Animal-Assisted Therapy Text-based Home Course (3 CE) - Printed Version

Animals have been used by people for many purposes for thousands of years. Dogs have been used as guards, guides, messengers, and hunting partners, and today are the most commonly utilized therapy animal. This course will go over the history of the evolution of the relationship people share with dogs and describe how dogs and other animals have taken on an important role in the lives of people including therapeutic treatment.

The course goes over the different designations given to animals that participate in animal-assisted therapy, as well as indicates what qualifications a person must have to receive these animals. The course will cover service animals, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), and therapy animals, and the federal and state laws that protect the rights of handlers of these animals. The intention of this course is for mental health professionals to be able to advise clients who are seeking animal assistance about which designation of animal would assist them best. If clients are in need of service animals, clinicians will be able to explain the best routes to take to obtain these animals. If clients would benefit from ESAs, then clinicians will have the knowledge to legally and ethically provide documentation for such animals.

Author: Jacqueline Bryers, B.S., Gerry Grossman, M.A., LMFT

Target Audience: Introductory and Intermediate; LMFTs, Social Workers, LPCCs, Nurses, Substance Abuse Counselors, and other mental health clinicians.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the difference between service animals, including psychiatric service animals, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), and therapy animals, including facility animals.
2. Evaluate a client’s potential need for animal-assisted therapy and decide whether the client would benefit more from a service animal, ESA, or another form of animal-assisted treatment.
3. Assist clients in locating a facility from which they can receive a service animal that is trained to their specific needs.
4. Determine when it is clinically responsible to write an ESA letter and write a valid ESA letter that follows proper guidelines.
5. Describe which federal and state laws protect handlers of service animals, ESAs, and therapy animals.
6. Advise clients on the best ways to go about attempting to live with assistance animals in “no pets” homes or attempting to fly with assistance animals.

Advantages of taking Gerry Grossman Seminars at-home CE courses:

• Online courses offer the post-test online for instant course completion.
• You can repeat the post-test if you don't pass.
• Online courses are available to you immediately after purchase.
• California LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs can fulfill 100% of their CE hours online.