Community | Connection | Expression
Dr. Jenenne “Kiesse” Valentino-Bottaro, PhD , LMHC
Jenenne's professional mission is to encourage human-animal welfare trough fostering an awareness of the deep interconnection between human and animals and navigating the healing process and building resilience from community and interpersonal trauma through the interconnection between human, animals, expressive arts, play and nature.
Dr. Valentino-Bottaro designs and develops her own programs on the interconnection between humans, animals, nature, and resilience; expressive arts, play and animal assisted intervention approaches for children who were substance exposed and their families; integrating expressive arts, play therapy, and animal assisted interconnectedness activities for families and their loved one living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and human-animal teaching and applications using Social Learning and mindfulness techniques to foster the human-animal bond through attunement, attachment and positive learning.
Dr. Jenenne R. Valentino-Bottaro is Co-Founder of the Human-Animal Interconnectedness Institute and Founder of Vai’datha, a Healing Arts and Community Resilience practice. Dr. Valentino-Bottaro holds a PhD in Human Services, Social and Community Services Specialization, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional, Play Therapy certification, Level 1 Animal Assisted Play Therapy ™, working towards Level 2, working towards a certificate in AutPlay Therapy, is a Certified in Trauma and Resiliency Level 1 and completing Level 2 through Florida State University, Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner, and working on her Certificate in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Valentino-Bottaro is a Certified Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Trauma Informed Care in the Criminal Justice System, SAMHSA trained instructor, Certified QPR Instructor, a Certified Yoga Instructor, and trained in Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease). Dr. Valentino-Bottaro is experienced in trauma, childhood trauma, children and young adults on the autism spectrum, Alzheimer’s disease, and Dementia, community trauma, identifying community readiness through assessment and education, and fostering community resilience. She has been a community service provider in the capacity of community development, consultant, therapist, artist-in-residence, college instructor, and human-animal welfare advocate and practitioner. Some noted accomplishments include: Developer of “Engaging Families” © Specialized Telehealth Program for Child Welfare; Developer of HeART Rhythms © Therapeutic Drumming and Movement Program; T.R.I.B.E.S Dance and Yoga Healing program©; HeARTful Play Parent-Child Interconnectedness Program©; and Adora-Bull animal companion Palyfull Yoga©
Jenenne is featured on WCJB 20 “Therapy-Animals How Some are Making a Difference in Tough Times”; and is a Contributing Author-Interdisciplinary Approaches to Service and Therapy Animals- Contributing chapter-Framework of Equine Assisted Interactions.
Jenenne currently teaches at Saint Leo University in the BA and MS Human Services programs and served as Lead Faculty for Human Services. Most noted courses taught include: Creator of the Special Topics Course, Community Trends and Data Analysis, Co-Creator of the Special Topic Course, Essentials in Crisis Management in Human Services Administration, Program evaluation, Grantsmanship, Fundraising; and Creating a non-profit for the Master’s program and Internship, Human-Animal Interventions, and Personal Skills for the Bachelors program.