معرفی
Cynthia Kay Chandler is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at the College of Education, University of North Texas, where she has served since 1989. She is a licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist in Texas, with a distinguished career in counseling education and practice.
Her research and professional work center on animal-assisted interventions in counseling, where she has been a pioneer since 1999. She is the author of the award-winning book Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling (3rd edition, 2017) and editor of Animal-Assisted Interventions for Emotional and Mental Health: Conversations with Pioneers of the Field (2018). Dr. Chandler developed the human-animal relational theory, a foundational model guiding animal-assisted counseling practice.
Dr. Chandler has been recognized with several prestigious awards for her innovative contributions:
- 2016 Professional Development Award, American Counseling Association
- 2009 Thelma Duffey Vision and Innovation Award, Association for Creativity in Counseling
She continues to influence the field through her scholarship, mentorship, and leadership in integrating human-animal connections into therapeutic settings. While no specific grants or student advisees are mentioned, her editorial and authorial work underscores her role as a leading voice in creative and emotional health interventions.
