All you need to know about getting started as an Animal Assisted Therapist.


Canine Assisted Therapy Training

All you need to know about getting started as an Animal Assisted Therapist in Australia

Supporting Mental Health Professionals, Teachers & Educators to implement ethical and effective Animal Assisted Therapy for meaningful client outcomes.

 

Created and facilitated by Anita Geary - experienced Animal Assisted Therapist and Committee Member of Animal Therapies Limited 

 Get Instant Access to all 31 Comprehensive Lessons for only $299 AUD

 Are you passionate about animals and the therapeutic benefits they bring, and…

  • want to include animals in your therapy practice or education setting, but don’t know where to start?
  • feel overwhelmed by choice and don’t know which Animal Assisted Therapy course or study option is right for you?
  • have your certification but feel unsure how to actually ‘do’ AAT?
  • want to deliver Animal Assisted Therapy, but don’t know whether you or your animal are cut out for the role?

You’re in the right place. 

I used to feel that way too...

I knew how amazing Animal Assisted Therapy could be, yet I felt overwhelmed by the number of courses out there, and the high costs involved. 

What if, after spending over $2,000 and all that time getting certified, Animal Assisted Therapy didn’t end up being right for me or my dog?

For me though, there was no choice - I needed to take the leap, and luckily it was a good fit.

Yet, certification was just the first step.

What I noticed next was that although I was certified, I wasn’t sure I knew exactly how to deliver AAT, and I spent years learning the skills I needed. 

Which is exactly why I created this course - so that people like you and I can learn the important fundamentals skills, considerations and applications of AAT in one place, AND gain the real life practice skills to implement AAT with clients, without breaking the bank.

"AAT goes far beyond merely having a dog present during therapy sessions. It encompasses a thoughtful and purposeful application of therapeutic techniques that enable individuals to experience the profound healing potential of the human-animal connection.  

 

Skillfully trained AAT practitioners are able to create a nurturing environment where the profound connection between humans and animals can activate emotional growth, trust-building, and improved well-being. 

 

When we can fully embrace the potential of AAT with compassion and intention, we unlock the power of the human-animal bond, creating a space where individuals can find solace, support, and transformative growth." Anita Geary

That's where "Canine Assisted Therapy in Practice" comes in

This self-paced online course will provide all the information you need to understand how AAT works, what you need to consider before going down the certification pathway, and importantly how to practically implement Animal Assisted Therapy in your work. 

The course includes video content as well as additional readings and role plays, so you can learn all you need to know before taking the leap into certification and practice. 

PLUS: 

  • You will have email access to myself, Course Creator and experienced Animal Assisted Therapist, Anita Geary, to answer any questions you may have. 
  • You can also choose to book a one-on-one supervision session to gain further information or feedback on your journey ($200 AUD).
  • Access the exclusive 40 minute recording of Anita’s presentation to the 2023 Animal Therapies Limited conference - “Healing Interpersonal Trauma through Animal Assisted Therapy” ($25)

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to the course

    2. About Insight Therapies Counselling and Consultancy

    3. What's the difference?

    1. Where it all started

    2. Benefits of including dogs in education and therapy

    3. Building confidence

    1. Ethics and prioritising the animal's needs

    2. Animal welfare

    3. Practioner Code of Conduct

    4. Dog behaviour, body language and safety

    5. Selecting the right animal

    6. Client agreement and safety

    1. Evidence based benefits

    2. Common treatment goals supported through AAT

    3. AAT and Attachment

    4. Animal Assisted Psychotherapy

    5. Animal Assisted Play Therapy

    1. AAE in more depth

    2. AAE Research

    3. Dogs in the classroom

    1. Introduction to examples

    2. Safety

    3. Zones of Regulation

    4. Improving regulation

    5. Self esteem and confidence

    6. Social skills building

    7. Mindful touch

    8. Trick training

    9. Sharing and processing "worries"

About this course

  • $299.00
  • 31 lessons

Testimonials

  • "I found it so useful to learn about the relationship between the handler, dog and client as well as how to incorporate strategies with the dog into practice."

  • "You can see Anita is passionate about dog assisted therapy and therapy as well. It was interesting listening to her knowledge and interesting hearing about her therapy in general. Loved it."

  • I loved this opportunity for an introduction and also really excited by the work Anita is doing in the child and youth space.

Sign up now

All of this content is available to you for only one payment of $299

Get started now

Instant Course Access

This online course is available on demand.
You can instant access on sign up.

Your access link and account details will be sent to you via email, and you can sign in to access the course content any time of the day or night. 

