Foundations of Ethical & Effective Animal-Assisted Therapy CE Webinar for therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists

 
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Foundations of Ethical & Effective Animal-Assisted Therapy - 3 hours

To access the discount form for registering for multiple workshops or participants, please click here.

When & Where:

  • Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
  • Time: 10:00am - 1:15pm Eastern Time
  • CE Hours Included: 3 Ethics (please see below for details)
  • Location: Live Interactive Webinar ("Synchronous") on Zoom
  • Investment: $87 before Friday, July 24th at 5:00pm Eastern Time, $97 after
  • Presented by: Ashley Tolleson, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT, CPCS and Taylor Chastain Griffin, PhD (see bio below)
  • Workshop Recording: A recording of this workshop is available to review for 60 days after the presentation. However, participants must attend live to receive the "Synchronous" CE Certificate.
  • Instruction Level: Introductory
  • Target Audience: Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop in its entirety, you will be able to:

  • Discuss how to differentiate Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) from related practices by accurately classifying examples of human–animal bond, human–animal interaction, animal-assisted interventions, therapy animals, emotional support animals, and service animals.
  • Apply ethical standards, competency guidelines, and established AAT models (e.g., triangle and diamond models) to determine appropriate therapy animal roles, handler responsibilities, and scope of practice within clinical scenarios.
  • Design a culturally responsive and trauma-informed AAT intervention plan that integrates therapeutic goals, ethical considerations, client consent, and animal welfare principles.

Workshop Description:

Interested in incorporating therapy animals into your practice but unsure where to begin? Whether you plan to partner with your own animal or collaborate with registered volunteer teams, this interactive workshop provides the essential foundation for integrating animal-assisted therapy ethically, safely, and effectively.

We’ll clarify the important distinctions between therapy animals and other types of working animals, review current research and standards of practice, and explore what professional and handler competency truly requires. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the scope of practice, risk management considerations, and the ethical responsibilities unique to animal-assisted work.

Through case studies and discussion, you’ll practice conceptualizing clients using a Human–Animal Bond (HAB) framework and explore adaptable AAI tools for a range of populations and mental health concerns.

Workshop Agenda:

  • Define and Differentiate Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Related Practices (45 mins)
    • Trace the historical development of Animal-Assisted Therapy and its foundational models
    • Differentiate between Human-Animal Bond, Human-Animal Interaction, and Animal-Assisted Interventions
    • Explain the distinctions among therapy animals, emotional support animals, and service animals
  • Identify the Benefits and Clinical Applications of AAT (45 mins)
    • Examine the therapeutic benefits of AAT, including emotion regulation, sensory stimulation, and client engagement
    • Review clinical outcomes of AAT in mental health and medical settings
    • Explore how AAT supports diverse client populations and treatment goals
  • Apply Ethical Standards, Models, and Competencies for Safe AAT Practice (60 mins)
    • Identify appropriate therapy animal characteristics and handler responsibilities
    • Review AAT models (triangle vs. diamond) and paths to practice
    • Apply competencies and standards of practice for integrating AAT into clinical settings
    • Review case study example of why evidence of ethical practice matters
  • Evaluate and Design Culturally Responsive and Trauma-Informed AAT Interventions (30 mins)
    • Integrate ethical, cultural, and trauma-informed considerations when planning AAT sessions
    • Analyze case studies involving boundary setting, consent, and therapeutic planning
    • Recognize professional certification pathways and ongoing education for AAT practitioners

Presented by:

Ashley Tolleson, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT, CPCS

Dr. Ashley Tolleson is a Board-Certified Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma-informed and creative approaches to counseling children, teens, and adults. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Tolleson Counseling Center in Marietta, Georgia, where she works with clients navigating anxiety, stress, trauma, neurodiversity-related challenges, and burnout. Dr. Tolleson is particularly passionate about supporting high-achieving girls and women in challenging perfectionism and cultivating sustainable success. She holds a Doctorate in Counselor Education and Practice and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Georgia State University. As a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, she has extensive experience training and mentoring mental health and school counselors in trauma-informed, developmentally responsive care.
Dr. Tolleson has advanced training in Play Therapy, child and adolescent counseling, trauma-informed care, and Animal-Assisted Therapy. She provides consultation and continuing education at the intersection of mental health and veterinary medicine, serving as a mental health consultant for the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association and collaborating with leaders in the Animal-Assisted Therapy field to offer training for clinicians and cross-disciplinary professionals. A frequent guest lecturer and workshop presenter, her work on creativity and experiential approaches in counseling has been shared at local, national, and international conferences. She was recognized as an Emerging Leader in the counseling profession by the Association for Creativity in Counseling in 2017.

