|
 Rohini Fernandes, is a clinical psychologist and a certified practitioner of Animal-Assisted Therapy from the University of North Texas, USA and from Delta Society (now Pet Partners), USA. She is also a certified counsellor from St Xavier Institute of Counselling Psychology and a certified practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming having learned from Doctor Richard McHugh.
Since 2001, Rohini has been practicing as a dog trainer and canine behaviourist. She has worked with a wider variety of breeds and specializes in training therapy dogs. For more information about her dog training, you can visit www.rohinifernandes.com
The gorgeous Golden Retriever by her side is Angel, who was her co-therapist for 10 years and the inspiration behind the name "Animal Angels Foundation".
The idea of using animals to help people first came to Rohini during her fieldwork in her M.A. where she had to work in the Psychiatric wards of various hospitals. She felt it would be easier to connect with clients and get better and quicker responses if she could have a dog sitting by her side rather than just apply the conventional therapy that was being used.
Rohini researched this area and decided to combine her knowledge of dogs with her training in the field of psychology to use "Animal-Assisted Therapy" with her clients. The positive results encouraged her to specialize in this area. Having Angel only strengthened her belief that animals can bring about a lot of positive changes in a person's life. She started Animal Angels Foundation in January 2005, after Angel finished her training as a therapy dog.
About six months after she started with "Animal Angels Foundation" she met Radhika, who shared her passion for animals and who also strongly believed in this therapy. They decided to work together and reach out to as many people as they could through Animal Angels Foundation.
|
Meet the Angels - Rohini