Certificate of Education in Animal Assisted Psychotherapy (CAAP)
Designed by professionals for professionals!
Tuition: $2,100 USD
(Paid in 3 installments of $700 for 3 consecutive months or Pay in Full to receive a $100 discount)
(Plus save $200 when you pay in for for the online certificate & 3-day intensive together = $3,000)
Course Location: Online Courses - Self-Paced
CEU/CPD Awarded: 90
​
I was at the beginning stages of understanding and incorporating AAP into my practice, and the certificate program was exactly what I needed. It provided both the educational and practical components I needed to obtain a well-rounded understanding of the field. The instructors were fantastic. They consistently graded quickly, providing thoughtful and helpful feedback. They challenged and encouraged me to bring my practice up to the next level.
2019 Certificate Graduate Aimee Maas, MSW, LCSW, CAAP, Carol Stream, IL
Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Certificate of Education Overview
The AAP Certificate Program
​The AAP Certificate Program is designed for individuals with Master’s degrees in a counseling, social-work, psychology, or related field. This program can be completed entirely online or with paired with our 3-Day Intensive Workshop. We highly encourage completion of both elements but understand that many will be unable to attend our workshops in Colorado. The program is designed to provide a thorough education in the practice and development of Animal Assisted Psychotherapy skills, as well as developing clinical skills that can be supported by research. The Certificate program has 6 Courses – each is outlined below. Each course has 3-5 assignments that students complete at their own pace and submit through an electronic-
classroom and via internet. Supervision and consultation is available to students throughout the course. This program is self-paced and does not have a time limit for completion. When students graduate, they will hold a Certificate in Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Certificate Program Courses
Course 1: The Human-Animal Bond
Description: this course forms the basis for the AAP Certificate. The bond between Humans and Animals has been scientifically established, as well as the mutual therapeutic benefits. This course will help you explore how the Human-Animal Bond can be included as a therapeutic medium. The influence of nature will also be explored as it benefits clients.
​
Course 2: Legal & Ethical Issues in AAP
Description: in this course we will explore how working with different types of animals can bring up both legal and ethical issues when integrated into your practice. There are numerous legal and ethical considerations, especially related to working with less common animals, or working with multiple animals.
​
Course 3: Animal Behavior & Training
Description: the goal of this course is to teach the clinician to understand and incorporate their therapy animal’s behavior and adaptations as a means to develop rich therapeutic interventions with clients. Within this context clinicians will learn and practice basic animal training skills that can help develop the skills of their therapy animal(s), as well as providing an enriching therapy experience for clients who would benefit from training the animals as part of their therapy.
​
Course 4: AAP & Theory
Description: expertise in AAP will require a commitment to developing a clinical style that is well-founded within the context of theory. In this course students will explore how AAP can exist within such a context and be flexible enough to work within several different theoretical approaches. It is the goal of this course to introduce students to the use of a developmental-approach as well as exploring other approaches of their own choice. It is our goal that through this exploration students will find ways to incorporate animals into their practice that can be effective and also consistent.
​​
Course 5: Treatment Planning & Interventions Using AAP
Description: in this course you'll learn to bring your preferred theoretical approach and AAP into your work with clients. You will be going beyond the theories and developing treatment plans that integrate theory and AAP concepts into a cohesive whole. We will be asking you to choose a primary population, or age group to focus on. In addition, students will design a group and/or family therapy protocol. Within this exploration the student will learn different types of animal-assisted interventions that can then be used in a practical, yet still cohesive treatment plan.
​
Course 6: Documentation & Outcomes
Description: Animal Assisted Psychotherapy is a very new field, so in this course we will explore our own roles in contributing to the field of AAP with sound and effective clinical practice. Each student will either develop or adopt an appropriate efficacy measurement tool that they can include in working with their specific population, and their specific animal(s). Each student will develop and conduct a single-subject study that documents and explores a specific client’s progress with AAP. If students are not currently working with clients, modifications to this assignment are possible.
