AAI 2 | The Animal Assisted Interventions Team

This course explores models of Animal Assisted Social Work Interventions and the role of each member of the clinical or educational team including the practitioner, animal partner(s), client(s) or participant(s), and animal handler and/or volunteers. The reflexive skills necessary to effectively engage both human and animal partners are explored through the application of dialogic cross-cultural social work theory and methodology. The well-being of animal partners, the ethics of engaging animals to heal humans, and animal welfare are important foci of this course. Basic animal ethology, communication, signals of contentment, tolerance and stress, and positive training techniques, especially with dogs and horses will be centered.