Mental Wellbeing and Positive Psychology for Veterinary Professionals: A Pre-emptive, Proactive and Solution-based Approach

There are so many things I love about this book, it is difficult to know where to start! Its strongest point is perhaps the fact that it shows the reader that it is possible to live a full and meaningful life even when this life can sometimes feel very challenging. Laura Woodward invites the reader to develop and strengthen skills which allow us to deal with the moments of pain and difficulty as much as staying to those moments of connection, joy and happiness. Thereby, we can learn to embrace life in all its depth.And here are some additional reasons why I am recommending this book:1) It is evidence based, combining modern psychology and secular mindfulness techniques.2) It is practical and accessible allowing the reader to easily navigate through the content and dip in and out of topics.3) It includes stories and examples that readers can relate to.4) Royalties go to both Vetlife and free therapy for veterinary nurses.5) It includes the most brilliant and inspiring quotes!6) The fact that Laura Woodward is a vet herself gives this book some additional credibilityI am working in the I have been working as a vet for over 25 years and, going through a very difficult life period myself recently, have used methods in this book myself as well as using it to support colleagues in my practice.And so, I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone working in the veterinary profession, whether they would like to support their own mental health and wellbeing and/or they would like to support others.

This is a great resource from Laura Woodward that provides simple, easy to digest information in short readable sections. Laura is both a practicing veterinary surgeon and a qualified counsellor and so has a unique insight and a wealth of experience managing the stressors associated with the veterinary professions.The book can be read from start to finish or picked up and read as required, out of sequence, making it a really valuable resource on the practice shelf or bookcase at home. Throughout the text Laura weaves neuroscience and psychological research with song lyrics and evidence-based counselling experience of veterinary professionals to illustrate her themes and management strategies. The use of simple cartoon images adds to the engagement of the text and provides great visual information even if a little small.I absolutely love this book and use it all the time when teaching veterinary students and providing continuing professional development for vets and vet nurses. I would thoroughly recommend every veterinary school library stock several copies of this text, as well as every practice. Well done Laura for producing such a readable, useful book.

As a vet and counsellor, the author has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by veterinary professionals and the wide range of positive psychology strategies that can improve our mental wellbeing. The practical, evidence-based advice in this book has been extremely beneficial to me personally, and it continues to be an invaluable and frequently used resource in my professional role.If you are currently feeling good, reading this book will help you to stay that way, build your reserves for the future and support your colleagues effectively. If work feels a bit more difficult at the moment, be kind to yourself by investing in the book and trying some of the strategies. If you are uncertain about whether counselling is for you, the case studies will help you to understand how impactful it can be.

This book is accessible and easy to digest without taking away any key information. It blends research and practical advice seamlessly to guide its reader through beneficial practice for mental health. It tackles key issues faced in the veterinary practice, and is designed in such a way to allow the reader to pick it up whenever it is needed, as opposed reading from cover to cover.We have two in our practice library, one of which are loaned out to colleagues who may need it most. A valuable tool for all veterinary professionals.

I am not a vet but work in mental health as a counsellor. This book will be a very valuable guide to wellbeing for vets and vet nurses. It is clearly laid out and easy to follow, with a wealth of practical advice about specific challenges faced by veterinary practitioners. The writer, Laura Woodward, has a very unusual professional profile in that she is both a surgical veterinarian and an accredited counsellor. This puts her in the position of being able to use her field of training as a counsellor to inform the advice she gives and the result is humane, practical and comprehensive. As a counsellor, if I had a friend or family member in the veterinary profession, I would definitely gift them this empathic book to support them in looking after themselves whilst they look after the animals we love.