Taylor Chastain Griffin, PhD

In her roles as National Director of AAI Advancement for Pet Partners and Executive Director of the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP), Taylor Chastain Griffin, Ph.D., focuses on advancing research and professional development within the therapy animal field. Having witnessed hundreds of interactions between her own therapy animals and the people they have visited, she is deeply committed to strengthening animal-assisted intervention (AAI) through empirical investigation.

Dr. Griffin earned her doctorate in research psychology in 2018, with a focus on the human–animal bond as experienced in contexts of shared traumatic stress. Her academic path—from undergraduate studies in psychology and animal behavior to graduate training as a mental health counselor—has consistently centered on promoting and professionalizing AAI.

She is a published author, dog trainer, and speaker. Today, her work centers on establishing industry standards that enhance both the effectiveness and accessibility of AAI for the wide range of professionals dedicated to this work.

Workshop Schedule (Eastern Time):

  • 9:30am - 10:00am | Sign-In and Welcome
  • 10:00am - 11:30am | Session
  • 11:30am - 11:45am | Break
  • 11:45am - 1:15pm | Session
  • 1:15pm | Continuing Education Certificates Available

3 Ethics CE Hours Included - Details by License Type Below:

  • PSYCHOLOGISTS: The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For more detailed information on the current CE ruling in Georgia, or if you are licensed in another state or country, please click here.
  • COUNSELORS: The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP), ACEP No. 7153. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. If you are licensed in another state or country, please click here.
  • SOCIAL WORKERS: The Knowledge Tree, a Summit Professional Education Company, provider #2470, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 1/14/2026-1/14/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits. If you are licensed in another state or country, please click here for more detailed information.
  • MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS: TKT has applied for approval for this workshop through the Georgia Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (GAMFT). If you are licensed in another state or country, please click here for more detailed information.

Registration: To register for individual workshops, you may use our online payment option, or to pay by check you may print and complete the Registration Form and mail or fax it to our office. The registration form is available on our website: www.theknowledgetree.org. Registration is permitted until the time the workshop begins, unless otherwise specified.

Multiple Workshop Special: There is a 10% Discount with registration for two workshops. There is a 15% Discount with registrations for three or four workshops. There is a 20% Discount with registration for five or more workshops.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you can no longer attend a workshop you have registered for, you can either receive a credit for another workshop or receive a refund if you are within the refund policy period. Refunds will be given for cancellations received at least five days prior to the workshop. More information about refund/cancellation can be found here.

Attendance Policy: 100% attendance and completion of a course evaluation is required at any CE program in order to receive credit for that CE program. No partial credit is given. Certificates of completion will be available in each attendee’s account once the broadcast has ended and the course evaluation completed.

ADA Requests: We will make every effort to accommodate any reasonable ADA request. Please call or email us at least two weeks prior to the event. Payment and registration are required to fulfill an ADA request.

No Conflict Policy: Neither The Knowledge Tree nor its speakers have received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commercial support prior to or during this program. 

System Requirements: Live Interactive Webinars are facilitated via Zoom. System requirements for the Zoom platform are linked at our FAQ page.

We are an approved vendor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for easy reimbursement of educational expenses for VA employees.


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For information about our Continuing Education Workshops, please contact our Customer Service team at:

404.913.2005

theknowledgetree@summit.zendesk.com

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The Knowledge Tree, a Summit Professional Education Company, offers courses that provide continuing education hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and holds Approved Continuing Education Provider/Sponsor status with professional organizations including APA and NBCC. Each licensee should check our detailed CE information page and ensure courses taken meet their specific state board requirements.