Is becoming an animal-assisted therapist right for me?
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How to become an Animal-Assisted Therapist
Becoming an animal-assisted therapist involves combining formal training in therapy or counseling with experience working with animals. While there’s no single required path, most professionals follow a series of steps to build the skills and credentials needed for this career:
- Earn a Relevant Degree: Obtain a degree in fields such as psychology, counseling, social work, occupational therapy, or physical therapy to gain a strong foundation in human behavior and therapeutic techniques.
- Gain Experience with Animals: Work or volunteer with animals in shelters, veterinary clinics, stables, or therapy programs to develop practical handling and care skills.
- Complete Specialized Training: Take courses or workshops in animal-assisted therapy, learning how to safely integrate animals into therapeutic sessions and understanding animal behavior.
- Obtain Professional Certification: Many organizations offer certification in animal-assisted therapy, which can demonstrate expertise and credibility to employers and clients.
- Build Hands-On Experience: Work under supervision in therapy programs that use animals, gradually taking on more responsibility for planning and leading sessions.
- Stay Current with Continuing Education: Participate in ongoing training, workshops, and professional development to keep up with best practices, safety standards, and advances in therapy techniques.
Certifications
Certifications help animal-assisted therapists demonstrate their expertise and commitment to safe, effective therapy practices. While specific requirements can vary depending on specialization and organization, several widely recognized programs include:
- Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Professional (CAATP): This program includes coursework in animal-assisted interventions, the human-animal bond, and animal training, along with a required number of field hours. Graduates can use the CAATP designation to enhance their professional credentials.
- Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS): Offered by professional associations in the field, this certification is designed for those integrating animals into therapeutic settings and signifies adherence to high professional standards.
- Pet Partners Therapy Animal Registration: While this certifies the handler and the therapy animal rather than the therapist alone, it is widely recognized in therapeutic settings. It includes training, behavioral evaluation, and ongoing support.
- Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate: This specialized program provides training for mental health professionals using horses in therapy, combining coursework with supervised practice sessions.
- Therapy Dogs International (TDI) Certification: Focused on canine-assisted therapy, this certification involves temperament evaluation, training, and registration, ensuring dogs are well-prepared for therapeutic work.