Animal Assisted Training

WHO IS THIS ONLINE AAP / AAL TRAINING FOR?

This unique training is available for both Australian and English-speaking International students.

This program offers an engaging and accessible online format over 40 classes/weeks, perfect for those fitting their study in around work, family and other commitments.

HOW IS THE TRAINING DELIVERED?

Our online AAP/AAL Foundation Training is delivered live every week on Zoom, by our senior trainer and EPI founder, Meggin Kirby.

Over a total of 120 Contact Hours (plus Accrued Learning Hours), you will learn a sophisticated and comprehensive humanistic model of animal assisted psychotherapy and animal wisdom animal assisted learning practice.

WHAT ARE THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES?

• To understand the theory and practice of the AWARE Therapy™framework for animal assisted psychotherapy and animal assisted learning. AWARE Therapy is a humanistic psychotherapy approach developed by Institute founder Meg Kirby, which is a pioneering relational, ethical and trauma-informed approach to including animals in therapy and experiential growth, learning and development.
• To understand and apply the psychotherapy, experiential learning and creative principles and practices underpinning AWARE Therapy™.
• To understand ethical issues and professional standards of practice and safety practices with animals and clients.
• To develop assessment, process and closure skills.
• To review and apply counselling micro-skills, including somatic, emotional, cognitive, relational and behavioural interventions.
• To create appropriate and graded experiments (relational experiences with animals) to offer diverse clients and client groups based on assessment and client presentation, with professionalism and sensitivity.
• To understand and apply stage 1 trauma skills.
• To offer trauma-informed equine assisted practice.
• To apply a developmental lens in understanding symptoms, presenting behaviours, patterns.
• To develop skills in working with unconscious processes including working with fixed cognitive, behavioural and relational patterns.
• To understand and apply relational practice in the context of animal assisted practice.
• To articulate clear therapeutic goals or learning goals and design appropriate equine experiments to meet client need/presentation.
• To utilise reflective practice, understand and be guided by self-awareness and ‘self as practitioner’, understanding the impact of practitioner core themes, patterns and countertransference on clients and practice.
• To develop species-specific knowledge and skills, understand  relevantanimal physiology psychology and behaviour, and appreciate the relational dynamics that animals bring to the process.
• To understand the relationship between practitioners and their animals, including the impact on safety and efficacy.
• To develop core competencies in animal welfare, safety and ethics, alongside core competencies in therapeutic process, experiential learning and group process.
• To understand and practice I–Thou Inter-species Relating™.
• To understand and practice the Animal Wisdom program.
• To identify practitioner limitations and be committed to continuing personal and professional growth and development.
• To begin your successful Animal Assisted practice with basic business orientation.

WHAT ARE THE ONLINE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS?

• Attendance is a Certification Requirement as online classes are live.
• Students must be available to attend all 40 classes/weeks of training. Please note class size dictates final training length (36-40 classes total).
• You need a reliable internet connection, computer or laptop, private study or desk for online class attendance, and, safe access to animals for practicals.
• You need IT skills or access to support to upload videos for assessment, participate and interact virtually. (We can help you with this!)
• You will need to set aside 3 hours for classes, with full presence and focus, in privacy, and without distraction, as well as additional time for weekly reading and homework (plus time for assessment and certification requirements – i.e. integration papers during training, video submission and exam at completion of training). (It is Not suitable to attend class in a shared family space due to confidentiality).
• Students must participate in classes using a laptop or similar device with camera enabled/ON at all times. Participating on a phone is not suitable due to the activities involved in training. 
• This is a relationally-based training with a large focus upon personal development and it is expected that students are able to attend online classes with 100% presence and focus. 

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

• The core competencies of Animal Assisted Practice
• Animal Studies, I- Thou Inter-species Relating, Safety Guidelines, Animal Welfare and Ethical practice 
• Animals as Change Agents – understanding of the unique dynamics that can occur in animal assisted psychotherapy and animal assisted learning
• An overview of AWARE Therapy framework, a unique relational, trauma-informed, experiential, ethical and animal-wisdom based model founded in psychotherapy theory and practice and neuroscience.
• Underpinning Psychotherapy theory including gestalt therapy, awareness and mindfulness, phenomenology, developmental, trauma-informed, and somatic experiencing, principles and practices.
• Practice methodology, including somatic, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, brain-body, relationship-focused methodology.
• The ‘what’ and ‘how’ in AAP and AAL processes – the theoretical and experiential foundations, including applications at liberty, on-line and led mounted sessions (with horses.)
• An Introduction to different applications – working with individuals and groups.
• AWARE Therapy framework and theory of change – this includes understanding how people grow and change generally, and how change can happen therapeutically in animal assisted processes.
• Specific Code of Ethics and Ethical practice.
• Introduction to Business and Professional practice in the context of animal assisted practice, and much, much more!

WHAT ARE THE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS?

• Attend Online Classes with a maximum of 2 absences
  
• Submission of 3 Integration Papers
• Facilitate and Video Submission of 1 AAP/ AAL Practice Assessment Session
• Complete 6 AAP/ AAL Clinical/Practice Sessions keep case notes
• Complete 6 Online Supervision Sessions with EPI Supervisor ($150 plus GST per Supervision) or 8 Study Pods ($80 plus GST per session)
• Complete 2 Mentoring/Exam Feedback Phone Sessions
• Satisfactory completion of open book Theory Exam (must be completed within 3 months of training completion)
• Completion of Online Animal Studies course (included in course fees)
• Satisfactory completion of Animal Studies Integration Paper
• Signed/compliance with Institute Code of Ethics
• 3 Personal Psychotherapy Sessions
• Includes Required Reading and active participation during training

All completed within 12 months.

WHAT IS THE INVESTMENT?

Online AAP / AAL Training: $5,400 plus GST ($5,940 inc. GST)

6 x Phone Supervision / 2 x Mentoring Sessions: Sessions are $150 plus GST per session (invoiced and paid at time of session), over 12 month period.
Plus cost of personal Equine Assisted Psychotherapy / congruent psychotherapy sessions
Animal Studies Program to be completed within 12 months (included as part of your course fees)

WHAT SUPPORT WILL YOU GET?

After completion of training students/practitioners will:

• Join Closed Facebook Group
• Access Supervision
• Access Psychotherapy (as needed)
• Access ongoing Professional Development opportunities – Advanced / Specialist Training, Conferences, Assisting in training etc.
• Have lifetime access to a Community of Practitioners