Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (UK)

The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center in conjunction with the Playful Pooch Program present: Animal-Assisted Play Therapy: Theory, Research, & Practice with Risë VanFleet, Ph.D., RPT-S Tracie Faa-Thompson, MA, AASW, PGdipNDPT Workshop Dates 2010 Register Early! This workshop sells out quickly! 2-5 November 2010 ~ Berwick upon Tweed, England

Workshop Location
The workshop will be held near Berwick upon Tweed in northern England. Lodging and travel information will be provided with confirmations. The workshop fees include a notebook of handouts, continental breakfast, and a light lunch each day.

Workshop Description
This training is designed for child and family therapists who wish to train and work with therapy animals to enhance their play therapy and other child/family work. The workshop provides an overview of the human-animal bond literature, animal-assisted therapy, research, and the integration of animal-assisted therapy with play therapy. Emphasis will be placed on dogs, with a special segment on horses. Participants learn how to select and train dogs for this work, as well as why positive, behavioral, and relationship-oriented methods of training are especially useful when involving dogs in child therapy. Emphasis is on the use of child-canine play interactions for therapeutic benefit. Many specific canine-assisted play therapy interventions are covered, including the involvement of dogs with both nondirective and directive play therapy and ways to incorporate families. Types of child/family problems include anxiety and perfectionism, oppositional behaviors, attention deficits, divorce, developmental delays, trauma, attachment problems, grief, behavior/conduct problems, chronic medical illness, and social anxieties. Working with dogs to help children in foster and residential placements is highlighted as well.
The equine segment introduces participants to different models of equine assisted therapy, some of which do not require therapists to have horses of their own. The training highlights similarities in the relationship-oriented approach with both canines and equines. The workshop gives participants a chance to explore this exciting, emerging field and learn how to develop, implement, and research their own programs. Ideas on working collaboratively with therapy dog handlers and trainers, as well as equine specialists, are included. Lecture material is illustrated with video examples, live demonstrations, and skills practice. The workshop is limited to 10-12 participants. This training is for people only. Therapy dogs will be present and available for demonstrations and practice segments. Horses will also be involved in the equine segment.

Learning Objectives Participants in this training will be able to… describe research-based benefits of the human-animal bond for adults and children. list at least 4 advantages of using canines in play therapy with children. define “animal assisted therapy” and “pet play therapy.” describe why positive dog training methods are essential in canine-assisted play therapy. understand basic classical conditioning and operant conditioning used in positive dog training. identify their own dogs’ natural play tendencies that could be incorporated into play therapy. protect themselves from the potential risks involved in this type of work. conduct at least 5 specific canine-assisted play therapy interventions for identified problems. explain the benefits of canine-assisted play therapy for children with attachment disruptions. identify state-of-the-art resources for their own professional development and credentialing in this field.

Prerequisites
Participants should have prior experience conducting play therapy, including familiarity with both nondirective (child-centered) play therapy and directive play therapy approaches. They should also be familiar with behaviorism and appreciate the importance of the family system. They should also be comfortable around dogs. If you have questions about these prerequisites, please contact Dr. VanFleet. Canine professionals wishing to attend should contact Dr. VanFleet for ways to meet these prerequisites.

Participants
Participants should have prior experience conducting play therapy, including familiarity with both nondirective (child-centered) play therapy and directive play therapy approaches. They should also be familiar with behaviorism and appreciate the importance of the family system. They should also be comfortable around dogs. If you have questions about these prerequisites, please contact Dr. VanFleet. Canine professionals wishing to attend should contact Dr. VanFleet for ways to meet these prerequisites.

Who Should Attend
This training is for psychologists, social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, family therapists, school counselors, and other experienced mental health, medical, or educational professionals who work with children and families and who have an interest in the use of canines in play therapy. Canine and equine professionals who meet the prerequisites are also welcomed.

Special Needs
We are committed to making workshops accessible to everyone. Please contact us if you have special needs.

Schedule
The training will run from 8:30 to 5:30 each day.
The training has 26 actual training hours.

Continuing Education
The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The FEAPT Center maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center is approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (5732) to offer continuing education credits to counselors. The FEAPT Center follows all CE guidelines. It is also an Association for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Provider 95-014. This program has been approved by a number of state social work boards (please contact us for this info). 26 continuing education credits will be awarded to participants who attend the entire training. Partial credit cannot be given. No exceptions can be made to this policy. CPD credits are generally accepted in the UK, but check with your credentialing board to be sure!

The Human and Canine Presenters… Risë VanFleet, Ph.D., RPT-S is a licensed psychologist and registered play therapist-supervisor with 35 years of clinical and leadership experience in a variety of settings. She is the president of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc. in Boiling Springs, PA. She is the clinical consultant for the Beech Street Program. Dr. VanFleet is the founder of the International Collaborative on Play Therapy and a Past President/Board Chair of the Association for Play Therapy. She has authored several books on filial/family therapy, numerous chapters on play therapy, and is featured on 4 DVD workshops. Risë has trained thousands worldwide, and she has received 3 prestigious awards for her work. She is also the author of the groundbreaking and award-winning book, Play Therapy with Kids & Canines: Benefits for Children’s Developmental and Psychosocial Health, and articles and chapters on the subject. She is an Approved Evaluator with the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen® Program, a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Dog Writers Association of America, and an affiliate of the International Society for Anthrozoology. She is responsible for the Playful Pooch Program. She is also involved in ongoing research on animals involved in therapy.
Kirrie is a trained play therapy dog. She is a 6-year-old rescued Border Collie mix. DVD clips of Kirrie’s work will be shown, and other dogs will be available for work during the training.
Tracie Faa-Thompson, MA, AASW, PGdipNDPT is a specialist social worker in the adoption field and a BAPT registered Non-Directive Play Therapist. She uses a mix of individual, filial and group filial therapy methods in her work. Tracie is a practice teacher of social work students and a trainer in attachment theory and life story work. Her first career was working with young horses, and she was often their first experience of a rider. Interested in the Relationship and Partnership approach to working with horses, Tracie is a member of the Classical Riding Club, EAGALA, and Natural Horse People. For over 20 years she has been Chair of her local Riding for the Disabled branch. She also has 5 dogs.
Sailor is an 11-year-old Gypsy Vanner. His motto in life is that strangers are friends he hasn't met yet! He, along with Tracie, will your host for the equine part of the training.

Fees
Extra Early Bird fee $750 (fully paid by 1 July 2010)
Early Bird fee: $800 (paid 1 July - 15 Sept)
Regular fee: $950 (after 15 Sept 2010)

Registration fees include workshop handouts and materials, continental breakfast, light lunch, and beverages.

Cancellation Policy:
$150 of the registration fee is a nonrefundable deposit that holds your reservation for this training. Registrations are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Fees include 20 hours of training, handout book, light refreshments. Lunches and dinners are on your own.

The $150 deposit is nonrefundable. Written cancellations received 12 weeks prior to the training will receive a full refund of the balance of the fees. Cancellations received within 12 weeks of the training are subject to an additional $100 processing fee, with the remainder being refunded.

We regret that no refunds can be given within the 6 weeks preceding the training. When someone from the waiting list can substitute, credit toward future trainings may be given.

To Register...
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or download the full brochure and submit the registration form that is on it.