Class Descriptions

Animal Assisted Therapy Interventions

SW777

Credits:	1
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Elective
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families	Elective (Host)

Course Description

This course provides an experiential opportunity for students to explore an array of animal assisted therapeutic activities specifically designed to further a wide range of therapeutic goals with children, adolescents, families and adult clients. Like play therapy and art therapy, animal assisted interventions, when integrated with evidence-based methods including (but not limited to) CBT and mindfulness, trauma recovery, family systems, cultural-relational and psychodynamic approaches, offer opportunities for people to work through a variety of issues and insecurities related to attachment, trauma, self-esteem and identity concerns, dysregulation, behavioral difficulties, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and family and relational problems. With selected animals as therapy partners, the therapeutic team helps people of all ages and positions foster new alliances, understand more fully existing problems and build practical life-skills to enhance confidence, effectiveness and joy. Presently, animal assisted therapy is gaining acclaim in the field of mental health intervention and there is a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy to be explored. This course specifically teaches the theoretical foundations, standards, ethics, evidence, certifications, integration of methods, case examples, evaluation and practical skills involved in partnering with a variety of animals – dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses and chickens (yes, chickens!)- to provide engaging and effective interventions.

Objectives

Students will:
● learn the theoretical foundations, definitions, variety of interventions and standards and associated with animal assisted therapy (engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research)
● explore the ethics and guidelines for safety, and for the selection and matching of animal partners with clients (informed practice and apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice, engage diversity and difference in practice)
● integrate evidence-based methods with animal assisted activities to enhance and effectiveness (engaging in research-informed practice and practice-informed research)
● practice clinical engagement and assessment skills of noticing, reflecting, questioning, commenting, deepening, and interpreting in the context of interactions with animal partners and observations of human-animal relationships (competencies of engagement and assessment and applying critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments)
● develop and carry out structured animal-assisted activities to further specific treatment goals with clients presenting with a variety of issues (Intervention: implement interventions that enhance client capacities)
● learn the use of single subject design to evaluate the effectiveness of animal assisted therapy with clients (critically analyze, monitor and evaluate interventions)

Design

This course is experiential and includes readings and various options for assignments.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.