Leslie Stewart, Ph.D.

Professor of Counseling, Liason for Belonging and Wellness

Office: Garrison 723

Specialty Areas: Animal Assisted Interventions and the Human-Animal Bond, Trauma-Informed Counseling and Counselor Preparation, Anxiety & Stress Management

Ph.D., 2014, Georgia State University
M.Ed., 2009, University of Georgia
B.A., 2007, Georgia State University

I am Leslie Stewart, a proud resident faculty member of the Department of Counseling at the Pocatello campus since 2014. My primary research focus is on Animal Assisted Interventions. As such, I am the director of the Department of Counseling’s Research on Anthrozoological Relationships (ROAR) Lab and the director of the Certificate Program in Animal Assisted Interventions. I am a Certified Animal-Assisted Interventions Specialist (C-AAIS) through the Association for Animal-Assisted Interventions Professionals (AAAIP). My other areas of research and professional practice include trauma-informed counseling, trauma-informed counselor education/supervision, stress management, and expressive/experiential modalities in counseling and counselor training.

Before coming to ISU, I worked as a counselor, supervisor, and student support service provider at the Savanah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in metro Atlanta. Additionally, I have worked in a juvenile detention center and as a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certified therapeutic riding instructor. I infuse unique blend of prior clinical experience into my teaching in the master’s level theories, clinical mental health counseling, and crisis and trauma courses as well as in the doctoral level leadership and advocacy course. I also partner with several species of specially prepared and evaluated animals in some of my teaching and supervision roles.

In my free time, I enjoy outdoor recreation (hiking, kayaking, backpacking, camping, etc.), spending time with my family and loved ones (which of course includes my animals!), and traveling. I am an Atlanta native, but delighted to call the beautiful state of Idaho my true home. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone.

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