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PET THERAPY BPS221

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

Why Study Pet Therapy?

Pet Therapy can be a powerful form of therapy.  Animals and pets can be trusted companions, and can enrich our lives in many ways. Interaction with animals can provide valuable and powerful learning and teaching tools, including responsibility, compassion, and appropriate interactions.  This course provides a foundation for gaining a deeper understanding of interacting with pets can be used to improve people’s mental and physical health.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

The course is suitable for people –

  • Involved in supporting people through difficult times in their lives.
  • Already working with animals who want to expand their career and knowledge into pet therapy.

What Will You Learn In This Course?

During the course, you will learn –

  • What is pet therapy?
  • Research into the benefits of pet therapy.
  • Using pet therapy to improve a person’s physical or mental health.
  • Working with pets and people with disabilities or specific needs.
  • How to work effectively with animals.
  • Setting up a pet therapy business.

With a wide variety of suggested learning tasks, you can apply what you learn to the world around you, like establishing your own pet therapy business or providing help to loved ones or those in need!

It's easy to enrol...

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COURSE STRUCTURE

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Pet Therapy

  • Introduction to Pet Therapy
  • Animal and Human Relationships
  • Animal Assisted Therapy
  • Animal Assisted Activities
  • Animals Used in Pet Therapy
  • Scientific Research Supporting Pet Therapy
  • Tension and Stress
  • Depression and Anxiety
  • Touch, Affection and Companionship
  • Immune System Response and Pain Control
  • Cancer Patients, Palliative Care and Heart Disease
  • Healthier Lifestyles, Structure and Routine
  • Benefits for Older People
  • Pet Therapy and Children
  • Negative Effects of Pet Therapy on People
  • Negative Impacts on Pets and Animals
  • Cultural Differences

2. Mental Health and Physical Assistance

  • Pet Therapy Research and Mental Health Conditions Introduction
  • Agitation and Cognitive Impairments
  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Stress
  • Human-Animal Interactions
  • Bonding
  • Warning and Protection
  • Transport and Carriage
  • Working Animals

3. Working with animals

  • Introduction to working animals.
  • Factors for Consideration
  • Human Safety
  • Client Possessive Behaviour and Bonding
  • Animal Health and Welfare
  • Animal Behaviour
  • Resources and Legalities
  • Animal Species
  • Large, Medium and Small Animals
  • Suitability to the Client
  • Therapy Settings
  • Preparing Clients and Animals for a Session

4. Applications for people with mental health conditions

  • Mental Health Conditions
  • Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Social Phobias
  • Depression
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Autism Assistance Dogs
  • The Stress Response
  • Panic Attacks
  • Other Animal Contributions to Mental Wellbeing (Pleasure, Motivation and Exercise)

5. Applications for people with disabilities

  • Benefits of a Pet Therapy Program for People with Disabilities
  • Service Assistance Animals
  • Guide Dogs
  • Hearing Dogs
  • Seizure Alert Dogs
  • Diabetic Alert Dogs
  • Allergy Detection Dogs
  • Mobility Assistance Dogs
  • Physiotherapy Assistance Dogs
  • Pet Therapy Dogs Summary

6. Applications for Children

  • Pet Therapy and Children Introduction
  • Difficulties of Pet Therapy with Children
  • Developing Empathy
  • The Benefits of Pet Therapy for Children
  • Children with ADHD
  • Children with Autism

7. Applications for Older People

  • Introduction
  • Specific Applications of Therapy for Elderly
  • Grief and Loss
  • Physical Activity
  • Stress, Blood Pressure and Anxiety
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • When The Owner Can No Longer Care for the Animal

8. Establishing a Pet Therapy Service

  • Pet Therapy as a Business
  • Planning Your Pet Therapy Service
  • Which Animal is Most Suitable
  • Client Group
  • Timeline
  • Marketing Your Services
  • Data Protection and Privacy
  • Veterinarians
  • Other Services
  • Free or Paid For Services
  • Insurance
  • Business Plan
  • Buying an Existing Business
  • Animal Welfare Considerations
  • Remaining Competitive

COURSE AIMS

  • Explain the nature of pet therapy and determine where it may be used as a therapeutic tool.
  • Explain how pets can contribute to a person’s wellbeing as a companion or working animal.
  • Determine how to work with animals effectively and appropriately in a therapeutic situation.
  • Discuss ways in which pet therapy can be used for people with psychological conditions.
  • Discuss ways in which pet therapy can be used for people with physical disabilities
  • Discuss ways in which pet therapy can be used for children of different ages and circumstances.
  • Discuss ways in which pet therapy can be used for older people in different circumstances.
  • Plan the establishment and operation of a pet therapy service.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

  • Explore the positive and negative effects pet ownership has on health.
  • Find out about local animal assistance therapies or groups available in your local area.
  • Gather information on the range of animal therapies which are used specifically in mental health care support.
  • Observe a therapy session taking place.
  • Research different ways that animals can benefit our health.
  • Watch a dog being trained for therapy work.
  • Using personal experiences, or those of someone you know, consider how animals can improve mental health.
  • Investigate how a specific mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety or PTSD can benefit from pet therapy.
  • Talk to someone who has made use of pet therapy for physical disabilities and research how pet therapy is carried out, including how it benefits the person.
  • Carry out research into pet therapy with older people. Talk to an older person or several older people who have experienced pet therapy and ask them to share their experiences.
  • Prepare a plan for establishing a pet therapy service.
  • Find out about the use of therapy assistance pets and animals in schools and education settings.

What Are the Advantages of Studying Pet Therapy With ACS Distance Education?

  • You can start at any time to suit you.
  • The courses are self-paced.
  • You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
  • It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
  • Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in psychology and counselling.
  • They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
  • Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.

What Next?

Pet therapy can be a natural and effective way of supporting people through difficult periods in their lives. You may already be supporting people at difficult times, or already working with animals. Either way, you might want to move into the field of pet therapy and increase the ways that you can help people to improve their mental and physical health.  Perhaps you want to set up your own business or consultancy. Whatever your reasons for studying this course, pet therapy will provide you with a positive and effective way of helping people through their difficulties.

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Tracey Jones (psychology)B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies) Tracey began studying psychology in 1990. She has a wide range of experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She has been a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work and has also written many textbooks, blogs, articles and ebooks on psychology, writing, sociology, child development and more. She has had also several short stories published.
Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Alison Pearce (animal)B.Sc.(Hons) in Animal Science. Masters Degree in Ecotourism. P.G.Cert. Ed. (Science). Alison's first job was in 1982 as a stockwoman, working with pigs in Yorkshire. Within a few years she of that she was working for the University of Western Australia as a Research Technician and instructor with their school of Agricultural Science.In 1989 she moved to Melbourne University as Unit Manager and Instructor in Animal Husbandry. By the mid 1990's she moved back to England to work in Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing at Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture. Throughout her career, Alison has developed and delivered courses in veterinary nursing and animal sciences for vocational colleges and universities in Australia, New Zealand and Australia. She has built a high level of expertise and an outstanding international reputation as an expert in animal sciences.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.


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