Preparing human service professionals to engage animal partners in providing ethical and culturally responsive services to families, groups, and clients of all ages.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106