Course Support

With Canine Assisted Therapy in Practice you will get more than just the recorded content and opportunities to watch AAT in action. 

You will also have direct access to myself, course creator Anita Geary, for additional support via email.

BONUS ADD ON: Access one-on-one mentoring sessions with Anita, to help you to start delivering high quality, meaningful and ethical AAT practice for your clients.

Is this right for me?

If you’re stuck on the fence and trying to decide if it’s worth the financial outlay to complete certification, or you have an interest in working therapeutically alongside your dog but feel unsure how to deliver AAT in practice, this course is for you.

Comprehensive and practical, this course will provide you with a deeper understanding of the requirements and practice considerations, introduce you to the steps required to become an Animal Assisted Therapist or Animal Assisted Educator in Australia, and prepare you through real-world examples of AAT in action.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will there be opportunities to see Animal Assisted Therapy in practice?

    Yes. A big part of why I created this course was to provide participants with real life examples of what AAT looks like in the room in order to skill and familiarise therapists with the implementation of AAT.

  • I have already completed my certification, will this course teach me anything new?

    Although it is hard to answer this question without knowing which course you have completed, we have had participants tell us that this course has been incredibly helpful post certification. I know myself that, although I was certified, I was really unsure of how to actually deliver AAT in the room with clients. This training reflects that and has practical elements built in at each step of the way.

  • Will this training provide me with certification to work as a practitioner?

    No. This is a course which will provide you with strong foundational knowledge of what is involved in delivering AAT and does not replace certification. You will gain a significant amount of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills but you will not be completing assessments for yourself or your animal so you will not meet certification requirements as a therapy animal team.

  • Will this help me figure out if AAT is right for me and my dog?

    Yes! This training delivers all the information you need to know about what AAT looks like in practice and what you need to be able to work effectively as a animal handler team.

  • Do I need to have a dog already to do this course?

    No. This course is fantastic for those who are considering AAT regardless of if you have an animal yet or not.

  • Will I be able to ask questions along the way?

    I'll do my best to support your learning thought-out the course and be accessible through email for the duration, however this is not a substitute for your own professional supervision.

Why Animal Assisted Therapy?

Animal Assisted Therapy is an evidence-based modality with studies showing that when skilfully integrated into client sessions it:

  • Improves outcomes and promotes client engagement 
  • Enhances client experiences of trust and safety in sessions
  • Builds rapport and relationship with the therapist more rapidly to enable a more efficient therapeutic alliance
  • Keeps the client focused on the present moment to enable the exploration of long-standing issues that may be too painful to discuss without an animal present
  • Provides an experience of unconditional support and acceptance that can be difficult for clients in a vulnerable state of mind to seek out from other human beings
  • And so much more…

About the Trainer

Anita Geary

Anita Geary is an experienced Animal Assisted Therapist, based in Wodonga, Victoria. A committee member of Animal Therapies Limited (ATL), Anita has been recognised for her ongoing contribution to the development of the profession in Australia, and in 2023, she presented at the ATL conference (Brisbane), on the use of AAT when working with clients who have experienced interpersonal trauma. In her role as Lead Therapist (ACA Registered Counsellor & AASW Accredited Social Worker) at Insight Therapies Counselling and Consultancy, Anita combines quality therapy with her fully trained and certified therapy dogs Bacardi and Kaluah, to engage her clients by delivering a therapeutic team of self, client and therapy dog. Anita first began the process of AAT certification for both herself and her then 3-year-old Labrador Bacardi, in 2019, after noticing a natural longing for Bacardi to offer comfort to others. Anita recognised that these innate skills demonstrated by Bacardi, when combined with her experience of working successfully with adults and children who have experienced trauma, could offer children, young people and adults a meaningful and highly valuable therapeutic experience. Since the beginning of Insight Therapies Counselling and Consultancy in early 2020, Bacardi’s daughter Kaluah has also completed her certification and now joins the team with her gentle nature and her willingness to share her calm to promote positive emotional experiences for those who work with her. Insight Therapies Counselling and Consultancy is the first and only canine-assisted therapy practice in the Albury Wodonga area and have been featured for their support to those in need by Prime7 news, The Border Mail and ABC Goulburn radio. https://www.insighttherapiesvic.com.au/featured/

Still not sure?

  • Email support is available throughout the course to answer any questions you may have.
      
  • Option to purchase additional one-on-one support is available if you'd like a more guided approach.
      
  • 3 months access to the content allows you to work through the content at your own pace.
      
  •  Save almost 50% compared to attending the face to face workshop.