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156. Ann Howie, ACSW, CCA, CCFT 

 February 10, 2026

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." ~ Lou Holtz

Psychotherapist and dog professional Ann Howie built her professional life around doing animal-assisted therapy with her own dogs. Then for years, none of her dogs wanted to do that work. She had to adjust her entire vision around what was actually true.

We explore the difference between listening to yourself and actually following through—two separate permissions. Ann shares her wisdom about shifting loads rather than just carrying them, about mental nutrition mattering as much as physical nutrition, and about the delicate balance she calls "the selfishness versus self-care conundrum."

Links worth clicking:

  1. Ann's website: Human-Animal Solutions
  2. Teaming with Your Therapy Dog book
  3. Asssessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions book
Ann R. Howie on Unleashed (at work & home), podcast by Colleen Pelar

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