EHNW Lunch & Learn
Animals, Connection, and Care: The Healing Power of Animal-Assisted Interventions and Apiary Therapy
Led by Dr. Gwendolyn S. Barnhart, psychologist
Friday, December 11, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Online Only via Zoom
Cost: $0 - $20
Drawing on both scientific evidence and lived experience, this presentation will explore how animal-assisted interventions can enhance traditional psychotherapy and foster meaningful therapeutic change. Participants will discover how human-animal connections can support a diverse range of individuals, including neurodivergent adults, people navigating major life transitions, and those seeking a deeper sense of purpose, meaning, and connection.
Attendees will gain insight into the therapeutic mechanisms that underpin human-animal relationships and learn how these bonds can help clients move from isolation to engagement, from self-criticism to self-compassion, and from disconnection to a richer, more authentic relationship with themselves, others, and the natural world.
Human beings are wired for connection. Yet many people who seek therapy struggle with feelings of isolation and disconnection. While psychotherapy is often thought of as a relationship between therapist and client, healing can also emerge through meaningful relationships with animals and the living world around us.
In this presentation, Dr. Gwendolyn Barnhart explores the growing field of animal-assisted interventions and the emerging practice of apiary therapy through the lens of humanistic and existential psychology. Drawing on her clinical experience working with clients on a therapeutic farm, she examines how intentional partnerships with animals can support emotional healing, self-discovery, and personal growth.
Participants will discover how relationships with animals can support emotional regulation and authentic connection. The presentation will examine how these interactions can foster presence, empathy, and a deeper sense of belonging.
Ultimately, this presentation invites participants to consider a simple but profound question: What can animals teach us about being human? Through stories, research, and practical applications, attendees will discover how animal partnerships can become catalysts for healing, growth, and meaningful connection.
About the Facilitator:
Dr. Gwendolyn S. Barnhart, Psy.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., C-AAIS, is a neurodivergent psychologist, researcher, and lifelong advocate for the healing potential of connection. As the founder of her own therapeutic farm in Lakebay, Washington, she integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with nature-based and animal-assisted approaches that help individuals reconnect with themselves, their communities, and the world around them.
Dr. Barnhart specializes in neurodiversity-affirming assessment and psychotherapy for autistic adults and individuals with ADHD. Her work is dedicated to helping neurodivergent people better understand their unique ways of thinking, recognize and build upon their strengths, navigate life's challenges, and cultivate lives that are authentic, meaningful, and aligned with their values. She approaches her work from the perspective that differences are not deficits and that growth is fostered through self-acceptance, curiosity, and compassion.
Grounded in humanistic and existential psychology, Dr. Barnhart supports clients in exploring questions of identity, purpose, belonging, and personal meaning. She has a particular interest in helping individuals navigate the often complex journey of discovering who they are beyond external expectations and societal norms.
Her professional journey has spanned community mental health, a university clinic, a therapeutic school for those with neurodivergence, a state psychiatric hospital, and service in some of Alaska's most remote communities. Through collaborating with local providers, elders, and community members, she deepened her appreciation for resilience, cultural wisdom, human connection, and the many pathways through which healing and growth can emerge.
Today, Dr. Barnhart's work is deeply rooted at the intersection of psychology, nature, and the human-animal bond. Through her therapeutic farm, she explores the ways relationships with animals, beekeeping, gardening, and natural environments can support mindfulness, emotional healing, personal growth, and a deeper sense of connection. She believes that some of life's greatest lessons in presence, patience, authenticity, and resilience emerge through our relationships with animals and our engagement with the natural world.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Barnhart serves on the Board of Directors of Existential-Humanistic Northwest and is an active member of the American Psychological Association's Society for Humanistic Psychology. As a Credentialed Animal-Assisted Interventions Specialist, her scholarship, presentations, and publications have focused on neurodiversity, therapy farms, humanistic and existential psychology, and the transformative potential of human-animal relationships to foster healing, growth, and meaning.
When she's not working with clients, Dr. Barnhart can usually be found caring for the animals on her farm, tending to bees, writing, or spending time outdoors. She feels most at home in spaces where people can slow down and reflect on what truly matters. She looks forward to sharing her passion for neurodiversity, human connection, nature, and the many paths people take toward healing, growth, and a meaningful life.
For any questions, contact us at: event-host@ehnwpdx.org