Coming to WVC 2026: Helping Veterinary Teams “Unburden” from Client Stress

We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Mary Beth Spitznagel and Dr. Nikki Bennett will be presenting an interactive workshop at the 98th Annual Western Veterinary Conference (WVC), taking place February 15-18, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. 

Our session – “Unburdened: Evidence-Based Workshop to Decrease Stress from Client Interactions”– will be held Tuesday, February 17, from 12:00-3:50 PM PST. 

About the Workshop 

Veterinary professionals face unique emotional challenges in client communication. Stressful client interactions can take a toll on wellbeing, leading to burnout and compassion fatigue. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll introduce Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), an evidence-based approach that has been shown to reduce stress and improve resilience in veterinary professionals. Participants will engage in experiential exercises designed to strengthen emotional flexibility and communication effectiveness, with the goal of leaving “Unburdened” and better equipped to handle difficult conversations with clients. 

The “Unburdened” program is grounded in years of research within the Veterinary Psychology Lab and developed with direct input from veterinary professionals working in the field. It represents one of the first structured interventions aimed specifically at reducing occupational stress stemming from client interactions. 

Stay tuned for more details once the official WVC 2026 program is released!

Learn more about the conference here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-conference