About Me

Hi, I’m Kaitlyn O’Neel, a licensed independent advanced social worker (LIASW) based in Washington and deeply committed to the intersection of human and animal wellbeing. My passion is supporting the people behind animal care —veterinary professionals, animal welfare teams, zoologists, and more—through practical, trauma-informed mental health services.

I started CARE (Compassionate Animal Resources and Education) Consulting because I saw firsthand how often the wellbeing of animal care professionals is overlooked, despite engaging with emotionally demanding work day in and day out. The animal welfare field is uniquely complex, where compassion fatigue, moral distress, grief, and trauma are routine, and yet rarely acknowledged or addressed in meaningful ways. While mental health support continues to become more accessible, few providers truly understand the nuances of working with animals, the intensity of the human-animal bond, or the systemic stressors that come with this kind of work. CARE was created to fill that gap.

With a background in both social work and human development, I’ve spent years embedded within an animal shelter, providing direct support to staff, volunteers, and clients navigating the emotional demands of the field. I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on health, equity, and wellness from the University of Denver and a post-master’s Certificate in Veterinary Social Work from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

I utilize a collaborative, equity-focused, anti-oppressive, and affirming approach centered on genuine connection, trust, and client-directed goals. In addition to individual therapy and support, I offer a number of workshops and trainings for veterinary or animal care teams. As a Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, I also offer this training to help organizations better equip their staff to support each other and their communities.

CARE Consulting exists to tackle mental health in the animal care field from both the individual and organizational levels because sustainable change requires systems that are designed to care for the caregivers, too. Whether through therapy, coaching, or collaborative training, my goal is to make animal care work more sustainable, connected, and compassionate for the humans who do it every day.