In this 90 minute webinar, Kim Brophey approaches the topic of PTSD in pet dogs from an ethological perspective, contextualizing the phenomenon of trauma as a functionally adaptive mechanism that serves to protect the survival interests of organisms across the animal kingdom. Kim will discuss the epigenetic inheritance of trauma, as well as the functional evolutionary reasons for and principles involved in trauma.
Kim reframes our common cultural perceptions of trauma as pathology, helping us to instead understand it through the eyes of ethology as a normal, healthy, adaptive mechanism designed to help keep us safe in the future based on past experiences. Challenging the characterization of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress "Disorder"), Kim invites those of us who have experienced trauma in our lives, or in the lives of other people and animals, to be relieved of the idea that something is "wrong".
Learning about trauma from this evolutionary perspective invites us to appreciate it as a natural evolutionary process designed to help us. Seeing post-trauma responses through the eyes of the natural world and its remarkable system of checks and balances can be very empowering, and help us to dissect the underlying mechanisms and thus identify better strategies in helping those who suffer from its aftermath.
Join us for this insightful one-hour webinar with Kim Brophey!
Explore PTSD in pet dogs through an ethological lens, where trauma is viewed not as a disorder, but as an adaptive mechanism that has evolved to protect survival. Gain a deeper understanding of how trauma is inherited, why it exists, and how we can reframe common misconceptions about PTSD. Kim’s approach will empower you to see trauma as a natural, healthy response designed for safety, and provide new perspectives on how to support animals and humans alike in overcoming its effects.
Kim Brophey
