Don't miss this great opportunity and update your knowledge on everything related to Animal-Assisted Interventions and their use in Occupational Therapy”

Animal-assisted therapies are on the rise given their ability to help people with different pathologies in their healing process. With this intensive program, veterinary professionals will be able to develop a stable bond with the animals used in these therapies through training that respects the nature of the species and working on the different dynamics to gain their trust without negatively affecting the animal's well-being.  

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.

The program develops the necessary competencies in managing different disabilities that can be addressed with AAI, delving deeper into rehabilitation, re-education and social integration processes. The syllabus is oriented toward obtaining results in a comprehensive training framework, which encompasses theoretical and practical aspects of AAI in society.

Clinical veterinarians 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.  

Among the multiple areas in which animals can be valuable, their role as social mediators and emotional facilitators in different demographics and disability groups will be delineated. Likewise, the benefits of AAI, interventions designed to improve cognitive, physical or social functioning, which compliment conventional therapies, will be analyzed in depth. Finally, students will assess the precautions and contraindications to be considered in the use of AAI and will delve deeper into the main animals used in AAI, horses, birds and dogs.  

This Animal-Assisted Intervention Programs for Functionally Diverse People is the opportunity you were waiting for to take your career to the next level and become a prestigious veterinarian”

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

• 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 self-assessment can be used 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

A high-level program, especially designed to update student knowledge in a comfortable and effective way”

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 specialist must try to solve the different professional practice situations that arise during the academic year. For this purpose, the professional will be assisted by an innovative, interactive video system created by renowned and extensively experienced experts in Animal-Assisted Therapies. 

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

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

The syllabus and contents for this academic program have been designed by a group of professional experts in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapies, with extensive experience and recognized prestige in the profession, backed by the volume of cases they have reviewed, studied and diagnosed, and who possess extensive knowledge of new technologies applied to veterinary medicine. This assures students that, upon completing the program, they will be fully qualified to work in Animal-Assisted Interventions from a multidisciplinary approach that favors both humans and animals. 

The largest content bank in the sector, condensed into an academic program that lasts just a few months” 

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

1.1. Functional Diversity

1.1.2. Intellectual Disability
1.1.3. Physical Disability
1.1.4. Sensory Disability
1.1.5. 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 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
2.5.2. 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

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