Healing Paws®   
 animal-assisted therapy provider                           


When life gets hard, don't back off.

                                                                                         Northshore YMCA staff, Dana Oliver

                                                                                               

 


SCHEDULE OF TRAININGS  
SUMMER 2008

Making a Difference© Therapy Team Introductory Workshop
Therapy Dog Classes
Delta Society® Pet Partners® Workshop and Team Evaluation
Combination Class
Delta Society Pet Partners Team Evaluation
Animal-assisted Therapy's Group Connection
Animal-assisted Therapy as a Profession: It's Time Has Come
Developing Animal-assisted Activity/Therapy Training Courses
Registration form for all classes

Making a Difference© Therapy Team Introductory Workshop
This three-hour workshop is designed for the handler and one companion animal. It is a general overview, focusing on:

bulletthe meaning of the terms "animal-assisted activities" and "animal-assisted therapy"
bulletthe responsibilities of being a therapy animal handler
bulletallowing your animal to gain experience around health-care equipment
bulletDelta Society's® Pet Partners® Program and how to become a registered therapy team

The workshop will conclude with a limited mock evaluation of you and your animal, giving you an idea of the suitability of your animal for this work. PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is designed for you to explore animal-assisted activities and therapy and does NOT fulfill Delta Society's Pet Partner handler-training OR team evaluation requirements. You will still need to take the Pet Partners Workshop or Home Study Course, and the Team Evaluation.

Please bring:
    *one well-behaved animal, minimum of 10 months old, per participant -- animal must be on leash or crated 
    *proof of animal's current inoculations
    *something to write on, such as a book or clipboard
    *blanket or pad for animal
    *clean-up supplies for animal

Workshop cost: price range $60-65 per team (A "team" is one handler and one animal.)
Workshop dates: Fall 2008 date to be determined, 6:00-9:00 pm 
Workshop location: Woodinville, WA

Therapy Animal Skills Classes

bulletDo you and your dog want to visit or work in health-care facilities or school classrooms?
bulletDo you want to learn how to train your dog in preparation for these types of visits or therapy sessions?
bulletDo you want your animal to gain experience around health-care equipment?
bulletDo you want to incorporate your dog into your work in the areas of education, rehabilitation, and/or mental health?

This eight class session is for volunteers, professionals and their dogs interested in participating in animal-assisted activity and therapy programs in the community. You will learn what it takes to become a therapy handler-animal team. The eighth session is a team evaluation of handlers and their animals pursuing registration in the Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. 
***PLEASE NOTE:   Individuals taking only this class are those who are already Pet Partners and are training a new animal.***

These classes will offer:

bulletinformation about Delta Society's® Pet Partners® Program, a therapy handler-animal program that educates the handler and evaluates the handler and animal as a therapy team
bulletdiscussion of the terms "animal-assisted activities" and "animal-assisted therapy"
bulletdetails of handler responsibility in facility situations
bullethelpful commands to use when visiting or working
bulletpractice time around health-care equipment and in a variety of mock situations

Prerequisite: Successful completion of a Basic Obedience Class or mastery of Sit-Down-Stay-Come commands.

Class cost:  $95-$105
Class dates:   July 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17.  Pet Partner Team Evaluation to follow the class ($15  fee at time of evaluation).
 Class times:  9:30 - 10:30 am, OR 6:30 - 7:30 pm (Please register for only one time option.)
Class location:  Woodinville, WA

Delta Society® Pet Partners® Workshop/Team Evaluation
 This workshop and team evaluation is for those interested in volunteering with their pets and for professionals wanting to incorporate their animals into their work. (It also fulfills both the handler-training and team evaluation requirements for Delta Society's Pet Partners Program.) The first six sessions comprise the handler-only portion of the training and the last session is the handler-animal team evaluation. You will also receive a packet enabling you to apply for registration with Delta Society's Pet Partners Program.

The handler-only workshop sessions (in six sessions) will address:

bulletcommon staff concerns regarding visiting animal programs
bulletworking with clients
bulletidentifying stress in your animal
bulletthe development of your skills as a therapy animal handler
bulletthe skills and aptitude requirements for animals in a wide variety of settings

The team evaluation (the last session) is provided by a certified Pet Partner Team Evaluator. Each team will be evaluated for the skills and aptitude required for participation in therapy animal programs. Teams that successfully complete both portions of the evaluation are eligible to apply for certification as Pet Partners, once all other requirements have been completed. The team evaluation takes about 30 minutes and is administered by appointment only. Feel free to come early, though, to watch the evaluation process.

