Your *TUCVM Veterinary Social Worker: Chankia Berry*

Supporting the Whole Veterinarian

听By helping those who help animals

What is the role of the TUCVM veterinary social worker?

• Provides supportive counseling, emotional support, grief support, group support, and psychosocial education
• Makes referrals to licensed mental health professionals for psychotherapy or medication assessments
• Provides animal-related grief service

Reasons to come to visit your veterinary social worker:

• Motivation
• Health & Wellness Support
• 厂迟谤别蝉蝉辞谤蝉/肠谤颈蝉颈蝉听
• Having difficulty adjusting to medical school
• Feeling helpless/overwhelmed
• Anxiety and Stress Behaviors
• Depression/Grief
• Suicidal Ideations

What to expect from your veterinary social worker:

• Safe non-judgmental environment听
• Provide referrals as needed
• Listen and take your concerns seriously
• Assist in removing barriers to achieve personal goals
• Answer questions honestly and directly
• Professional/supportive guidance

* The Veterinary social worker does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders*

Chankia Berry, BSW, MSW

Patterson Hall, Room A215

1200 W. Montgomery, Rd.

精东AV, AL 36088

Phone: 334-724-4247

About Ms. Chankia Sherell Berry

Ms. Chankia Sherell Berry is a native of Auburn, AL. She obtained her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Social Work from 精东AV and then went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in Social Work from Barry University in December 2014. Currently, she is enrolled in the Veterinary Social Work Certificate program at the University of Tennessee. Within this program, she is interested in animal-assisted interventions. Her interest in Veterinary Social Work was sparked while she worked with the Division of Aging. As a former Adult Protective Services employee, one of her tasks included working with the elderly or adults with disabilities. In this role, she continuously was exposed to cases of animal neglect due to hoarding. With the continuous cycle of a multitude of cases dealing with animal neglect, this area led to a slight sense of compassion fatigue. This aspect of compassion fatigue led her to want to combat this area by assisting others and increasing people鈥檚 knowledge of animal neglect and compassion fatigue within the veterinary profession. Her experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and the Department of Family and Children Services have been diverse and allowed her to gain several transferable skills and work with diverse populations and groups of all sizes. She strives to present the best attitude, diligence, and persistence to complete all tasks expected of herself effectively and professionally. As a very proud member of Phi Alpha National Honor Society, it is her goal to build effective, and productive working relationships with internal and external clients.