We fuse veterinary science, psychology, and business mastery to help practices thrive while supporting the well-being of teams, clients, and communities. Our unique partnership brings together decades of clinical experience, academic leadership, and evidence-based wellness strategies—all designed specifically for veterinary and psychology workplaces.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner | Pediatric Psychologist
Heather L. Yardley, PhD, is Co‑Founder and Wellness Director of Wellness by the Yard. She is a pediatric psychologist and faculty member with extensive experience in psychiatry and behavioral health, specializing in evidence‑based approaches to wellbeing, resilience, and performance.
Heather has served in key academic and clinical roles in pediatric psychology and psychiatry and behavioral health, including leadership in pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellowship and pre‑doctoral internship training programs. She is also a Vice Chair of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, a role she performs because she believes every training program should provide a consistently high level of training and support for developing professionals.
She completed her doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida Health Science Center and joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2008. She has been recognized with multiple awards for excellence in training, supervision, innovation, and leadership, and has participated in national leadership programs including the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (APA) and the Organizational Development Institute. Heather has authored over 30 peer‑reviewed publications in her field.
Heather’s research and publications include work on practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment of depression and suicidality in adolescent females, and on the role of psychologists in pediatric endocrinology. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Pediatric Psychology, and the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers.
Heather co‑founded Wellness by the Yard with the belief that wellness and leadership can be done better—more accessible, more practical, and more genuinely supportive. She is dedicated to making high‑quality, evidence‑informed wellness and leadership development attainable for individuals and organizations alike.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner | Pediatric Psychologist
Jonathan A. Yardley, DVM, is Co‑Founder of Wellness by the Yard and an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from Purdue University in 2003 with a BA in Animal Sciences and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in the top five percent of his class.
Dr. Yardley completed an equine rotating internship in Ocala, Florida, followed by racetrack practice in South Florida. In 2008, he returned to Ohio to work as a mixed‑animal veterinarian. After eight years in private practice, he transitioned into academic medicine in 2014, motivated by a desire to give back to the profession and help train future veterinarians.
At The Ohio State University, Dr. Yardley developed a strong interest in wellness, culture, and learning in veterinary medicine. He became co‑chair of the college wellness committee and has presented at multiple wellness conferences, including on how he transformed the equine rotating internship by structuring it around the nine dimensions of wellness. He is a board‑certified health and wellness coach and serves as a content expert for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), where he has written and reviewed numerous exam questions. He is particularly interested in psychometrics and pedagogy in higher education.
To expand his leadership and organizational skills, Dr. Yardley began a Master of Business Administration program at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. This blend of clinical experience, academic leadership, wellness expertise, and business training inspired him and his wife, Heather, to launch Wellness by the Yard, with the goal of making evidence‑informed wellness and leadership development more accessible, practical, and impactful for veterinarians and other professionals.
Wellness by the Yard was founded by Dr. Heather Yardley (PhD psychologist) and Dr. Jonathan Yardley (DVM veterinarian)—a husband-and-wife team who recognized a critical gap in their own professions. Both witnessed firsthand how burnout, compassion fatigue, and toxic workplace cultures were driving talented professionals away from veterinary medicine and psychology.
They realized that most wellness programs were either too generic or impractical for busy clinical environments. So they created something different: evidence-based consulting that combines veterinary insight, psychological expertise, and business strategy. Their goal? To make wellness accessible, practical, and truly effective for the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Today, they lead a team of specialists who work with practices across the country—helping leaders build healthier teams, reduce turnover, and create workplaces where both staff and patients can thrive.
Evidence-based wellness strategies designed specifically for veterinary teams. Reduce compassion fatigue and improve patient care.
Support your mental health professionals with tailored programs that prevent burnout and strengthen team collaboration.
One-on-one coaching for practice owners and directors. Build resilience, enhance leadership skills, and drive business growth.
