You will have at your disposal the best didactic material, which will provide you with a contextual study to facilitate your learning” 

Today, the multiple physical, social and mental benefits of interacting with animals in controlled environments are indisputable. In fact, such benefits were already present in therapeutic contexts long before documented scientific evidence was made widely available. This academic program will focus on gathering and understanding the different lines of intervention used in the area of Animal-Assisted Therapies (AAI).  

This training covers advanced and specialized knowledge of AAI as applied to the different disabilities that can be addressed with this type of intervention. Different disabilities will be delineated and differentiated while learning will be focused on specific areas: intellectual, physical, sensory and psychic. AAIs are intended for health or human service providers within a professional setting. They are designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional or cognitive function. They are provided in a variety of settings, both group and individual. 

With this training, professionals will have the ability to develop Assisted Therapy methodologies based on specific patient objectives or a systematic methodology that guarantees learning. The development of new therapeutic methodologies to counteract the negative effects of stress generated by social, cultural and biological impact, make Assisted Interventions a natural alternative for integration within the environment. 

Psychologists will acquire theoretical and practical skills to work with children, adolescents, adults and elderly people with different types of disabilities. All the interventions in health, education and social areas trained professionals are already familiar with will be given a special focus, including animal participation in the therapeutic, social and educational improvement of patients. 

As this is a 100% online academic program, you will be able to balance your studies with your professional work” 

This Postgraduate diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention Programs for Functionally Diverse People contains the most complete and up-to-date program on the market. The most important features of the program are:

• Practical cases presented by experts in Animal-Assisted Therapies 
• The graphic, schematic, and eminently practical contents with which they are created, provide scientific and practical information on the disciplines that are essential for professional practice
• Breakthroughs in Animal-Assisted Therapies 
• Practical exercises where the self-assessment process can be carried out to improve learning
• Special emphasis on innovative methodologies in Animal-Assisted Therapies 
• Theoretical lessons, questions to the expert, debate forums on controversial topics, and individual reflection assignments
• Content that is accessible from any fixed or portable device with an Internet connection 

Your goals and ours at TECH become one and the same with this academic program” 

The teaching staff is made up of professionals in the field who bring to this program the experience of their work, in addition to recognized specialists from prestigious reference societies and universities. 

The multimedia content, developed with the latest educational technology, will provide the professional with situated and contextual learning, i.e., a simulated environment that will provide immersive training programmed to train in real situations. 

This program is designed around Problem Based Learning, whereby the professional must try to solve the different professional practice situations that arise during the academic program. For this purpose, the professional will be assisted by an innovative, interactive video system created by renowned and experienced experts in Animal-Assisted Therapies.  

Specialization is a great asset when it comes to growing in a booming sector such as Animal-Assisted Therapies"

This Postgraduate diploma is the opportunity you were waiting for to take your career to the next level and become a prestigious Psychologist"

The content structure has been designed by a team of experts in Psychology, who have taken into account for its development the latest strategies and developments in Animal-Assisted Therapies. The contents will prove to be the main asset for psychology professionals in terms of their growth and consolidation within the sector. These therapies will also result in greater guarantees of success in treating and helping patients with their cognitive and emotional development processes. All this will enable professionals to position themselves as prestigious psychologists. 

An exceptional teaching staff with years of industry experience has designed this highly prestigious program” 

Module 1. Functional Diversities and Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)

1.1 Functional Diversity 

1.1.1. Intellectual Disability 
1.1.2. Physical Disability 
1.1.3. Sensory Disability 
1.1.4. Psychic Disability 

1.2. Intellectual Disabilities 

1.2.1. Intellectual Disabilities 
1.2.3. Types of Intellectual Disabilities 
1.2.4. Autism Spectrum Disorder 
1.2.5. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder 
1.2.6. Specific Learning Disorders 
1.2.7. Communication Disorder 
1.2.8. Rett Syndrome 

1.3. Physical Disabilities 

1.3.1. Physical Disabilities 
1.3.2. Types of Functional Physical Diversity 
1.3.3. Pediatric Cerebral Palsy 
1.3.4. Adult Cerebral Palsy 
1.3.5. Spina Bifida 
1.3.6. Multiple Sclerosis 
1.3.7. Musculoskeletal Conditions 

1.3.7.1. Scoliosis 
1.3.7.2. Hyperlaxity 

1.4. Sensory Disabilities 

1.4.1. Sensory Disability 
1.4.2. Types of Sensory Disabilities 
1.4.3. Hearing Impairment 
1.4.4. Sensory Disability 
1.4.5. Deaf and Blindness 
1.4.6. Sensory Processing Disorders 

1.5. Psychic Disabilities 

1.5.1. Psychic Disability 
1.5.2. Health and Mental Illness 
1.5.3. Mental Disorders in Childhood or Adolescence 
1.5.4. Mental Disorders in Adulthood 

1.6. The Role of Health Care Professionals in AAI Programs 

1.6.1. Multidisciplinary Teams 
1.6.2. Occupational Therapists 
1.6.3. Psychologists 
1.6.4. Speech Therapists 
1.6.5. Physiotherapists 