PLEASE NOTE: To be screened, animals must be at least one year of age. The use of pinch collars, muzzles, or food lures during the evaluation is prohibited.
***Also, please note that individuals taking only this course are either registering as a Pet Partner without an animal or are Pet Partners taking a refresher course.  The latter choice is optional.***

Class cost:  $100-$110 + $27.50 for the manual (purchased at first class, checks made payable to Healing Paws, Inc.)
Class dates:  July 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17.  Pet Partner Team Evaluation to follow class  ($15 fee at time of evaluation).
Class times:  10:45 am - noon OR 7:45 - 9:00 pm  (Please register for only one time option.)
Class location:  Woodinville, WA

Combination Class

This class is for people interested in becoming a registered Pet Partner team with their animal teammate(s).   The class is divided into two sections.  For more information about each section, please review the information listed above on the Therapy Animal Skills Classes and the Delta Society® Pet Partners® Workshop/Team Evaluation.

Class cost:  $185-$200 + $27.50 for the manual (purchased at first class, checks made payable to Healing Paws, Inc.)
Class dates:  July 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17.  Pet Partner Team Evaluation to follow class ($15 fee at time of evaluation).
Class times:  9:30 am - noon OR 6:30 - 9:00 pm  (Please register for only one time option.)
Class location:  Woodinville, WA

 

Pet Partner Team Evaluation

This is for those who have either taken the Pet Partner workshop or the Pet Partner Home Study course and now need the Team Evaluation, or are in need of an evaluation for re-registration as a Pet Partner.  Each evaluation takes approximately 30 minutes.  In order to be evaluated the handler must bring with them the completed Handler Questionnaire (in the registration packet), the signed Indemnity Form, a brush, and the animal's current Rabies certificate.

Cost:  $25.00 per animal
Team Evaluation dates:   TBD 2008  BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - for a registration form for this evaluation only, please email your request to cwdudzik@healingpaws.com 
Class location:  Woodinville, WA 


Animal-assisted Therapy's Group Connection  

The intent of this workshop is to educate professionals on techniques utilizing a registered therapy animal in a variety of clinical group settings.  The focus is for appropriate patient connection with others.  This workshop will show how the therapy animal can serve as a bridge in this connection process.  At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have an
increased repertoire of therapy animal techniques and understand the rationale for each technique used a variety of group settings.

Prerequisite:  Master's degree or higher in the field of Mental Health
Cost:  $100.00 
Workshop date:  2008 - call 425 488-3061 or email (see below) if interested, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm  
Class location:  Woodinville, WA
Instructor:  Christi Dudzik, MC, LMHC
Registration:  to register for this workshop, email cwdudzik@healingpaws.com and a registration form will be sent.


Animal-assisted Therapy as a Profession:  Its Time Has Come  

The intent of this workshop is to move animal-assisted activities/therapy to the next level, that of a paid profession.  This
serves to advance the credibility of utilizing registered therapy animals as tools of change when working with a variety of populations, while keeping within the boundaries of the handler's professional degree.  At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have the confidence and desire to return to their communities with strategies for starting their own
AAA/T businesses.

Cost:  $75.00
Workshop date:  2008 - call 425 488-3061 or email (see below) if interested, 9 am - noon
Class Location:  Woodinville, WA
Instructor:  Christi Dudzik, MC, LMHC
 Registration:  to register for this workshop, email cwdudzik@healingpaws.com and a registration form will be sent.
  



Developing Animal-assisted Activity/Therapy Training Courses

The intent of this workshop is to create needed trainings in workshop participants’ communities.  The focus will be two-fold.  One will be on the creation of a therapy team introductory workshop.  This will cover what it means to be a therapy team and the procedures for registering with one of the country's leading therapy animal organizations, Delta Society. Secondly, the focus will be on the creation of a therapy animal class, which will conclude with Delta Society's Pet Partners Team Evaluation.  It is geared toward volunteers and professionals interested in participating in animal-assisted activity and therapy programs with their animals.  

Cost:  $150.00 
Workshop date:  2008 - call 425 488-3061 or email (see below) if interested, 9 am - 4:00 pm  
Class location:  Woodinville, WA
Instructor:  Christi Dudzik, MC, LMHC
Registration:  to register for this workshop, email cwdudzik@healingpaws.com and a registration form will be sent.