PDT-SocWk-02 - Animal-Assisted Therapy

Course Description

Online Course!

Approved by NASW, NH Chapter for 6 Category 1 CE Credits, Auth. #2693

Five Week Schedule: Intro Week: February 24; Course: March 5-23, 2018.

In this noncredit introductory course you will receive comprehensive knowledge necessary to begin using Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in your practice, as well as exposure to client assessment and treatment skills. This course provides healthcare, mental health, social work, and related professionals with the knowledge to begin using AAT in their practice. Examples of professionals who might take this course are: mental health and social work providers, occupational therapists, nurses, physical therapists, child life specialists, recreation therapists, speech-language professionals, and others in related fields. 

AAT is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. It is directed and/or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise and within the scope of practice of his/her profession. 

AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning. It is provided in a variety of settings and may be group or individual in nature.

The course will take approximately six hours at your own pace, with opportunities for online discussions with the instructor. You'll be emailed a detailed schedule and instructions prior to the course start. Upon completion, you'll receive a certificate from UNH Professional Development documenting six hours of noncredit course work. 

The first week is an introductory week to log in. 

Time Commitment: 
The course will take approximately six hours (at your own pace), with reading and online discussion requirements. You will be emailed a detailed schedule before the course begins. 

Registered Students will receive Login Instructions Prior to the Introductory Week
A few weeks prior to the Introductory Week, those registered for the course will be sent an email from UNH with instructions on how to log into the Canvas system. The email will come from the UNH domain (@unh.edu). (Note: if you do not see this email, you should check your junk mail folder and/or set your email preferences to receive email from unh.edu.) Once you receive the email, please be sure to follow the directions in this email carefully.

The Instructor, Jeri Zezula, will send Students a Welcome Letter and Detailed Schedule Prior to the Class Start
In addition to a separate email from unh.edu with the login instructions, registered students will be emailed information from the instructor, Jeri Zezula. A PowerPoint and a PDF of the AAT course book and additional material for each week will be made available during the course for downloading. While students may access the material at any time during the week there will be class discussion boards posted with guidelines and time constraints. Students must participate in the discussions to receive the Certificate of Completion. All assignments and discussions will be monitored by the instructor.  

For More Information
Call (603) 862-7380 or email professional.development@unh.edu

Learner Outcomes

You will gain knowledge integral to understanding and incorporating Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) into professional practice and will get exposure to client assessment and treatment skills. 

Certificate of Completion: Upon course completion, you will be sent a Certificate of Completion from UNH Professional Development & Training documenting six hours of noncredit course work. This course is also approved for 6 Category 1 CE Credits by the NASW, NH Chapter. In addition, .6 CEUs (Cont. Ed. Units) will be awarded and recorded with your UNH registration. 

Notes

Note about the course format: This course is offered completely online using the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Canvas system. It is "asynchronous" meaning that you log into the course and class discussions on your own time 24/7 (rather than scheduled/real time). After registering, prior to the introductory week, you will be emailed special login instructions to access the Canvas course. To enter the course, you will need internet access and the Canvas login. 

Note: This is not the "Pet Partners Handler Course." This AAT course is designed for professional service providers in counseling related fields.

Materials used: Many of the resources used for this class have been obtained from and with the permission of Pet Partners, a nonprofit that fosters connections between humans and animals to improve people's health and well-being by incorporating therapy animals into their lives. 

Accrediting Associations

• NASW NH Chapter Approval Number 2693 6.0 Category 1 CE Credits