1.6.5.1. Equine-Assisted Therapies and Interventions: A Physiotherapeutic Approach 
1.6.5.2. Canine-Assisted Therapies and Interventions: A Physiotherapeutic Approach 
1.6.5.3. Avian-Assisted Therapies and Interventions: A Physiotherapeutic Approach 

1.6.6. Therapeutic Objectives 
1.6.7. Therapeutic Approach 
1.6.8. Therapeutic Evaluation 
1.6.9. Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) and Research 

1.7. Benefits of Animals as Therapeutic Agents 

1.7.1. Benefits of Animal Use in AAI 
1.7.2. Horses 
1.7.3. Birds 
1.7.4. Small Mammals 

1.8. Animal-Assisted Early Intervention 

1.8.1. Benefits 
1.8.2. Relevant Factors 
1.8.3. Stimulation 
1.8.4. Precautions and Contraindications 

1.9. Geriatrics 

1.9.1. Geriatrics and Gerontology 
1.9.2. Diseases 
1.9.3. Precautions and Contraindications 

1.10. Persons and Groups at Risk of Social Exclusion 

1.10.1. Conceptual Delimitation 
1.10.2. Groups at Risk of Social Exclusion 
1.10.3. Types of Interventions to Reduce the Risk of Social Exclusion  

Module 2. Methodology in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) 

2.1. User Evaluation 

2.1.1. First Interview and Information Gathering 
2.1.2. Observing User Behavior with Animals 
2.1.3. Different Areas to be Evaluated 
2.1.4. Animal selection according to User Needs 

2.2. Setting Objectives 

2.2.1. General Objectives 
2.2.2. Specific Objectives 
2.2.3. Intervention Plan 
2.2.4. Returning Information to Users and/or Family Members 

2.3. Techniques and Strategies 

2.3.1. The Importance of Therapeutic Links 
2.3.2. Therapeutic Strategy 
2.3.3. Design of Activities 
2.3.4. Resources and Timing 

2.4. User Monitoring 

2.4.1. Program Assessment 
2.4.2. Assessing Difficulties Encountered during Therapy 
2.4.3. Incorporating New Techniques and Activities in Therapy

2.5. Areas of Intervention 

2.5.1. Population 
2.5.2. Psychological-Emotional 
2.5.3. Cognitive 
2.5.4. Social 

2.6. Techniques Used 

2.6.1. Psychological-Emotional Dimension 
2.6.2. Cognitive Dimension 
2.6.3. Social Dimension 

2.7. Intervention in Complicated Situations 

2.7.1. Specific Training 
2.7.2. Crises and Absences 
2.7.3. Animal Stress 

2.8. Equine-Assisted Interventions 

2.8.1. Hippotherapy 

2.8.1.1. Twin Mounting 
2.8.1.2. Grounding 

2.8.2. Therapeutic Riding 
2.8.3. Adapted Horsemanship 

2.9. Other Animal-Assisted Interventions 

2.9.1. Interventions with Birds 
2.9.2. Interventions with Dogs 
2.9.3. Farm Animal Interventions 

2.10. Scientific Evidence for AAI 

2.10.1. Interventions with Dogs 
2.10.2. Interventions with Horses 
2.10.3. Interventions with Other Mammals and Rodents 

Module 3. Application Areas in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) 

3.1. Application Areas in AAI 

3.1.1. Specific Areas in AAI
3.1.2. The Three Fundamentals in Assisted Interventions 

3.2. Geriatric

3.2.1. Methodology
3.2.2. Canine-Assisted Interventions in Centers for the Elderly 
3.2.3. Equine-Assisted Interventions in Centers for the Elderly

3.3. Hospitals

3.3.1. Methodology
3.3.2. Canine-Assisted Interventions in Hospital Centers 
3.3.3. Equine-Assisted Interventions in Hospital Centers 

3.4. Penitentiaries

3.4.1. Methodology
3.4.2. Most Common AAIs in Prisons

3.5. Educational Institutions 

3.5.1. Methodology
3.5.2. Most Common AAIs in Educational Institutions

3.6. Applied Coaching 

3.6.1. Methodology
3.6.2. Equine-Assisted Coaching 
3.6.3. Bird-of-Prey-Assisted Coaching 

3.7. AAI from an Occupational Therapy Perspective

3.7.1. Occupational Therapy (OT)
3.7.2. Animal-Assisted Therapy from the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) Approach 
3.7.3. Including Occupational Therapists in AAI Teams
3.7.4. Occupational Therapy and Hippotherapy
3.7.5. Occupational Therapy and Canine-Assisted Interventions

3.8. AAI from a Physical Therapy Perspective

3.8.1. Physiotherapy and Hippotherapy
3.8.2. Physiotherapy and Canine-Assisted Interventions

3.9. AAI from a Psychology Perspective

3.9.1. Psychology and Hippotherapy
3.9.2. Psychology and Canine-Assisted Interventions

3.10. AAI Status in Spain

3.10.1. Predominance of AAI in Spanish Autonomous Communities
3.10.2. Intervention Areas
3.10.3. Conclusions

This academic program will allow you to swiftly and effectively advance your career”