Beyond Fear: Understanding the Deeper Impacts of Trauma on Behavior and Welfare with Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
This webinar session was broadcast as part of the Brain Train event – November 2025
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Webinar Description
Chronic stress and trauma change the brain—and those changes shape behavior in profound and often overlooked ways.
In this talk, we’ll explore how trauma affects more than just fear responses, influencing cognition, emotion, arousal, and reward systems. With a focus on practical application, we’ll examine how this understanding can guide more effective behavior interventions, enrich training strategies, and ultimately improve the well-being of the animals in our care.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key neurobiological changes in the brain associated with chronic stress and trauma.
- Explain how these changes influence a wide range of behaviors beyond fear, including arousal, social interaction, and cognitive flexibility.
- Apply trauma-informed strategies to assess and address behavior challenges in ways that support recovery and enhance overall quality of life.
Your Presenter – Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
Dr. Spaulding brings over 25 years of expertise in dog training and behavior, blending scientific knowledge with hands-on experience. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology, a PhD in Biopsychology, and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. For 20 years, she worked directly with clients, addressing a range of behavior challenges. Now, she educates professionals on animal behavior through the Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior LLC and speaks at conferences and events, bridging the gap between research and practice.
Her passion for teaching began during graduate school, where she was trained in effective teaching techniques and earned an award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Spaulding co-leads the Carefree Companion Certification Program with Irith Bloom, focusing on building resilience in animals through humane, science-based methods. She also teaches for the IAABC Foundation and Virginia Tech’s Animal Behavior and Welfare program.
Author of The Stress Factor in Dogs: Unlocking Resiliency and Enhancing Well-Being, her interests include stress, neurobiology, cognition, and well-being. Her dedication was recognized in 2019 with the APDT Member of the Year Award. Dr. Spaulding currently serves as Vice President of the IAABC Foundation Board. Reach her at sciencemattersllc.com or carefreecompanion.com.
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