Consultancy for optimal human wellbeingÂ
People are the drivers and makers of change. But to do good, you must feel good.
To give good care and do good work, you must feel well first. This means taking care and knowing how to do so.Â
But you've heard of âself-careâ before. You sigh inside, expecting the fluffy advice of âjust think more positivelyâ which is easier said than done. Or you get that rising sense of irritation - that the 'tips and tricks' shared are just unrealistic and simply donât match up to your lived experience. Â
We donât pretend we know what it feels like to be you, but we do know that it matters.Â
We focus on prioritising whatâs meaningful and ask, âWhat is it like to be you?â so that we can show up in a way that actually matters for ourselves, animals and each other. Together weâll explore the highs and lows along with the challenges and the opportunities. Youâll develop a set of tools and foundations to guide you through all of lifeâs experiences by taking good care of yourself first and foremost.Â
By understanding our own wellbeing and how to support it we have the tools to take good care and give good care, meaning we can do good for animals, people and planet whilst feeling in good in ourselves at the same time.
Our services
Choose from a range of services designed to help you support your own wellbeing so that you can do good whilst feeling good.Â
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Creating a Culture of Care
We can support organisations in creating or expanding a culture of care. A workplace culture of care focuses on individual, team, leadership, and organisational aspects. Care and compassion in the workplace revolve around a sense of belonging and feeling respected, supported, and cared for. Together we can work towards an holistic approach for all in the organisation.Â
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Workshops and events
Our workshops and events can be delivered as part of an integrated package or as standalone subjects. You can book single or multi-day options to suit your needs and budget, with online or in-person options too. By blending science and evidence with compassion and laughter we create an environment which supports the flourishing of all.Â
Topics covered
- Reducing empathic strain and carer fatigue
- Preventing burnout
- Dealing with grief and loss
- Understanding (vicarious) trauma
- Maintaining and increasing job satisfaction
- Self-care practices
- Developing resilience, witnessing (vicarious) healing
- Creating healthy habits and setting boundaries
- Creating support networks
- Mastering work-life integration
- Staying grounded in stressful work
- Organisational care
- Conducting individual and organisational risk and resilience assessments
- Supporting trauma-sensitive work environmentsÂ
One Care
We use a One Care approach. This means our holistic programs and interventions are designed to support wellbeing at an individual and organisational level. When combined, compassionate self-care (individuals) and we-care (organisational) approaches will support the flourishing of animals, people and planet - together.
A workplace culture of care focuses on individual, team, leadership, and organisational aspects. Care and compassion in the workplace revolve around a sense of belonging and feeling respected, supported, and cared for.
Holistic education, sharing, and learning across all staff, combined with continued personal and professional development, are key to creating a safe and brave culture of belonging and empowerment. Supportive, role-modeling, and inspiring leadership facilitates a culture of care.
A combination of short presentations and various workshops will guide your organisation to the core components of a culture of care, including an employee wellbeing program. The workshops will build on each other and provide concrete outcomes and steps forward.
When we care for ourselves, we can feel good when doing good. When we care for each other, we can support one another in our common purpose of caring for animals and other goals as purpose-driven organisations.
When we take care to give care everyone benefits.
"The course 'Take Care to Give Care' is so needed and relevant in our industry. Sabrina manages to communicate about difficult topics that most of us have experienced with such grace and great care. I would recommend her course as an absolute must for everyone working with animals and humans."Â Â
Mally
"Sabrina Brando's talk was just what I needed when I needed it. As dog trainers, I think we underestimate how important self care is if we want to keep doing our work properly and with balance. I recommend her course for anyone who is involved with animal and/or human care and wants to have a long and fulfilling career doing so."Â
Camille
Purpose and values
We are committed to helping all people care for animals and for themselves
One Care
We are committed to animal and human wellbeing, for individuals and organisations
Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity
We are dedicated to creating a more diverse, equal, and inclusive world for all
Sabrina Brando
Sabrina is currently a PhD candidate in the Psychology Department at the University of Stirling in Scotland. Her research focusses on individual, team, leadership, and organisational aspects of human wellbeing in zoos and aquariums. This covers job satisfaction, self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, team collaboration and communication, occupational stressors and opportunities, and other aspects affecting individual and organisational wellbeing.Â
Sabrina is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional and feels compassion awareness is key in all professions that work in the field of animal wellbeing and conservation. This includes animal care professionals, veterinarians, curators, and other departments such as people working as educators, communicators, staff in the Human Value Department (formerly known as HR), directors, managers, and the CEO. We are all humans. We all need support, training, and care. At AnimalConcepts we talk about Take Care to Give Care. When we care for ourselves, we can better care for each other, including people, animals, community, and the planet we share.Â
As a psychologist, Sabrina has extensive training in human wellbeing, from grief and loss to working in stressful and trauma-sensitive environments. She has trained in the neuroscience of behaviour change, embodied presence, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, and developing a culture of physical and psychological safety, bravery, and care in organisations through risk and resilience assessments.
"One of Sabrina's best qualities as a speaker/teacher, is the way she helps you understand. It's in such a humane way, she really cares about everyone and you can feel it. The atmosphere is relaxed and uplifiting. You'll find both small and bigger changes in thinking and problem solving, that helps you either as a pro and/or as a pet owner. Well, in general. I just loved Sabrina's lectures! She made a huge impact on my thinking..." ~Â Sissa
2023 Book chapter
Caring for elderly wild animals: The human experience
Get the book on Optimal Wellbeing of Ageing Wild Animals in Human Care
2023 AZA Culture of Care
Download the poster presented at the 2023 AZA conference on a A culture of care: Individual, team, leadership and organisational aspects of human wellbeing in zoos and aquariums.
2023 Job roles article
Download our peer-reviewed article on Understanding Job Satisfaction and Occupational Stressors of Distinctive Roles in Zoos and Aquariums
Additional services
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People who work with animals care deeply about them, so it makes sense to include their wellbeing in the conversation. And put plainly, there's no point talking about the care of people and animals if we're not also going to talk about the planet we all share.
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Organisations we've worked with
Connect with us
Do you have a question? A suggestion or idea you want to share? Use the contact form we will get back to you shortly! You can also email us on hello(@)animalconcepts.eu
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