Animal-Assisted Therapy - Live Online (3 CE)

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.

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.