Exploratory Workshop on Animal Assisted Therapy:

                         Caring with Critters

This energetic and interactive workshop will give you the opportunity to:

 

  • experience hands-on learning about how to effectively help people of all ages who are experiencing difficult life issues and / or hard-to manage behavior while interacting with animals in a natural setting.
  • learn how this method can be used to help people problem solve effectively, learn healthy communication skills and set and reach their goals.
  • gain a new perspective on how you affect and deal with your world.
  • understand how animals and nature can help to treat youth at risk, autism (PDD), depression, schizophrenia, fetal alcohol disorders (FAS / FAE), addictions, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brain injury, past sexual abuse or exploitation issues, low self-esteem and confidence issues, attention deficit disorders (ADD / ADHD), tourette’s syndrome, socially inappropriate behaviors, oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), verbal and physical aggression, and much more. 
  • learn how animals can be used to “yay” or “neigh” mental health diagnoses in a functional setting.
  • understand how functional assessments are conducted for program participants
  • understand how individual program plans can be designed in a natural setting to meet participants’ needs.

  • realize the importance of boundaries in life and become skilled in setting and maintaining them safely and humanely.
  • appreciate the dramatic effects of non-verbal language and the importance of reading and understanding those we are helping.
  • learn and engage in games  and activities that are applied as designed strategies for helping client populations.
  • have an opportunity to bring personal experiences  and/or client examples to the group and design treatment strategies involving animals and nature.
  • become more aware of your interactions through non-verbal communication through experiential group exercises – the same ones which are typically applied with clients in AAT.
  • discuss stages to developing an AAT program, determine how you can accomplish incorporating animals into your practice / where do you go from here?
  • learn about the various types of AAT programs and what it takes to run them.
  • understand and practice the animal ethics involved in working with animals to help people.

 

 

 

This workshop is intended for mental-health professionals, teachers, front-line staff, program managers, individuals who are curious about how animals accomplish their co-counselor role, and anyone wishing to further their knowledge and skills in AAT.

 

This workshop may be accredited as a necessary part of attaining a certificate in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) through Lakeland College in the future.  Lakeland College is the first College to offer AAT as a credit course in Western Canada.  It is a mandatory part of the Child and Youth Care Diploma currently offered by this institution.  This course is designed and taught by Eileen Bona, owner, founder and trainer of Dreamcatcher. 

This training does not qualify anyone to be an animal assisted therapist.  Proper professional qualifications are necessary for anyone to practice any kind of therapeutic technique.

 

Time:  9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day (last hour reserved for individual questions / consultations)

 

Costs: TBA

 

Who Are We?

 

 

Eileen Bona M.Ed., is a Registered Psychologist and Behavior Management Specialist and the founder of Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy Association and Dreamcatcher Ltd.  She has been working with people in need for more than 15 years and has been working in her private practice located on a ranch with animals to help people successfully become more functional for the past six years.  Eileen is a past Sessional Instructor of Introductory Psychology at King’s University College and a current Instructor of Animal Assisted Therapy at Lakeland College.  Eileen was instrumental in helping with the curriculum design of the AAT courses being designed for Alberta Education.  AAT along with Nature Assisted Therapy and Horticulture Therapy will all be integral in the Alberta high school curriculums as of September 2009. 

 

As a clinical therapist, Eileen has provided AAT services to hundreds of families in the past six years.  She believes in a collaborative approach and involves parents, teachers and other professionals in designing and implementing program plans.  All Dreamcatcher animals are rescued and donated and have special needs and abilities.

 

Phone:  780-922-1047 or Fax:  780-922-4217 or

Email: dreamcatcher@wildroseinternet.ca for more information.

The training session is being held in Ardrossan

(10 minutes east of Sherwood Park, 30 minutes east of Edmonton).

 

Please check back for 2010 dates and registration deadlines.

 

Morning coffee and snacks will be provided..

 

The entire workshop will take place outdoors – please dress accordingly.

 

Participation in the animal-related exercises is strictly voluntary.