Starting as a Saturday girl at 15, Caroline Clark RVN CCAB: Educator, Behaviourist, and Lifelong Veterinary Nurse has built a career spanning more then fifty years in veterinary nursing, education, and behaviour. A Clinical Animal Behaviourist and founder of Pet Education and Training Courses (PET Courses), she combines her love of teaching and animal welfare to mentor others in behaviour practice. An accomplished author and dedicated educator, Caroline remains proud of her nursing roots and passionate about helping both people and pets thrive.
Please summarise your journey:
I began life as a veterinary nurse, starting as a Saturday girl at the tender age of 15.
After qualifying in 1989, one of my responsibilities was helping trainee nurses with their studies. This inspired me to pursue teaching, and in the early nineties I completed teacher training, earning a recognised qualification.
Alongside my nursing, I went on to teach veterinary nursing and other animal related subjects. Eventually, I made education my primary career path.
Having a keen interest in animal behaviour, I enrolled on the Post Graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling at Southampton University, qualifying in 2006. I taught behaviour to under graduates and worked towards my clinical animal behaviour (CAB) status with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). I have been taking veterinary referrals, primarily for cats, dogs ever since!
Ten years ago, I decided to combine my skillset to develop an online teaching platform; Pet Education and Training Courses (PET Courses), offering CPD accredited courses for vet teams, behaviourists and other pet professionals. My most popular courses are the Behaviour Counselling Mentorship Programmes which nurtures and coaches those wishing to offer more accurate behaviour advice and set up behaviour clinics.
Throughout all this time (spanning over 50 years!) I have kept a close association with nursing, locuming, taking behaviour referrals from a number of practices and supporting vet teams to improve their knowledge of companion animal behaviour. Nursing is where it all began for me and I am still proud to have the letters RVN after my name!
Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping:
After hopping out of bed and a short yoga routine, I carry out care for my elderly dog, Millie. She has cognitive dysfunction syndrome and osteoarthritis, so she requires a lot of support.
The rest of my day consists of:
- Checking emails and responding to requests for behaviour consultations.
- Carrying out coaching calls with students which typically involves supporting them in the development of in-house clinics, chatting about their own cases, or helping them reach their goals to work towards becoming a clinical animal behaviourist.
- Behaviour consultations: My special interest is in feline behaviour, so they form my largest case load. I limit myself to three cases a week as it can take some time preparing behaviour modification plans and liaising with the referring vet.
- Working on other projects: This might include producing and presenting webinars for companies, speaking at events or writing articles for journals and organisations.
- Updating existing programmes of study and developing new learning material on my online teaching platform.
How would you describe yourself in a sentence?
A hardworking, friendly, control freak!
How would others describe you in a sentence?
This is a hard one, so I asked a friend/work colleague here’s what he said:
“Caroline is generous with her time and knowledge, always paired with good humour and a warm smile, makes her an unforgettable guide and friend.”
What has been your top success and what have you learned from this?
Becoming a published author has been a top success. After completing my first book, Fear and Anxiety in Dogs (Crowood Press), I found the confidence to write my second: A Professional’s Guide to Feline Behaviour (CRS Press).
What has been your biggest challenge, setback or failure and how have you overcome it? How did you grow or change as a result?
Writing the books, was fun but challenging. I am a perfectionist so letting them go out for publication was difficult. Although they were well researched, Imposter syndrome crept in!
I learned to overcome feelings of self-doubt by using ‘Rapid Tapping’, a self-help therapy based on something called Emotional Freedom Technique. I found it so helpful that I have trained to be an instructor and regularly share the technique with students and clients.
What compromises have you had to make and what, if anything, could have helped?
During my studies, writing my book and being self-employed means that I have compromised spending time with family, friends and my animals. Saying ‘No’, better time management and improved self-health care would have helped. I wish I had discovered ‘Tapping’ sooner!
What advice would you have given to your younger self, that you would now give to others wanting to follow your path?
Follow your passion and don’t let your inner critic stand in your way. But remember, it’s OK not to be perfect!
I couldn’t have got where I am today without…
Being a veterinary nurse!
What are your three top likes?
- Being with friends and family (including the non-human kind)
- Music
- Laughter
What are your three top dislikes?
- Litter louts
- Bad manners
- Plastic wrapping on everything!!!
What is the most helpful book you’ve read and why?
Behaviour Problems in Small Animals (Practical Advice for the Veterinary Team) by Jon Bowen and Sarah Heath. It was my ‘go to’ book when I first began practising as a companion animal behaviourist and still remains on my ‘recommended reading’ list.
Many thanks to Caroline Clark for sharing her story to inspire veterinary women to aspire and grow into their full career potential.
If you would like to share your story please get in touch at info@veterinarywoman.co.uk
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