How can we as animal advocates best help nonhuman animals? This question gets thrown around and debated passionately among those who care deeply about animals. Many fall within different “camps,” claiming that their particular approach is more “effective” despite a lack of any meaningful or peer-reviewed scientific study. Often, claims of effectiveness are not grounded in any particular theory of behavioral change and may actually run counter to the clinical and scientific literature about how change occurs for other behaviors.

In his recent book, “Motivational Methods for Vegan Advocacy: A Clinical Psychology Perspective,” Professor of Psychiatry and anti-violence expert Dr. Casey Taft applies principles and methods from the field of clinical psychology to enhance the potential impact of the animal advocacy efforts of individuals and groups. This work is based on the premise that animal advocates are change-makers that will determine whether this movement succeeds or fails.

Dr. Taft will show us how to apply behavior-change models to vegan activism in our Sustainable Activism Webinar, which includes practical tips, strategies, and illustrated examples for talking to friends, family members, and others. Join us by phone or online on Thursday, July 7, 5:00 p.m. – 6 p.m. PDT (8:00 p.m. – 9 p.m. EDT).

Register Now!

Connect with other participants on our Facebook event page.

Many thanks to social change coach Phyllis Levinson, who shared helpful tips to balance our activism with the rest of our lives, during our June webinar! Watch a replay here.

Dr. Casey Taft is a Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized researcher in the area of violence prevention and winner of prestigious awards for his work from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has developed the only domestic violence prevention programs demonstrated effective for military populations via randomized controlled trials and has been assisting in implementing them across the Veterans Health Administration system and within the Department of Defense. He has consulted with the United Nations on preventing violence and abuse globally; has published over one hundred journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports; and is the author of the upcoming American Psychological Association book Trauma-Informed Treatment and Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence. He is also co-owner of Vegan Publishers, a vegan-themed publishing company, and sees the prevention of violence towards nonhuman animals as a natural extension of his interpersonal violence work. His most recent book, Motivational Methods for Vegan Advocacy, applies behavior change models to vegan activism.

We will continue the discussion on effective advocacy during our Animal Activist Online Support Group with Sustainable Activism Campaign Director Lisa Levinson on Thursday, July 28, 5:00 p.m. – 6 p.m. PDT (8:00 p.m. – 9 p.m. EDT). Join us by phone or online via this registration link.

You can reach out for support with any issues related to your animal advocacy, and issues you face in your personal life, on our Animal Activist Mentor Line: 1(800) 705-0425 or mentor@idausa.org.