on Human Animal Interactions and Anthrozoology, and Integrating Horses Into Healing. Dr. Vincent is certified through Canine Companions and Animal Assisted Intervention Professionals to serve as a handler for her therapy dog, Heddy.