An Introduction to Canine Companions in Clinical Care (Self Study)
Credit Available - See CEs/Contact Hours tab below.
Total Credits: 1 including 1.25 NYSED LMSW & LCSW CEs/Contact Hours, 1.25 NYSED PSY CEs/Contact Hours, 1.25 ASWB ACE approved continuing education, 1.25 UBSW - NYS OASAS
- Average Rating:
- 24
- Categories:
- Animal Assisted Therapy | Client Engagement | Professional Development | Therapeutic Modalities
- Trainers:
- Belinda Schlafer, LMHC, CCTP, EMDR-C | Christine Miner, LMSW, VSW, KPA-CTP
- Course Levels:
- Beginning and Intermediate
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 13 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Original Recording Date:
- Jan 09, 2026
- Format:
- Self-Study
Tags: ASWB Short Self-Study
Description
Recorded webinar.
This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the role of animal assisted interventions (AAI) in clinical practice. The purpose of this workshop is to help participants begin to examine the potential benefits and inherent risks of incorporating AAI into their work. During this training, we will explore the dynamics of the human-animal bond, review the history of animal assisted interventions, and highlight clinical considerations for ethical practice. Participants will gain an introductory understanding of professional responsibilities related to AAI. This workshop offers an informative foundation for participants interested in integrating animal assisted interventions into their clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the human-animal bond
- Identify the different classification of dogs
- Evaluate the benefits and risks of animal-assisted interventions
Research:
- Chandler, C.K. (2024). Animal-assisted therapy in counseling (4th ed). Routledge.
- Evans J. J. (2024). Assessing cultural, religious, and trauma influences in human-animal interactions for effective animal-assisted counseling. Animals: an open access journal from MDPI, 14(17), 2496. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172496
- Fine, A. (Ed.). (2019). Handbook on animal assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions (5th ed). Academic Press.
- Sterman, J. (2020). Human-animal interaction in social work: a call to action. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 17(1), 47-54. Retrieved from 10-017-109-JSWVE-2020.pdf
Target Audience: social workers, mental health practitioners, creative arts therapists, marriage and facility therapists, psychologists, addiction professionals, case managers, and other interested individuals.
Customer ServiceWe are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.
CEs/Contact Hours
University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0001. Continuing education contact hours: 1.25 Live Online
University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0062. Continuing education contact hours: 1.25 Live Online
University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, #1773, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 02/23/2023 - 02/23/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.25 continuing education credits.
NYS OASAS Provider #0045: 1.25 hours for CPP & CPS Initial, Section 1; CASAC, CPP & CPS Renewal.
Handouts
| SS Agenda Introduction to Canine Companions in Clinical Care (119.4 KB) | Download | ||
| Intro to Canine Companion Care Slides 2 per page (5.5 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Intro to Canine Companion Care Slides 3 per page (3.7 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Prescription Dog Video | Available after Purchase | ||
| Reference List Intro to Canine Companion Care (0.16 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
Trainer
Belinda Schlafer, LMHC, CCTP, EMDR-C Related Seminars and Products
Belinda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Houghton College with a minor in Sociology and a master’s degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from St. Bonaventure University. Belinda is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and is certified in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR-C).
Belinda worked as Mental Health Counselor for Cuba Rushford Central School providing counseling services to staff. Prior to her work at Cuba-Rushford, Belinda worked in multiple roles for the Allegany County Department of Social Services in Adult Protective, PINS Reform, and Adoption and Home finding.
Belinda is the co-founder of the Officer Wellness Program. She is the creator and presenter of the Educator Wellness Program. Additionally, she is the founder and developer of, the Attorney Wellness Program, The Self-care and Wellness in the Child Protective and Healthcare Profession respectively. These programs provide participants with tools and resources needed to manage the stressors of their respective careers and achieve their best life possible. In 2024 Belinda opened her own wellness consulting practice, Compelled to B. Well, LLC.
Christine Miner, LMSW, VSW, KPA-CTP Related Seminars and Products
Christine Miner is a NYS licensed master social worker who graduated from SUNY Albany. She has worked as an adjunct instructor for Siena College where she taught Animal Assisted Intervention and received her Veterinary Social Work Certificate from the University of Tennessee. Chris is a certified training partner credentialed through Karen Pryor Academy and is a therapy dog evaluator for Pet Partners. Currently Christine works as a training partner in Paws2Connect, LLC where she assists agencies in implementing, integrating and assessing facility dog programs. Christine has worked as a Juvenile probation officer and supervisor for Rensselaer County Probation for 30 years.
Agenda
- Introductions, objectives, and invitation
- History of Animal Assisted Interventions
- Human-Animal Bond
- Classification of dogs and continuum of canine involvement in clinical practice
- Benefits & Risks of Animal Assisted Interventions
- Q & A
Self-Study Equipment Requirements
Required Hardware
- A computer (desktop/laptop) or mobile device (smartphone/tablet).
- Speakers/headphones/earbuds
Internet Connection
- A stable Internet connection of 56K or greater is required. (However, please note that a 56K connection may degrade the quality of your experience.)
Any questions about these requirements or other technical questions can be directed to sw-ce@buffalo.edu.
Self-Study Course Access
Upon successful registration of the course, including receipt of payment, you will be able to access the course materials.
How do I test my system / access the online training?
To access the program, please log into your account. Click on the Launch Viewer button next to your program title.
How do I access the course materials
To download course materials, log into your account. Under the seminar name click on the Handouts button.
Completion Requirements
No partial credit is given for partial attendance.
Self-Study Completion Requirements
In order to receive a certificate of completion for this course participants must complete the following.
Please note all requirements can be found in your UBCE21 portal
- Watch the video(s) in it's entirety.
- After the training, take and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher. Participants have three chances to pass the quiz. You can access the quiz by clicking on the "Evaluation and Certificate" button for this course.
- After the training, complete the evaluation by clicking on the "Evaluation and Certificate" button for this course.
The certificate of completion will be immediately generated in your account upon completion of all course requirements. Certificates may be downloaded, printed, or left in your account.
Self-Study Cancellation Policy
Self-Study Courses: Participants have up to 72 hours from purchase to contact the Office of Continuing Education by email and request a refund.