The healing bond between humans and animals is well researched and rooted in the theory of Biophilia - as humans, we possess an innate and genetically determined affinity for our natural world, including other animal species. This certificate aims to harness the power of this bond in ethical partnerships between humans and animals to meet the mental health goals of people and enhance the overall well-being of all involved. Participants learn the fundamental principles, standards, and competencies for the safe, ethical and just inclusion of animal partners in social work interventions through exploring animal communication, behavior and positive training and socialization approaches. Integration of evidence-based methods with a variety of animal partners in therapy and social-emotional learning with people of diverse ages, identities and backgrounds, is an intensive focus of this course. With animal partners as instructors, participants will have opportunities to enhance reflexive interpersonal skills of observation, engagement, use of self, assessment, interpretation and intervention. Get ready for a unique, engaging and rich experience!

The Certificate in Animal Assisted Interventions is a series of four courses, totaling 39 instructional hours:

1. The Human-Animal Bond and Competencies in Animal-Assisted Social Work Practice

This course introduces participants to the fundamental principles and knowledge necessary to practice Animal Assisted Social Work interventions effectively and ethically. It includes the theoretical foundations and current evidence base for services integrating the animal-human bond, relevant definitions of terms used to describe various aspects of the work, and emerging competencies within the field of Animal Assisted Services. This course also explores social justice issues associated with animal assisted healing work, including the historical contributions of communities of color, and people with disabilities. The legal implications and standards of partnering with animals, risks, and administrative issues are also considered in this introductory course.

• Use the appropriate terms and definition with the practice of animal assisted interventions (AAI).
• Describe the benefits of the human-animal bond to both humans and animals.
• Identify the measures of competency associated with AAI.
• Describe the fundamental value of safety for all associated with AAI.
• Identify ethical considerations involving animals in AAI.
• Identify an animal partner and document your application of course concepts to interactions with the animal.
• Identify cultural and social justice issues associated with AAI methods and think critically about ethical dilemmas.
• Understand racism in the field of AAI and learn the historic role and work of BIPOC people in the field of AAI.
• Identify three important legal considerations in the practice of AAI with horses and dogs.

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.

• Describe two models for animal assisted interventions and the roles associated with each model.
• Describe the unique role and skills of the AAI practitioner.
• Identify needs of the client in the practice of AAI.
• Describe the theory of dialogic cross-cultural social work.
• Apply reflexive awareness to practice with animal partners.
• Describe positive training and socialization techniques for animal partners, especially dogs and horses, and be able to teach these to others.
• Describe the ethics and practices involved in animal welfare.
• Describe strategies for including animal handlers and volunteers in AAI.
• Describe the basic ethology of their animal partner(s), especially dogs and horses.
• Interpret animal partner's signals of contentment, stress, and other feelings, especially in dogs and horses.

3. Implementing Animal Assisted Interventions with Diverse Populations

This course pulls together aspects of the previous courses to focus on practical applications of Animal Assisted Interventions. It explores the wide range of programs involving animal partners across fields of human services including health care, education and social work activities with diverse human populations such as people with disabilities and/or trauma, veterans, and urban youth. Animal Assisted Therapy approaches integrating evidence-based and best-practice methods with animal partners are explained through specific case examples with diverse youth including refugee, LGBTQ, and sexual abuse survivors using individual, family and group modalities. Participants learn how to create culturally sensitive treatment or lesson plans that include animal partners and effectively verbalize the clinical meaning of animal/human interactions to further clients’ therapeutic goals. This course shares examples of how to track and evaluate progress, document sessions, and evaluate effectiveness. It also explores the need for further research in the field.

• List three examples of animal assisted services in the helping professions.
• Describe specific programming concepts shared by practitioners in the field of AAI.
• Describe theories and interpersonal practice methods that can be integrated with animal assisted therapy.
• Develop a treatment or lesson plan for animal assisted therapy.
• Describe examples of AAT and AAL interventions with diverse populations.
• Apply concepts of cultural humility and cross-cultural social work to individual cases of animal assisted therapy.
• Describe the importance of meaning making in animal assisted therapy.
• Give examples of how meaning is made of animal-human interactions in therapy.
• Apply animal assisted interventions to social-emotional learning activities.
• Explain the importance of documentation, progress tracking, and evaluation.
• Identify areas for further research in the field of animal assisted interventions.
• Integrate course knowledge with practice experience.

4. Embodied Social Work Practice with Animal Partners Experiential

Please note that this experiential course is conducted in-person in Dexter, Michigan. Participants completing this course should plan to be on site on June 13th and 14th, 2026.

The purpose of this course is to practice reflexive and embodied awareness with animals and human partners - the interpersonal skills needed for social workers to become culturally sensitive practitioners of Animal Assisted Interventions in social work. Through experiential exercises in individual and group modalities, this course provides the opportunity for participants to practice the essential skills of mindfulness, self-awareness, observation, engagement, interpretation, assessment, and intervention in the context of Animal Assisted Interventions.

• Practice a sensory mindfulness exercise with others in a natural setting.
• Learn animal ethology, welfare, arousal signals through a farm tour encouraging interactions with various species of farm animals.
• Practice the essential skills of observation with animal partners toward effective assessment.
• Practice the essential skills of engagement with animal partners toward effective assessment.
• Practice reflexive and embodied awareness of animal communication.
• Practice group practice skills with human and animal partners.
• Observe and engage in an individual Animal Assisted Therapy demonstration to learn reflexive intervention strategies.
• Participate in social/ emotional learning through a large group challenge activity with animal partners.

Advisory Board and Faculty