Why Do I need Training In Animal Assisted Therapy?

Employing AAT in Clinical Practice

I have had many Clinicians contact me to ask how they can also employ AAT in their work and whether or not they need training to do so. It can sound very attractive to be able to have your furry (or feathery) best friend working along side you. Many are not aware of challenges one can face incorporating animals into your practice. So the very short answer is "Yes!" Get as much training as possible, which is beyond your self-teaching. There are more and more programs that are developing that focus on Animal Assisted Therapy and the human-animal bond, some of which will be discussed below. Previously, Canadian Clinicians really did not have a choice, as there were limited to no programs available to those that were interested. Now with the help of distance education, we can start growing our Canadian AAT Field that includes properly educated individuals. 

But can't I just bring my dog into session with me? You could but why would you take the risk. That would be like saying you want to try a certain therapy out on a client that you heard was beneficial without the training. This is by far unethical for most Colleges and Associations. Therefore, not only are you putting yourself at risk but do not forget you are incorporating a living thing that can also be placed at risk. 

Just bringing my dog to my work place can't really hurt though can it? You may have a wonderful flexible workplace environment that may allow your pet to come to work with you. However, does your work place have the policies to ensure you, your pet, your colleagues and the public are protected? There is a lot more to think about than just spending some extra quality of time with your pet. 

My dog passed an obedience test so I know he is ready to be an AAT animal! That is great as you are well on your way to incorporating AAT into your practice. However, did you know that passing an "obedience test" doesn't necessarily mean your dog (or other animal) is ready to be involved in AAT? Check out local evaluations that test for other aspects of your animal. Don't forget, even though you would love to have your pet partner involved, they might not necessarily want to or be the best fit for the service or environment you have in mind. Finally, having your animal pass an evaluation is only half the work. Now its your turn!

Incorporating animals into practice isn't as straight forward as one may think but it most definitely rewarding once your build your knowledge and expertise, so don't let further education scare you away. Not convinced yet that you need further training? Here are some other reasons;

Welfare of the Animal

Sometimes we can be so focused on what interests us that we tend to forget we have partners that cannot speak for themselves. Through training and further education, you will develop skills on animal welfare, animal behaviour and how to develop policies and procedures to help protect your pet partner. Those that get involved in AAT normally adore their pet partner. This can make working with them biased. Whether you are working in public services or private practice, an animal cannot work the same hours that we do. One needs to consider the demand of work, number of clients and your pet partners enjoyment/welfare. Additionally, some people can be unpredictable in their behaviours, so what will that mean if you have a vulnerable animal in the room with you?

Welfare of your Clients

We are incorporating a live animal in our session with clients. This poses additional risk as animals (even though you know them inside and out) can be unpredictable. In fact, their (safe) unpredictable nature increasing the positive benefits in therapy. However, you need to know how to develop the tools and policies to properly protect your clients and this may be different for public or private organizations. You also have to maintain your Colleges/Associations Code of Ethics when treating clients. It is unethical to work out of the 'scope of your practice'. Having some training/education under your belt ensures that your clients are being properly treated. 

Animal Assisted Therapy can greatly enhance your work with your clients and help them reach their goals faster than without AAT. However, many Clinicians are not even aware of all the ways animals can be incorporated into AAT, how they can fit with certain modalities, and what goals could look like. 

Welfare for YOU the Clinician

Even though working in this field we can easily forget to focus on ourselves, this is something we need to constantly be aware of, especially if you are working in Private Practice. Do you have the right forms? The insurance? The right procedures for before, during and after treatment ends? Do you know what you need to keep on file? Do you have a network of professionals to consult?

The Advancement of AAT in Clinical Practice

If you haven't noticed yet, AAT in Canada is sparse but those that are involved in the field are committed to its advancement. More and more Clinicians are receiving education abroad and coming back to add to the growing field. One of the movements in other Countries including Canada, is for the field of AAT to gain more recognition and create opportunities for those trained in the field to be "registered" or at the very least "become a member to an association." When that does eventually happen, normally one has to prove in some way that they can practice AAT in their clinical work. Finally, one critical way to advance AAT in clinical work is to develop the expertise/credentials of those that deliver the service. Though there are disagreements as to what these credentials would look like, we can all agree that connecting with like minded individuals that are knowledgeable and skilled in the area of AAT in Clinical Practice is a very important aspect of the growth of the AAT field. 

Alright, you have me convinced, so where do I go now?

There are increasing opportunities for those that want to practice/expand their knowledge in the human-animal interactions field. However, there are several resources I would like to highlight. 

www.thenaturalconnection.ca - This is a great resource for anyone interested in human-animal interactions. It also offers a list of training possibilities. And the best part, it is Canadian!

 http://www.du.edu/socialwork/programs/ce/animalsandhumanhe.html - This University of Denver program is distance education and offers a more intensive training. I found this program particularly helpful when you are thinking about starting up your own program or even being the leader of starting one up in your organization. 

http://www.animalassistedtherapyprograms.com/training-for-professionals.html - If you are not able to make the time and money commitment just yet, it may be worth checking out the Intro training here. It is my understanding that they offer Skype therefore allowing those not in the area to access their training. The Clinician's at this program are absolutely wonderful and are attempting to strive for excellence in the AAT field. 

http://www.canisius.edu/masters-degree-in-anthrozoology/ - I have recently learned about this program, which is getting rave reviews from its first students. 

Happy Learning!

Rhiannon Jones

Rhiannon Jones M.S.W. R.S.W. offers counselling and AAT to the Hamilton, Ontario area. She specializes in children, youth, young adults and their families that are being impacted by certain difficulties in their life. She strives to enhance the field of animal assisted therapy and the natural connection of the human animal bond. If you are interested in receiving her Clinical Services or would like to network or obtain consulting services, please contact her: 

email: rhiannonjonesmsw@gmail.com, phone: 905-741-5848, web: www.rhiannonjones.ca

© 2012 Rhiannon Jones M.S.W., R.S.W. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce for educational or clinical uses, as long as copyright and author contact information appears on the reprint. Please contact the author for further questions.