Animal Assisted Therapy Certification Tips

Animal Assisted Therapy Certification TipsAnimal Assisted Therapy Certification TipsThere are many certification programs available for individuals wishing to become involved with animal assisted therapy (AAT). There are also options for pet owners who just want to volunteer. Certification Programs The University of Denver (in Colorado) offers an Animals Human Health certificate that requires one on-campus course and three online courses. The on-campus course is the capstone, which involves student presentations, group work, and interaction with animal therapy professionals. Applicants must have a bachelors degree or equivalent practical experience in animal assisted therapy. The program cost is $3,500 plus a one-time application fee of $25 for registration (lodging and travel costs for the campus portion are notlage included). The program fee can be paid as a lump sum or in installments. The Animal Behavior Institute offers a certificate program in animal assisted therapy that is conducted entirely online. The certificate is designed for those working as therapists, social workers, educators, and healthcare workers. The program involves five courses that take ten weeks each to complete.The program also requires 40 hours of experience in the field as an intern, employee, or volunteer at an approved institution. Students may receive transfer credit for similar coursework completed elsewhere. The total program cost is $5,925 plus the cost of textbooks or other class materials. Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado offers a certificate in animal assisted psychotherapy (CAAP). The program is designed for mental health professionals and students with an interest in animal assisted interventions. The certificate program includes six online courses, which can be completed at the students own pace. The program also offers a virtual classroom allowing students to network. The course is eligible for continuing education credit hours. Applicants must be stud ents or have earned an advanced degree in the mental health field. The total program cost is $2,100. Oakland University (in Michigan) offers a distance learning animal assisted therapy program. The program is conducted online and involves five modules each with five consecutive weeks of study. Students are required to write a full animal therapy business plan at the conclusion of the course. The program includes five courses and costs $2,495. Harcum College (in Pennsylvania) offers a distance learning certificate course in animal assisted therapy. The 10-week program is completed at the students own pace and includes reading assignments, discussions, essays, and two site visits to organizations in their community that utilize animal assisted therapy. The course may provide continuing education credits or help a candidate expand their work in psychology, healthcare, or rehabilitation. Participants are not required to have a specific degree or prior training. Total program cost is $ 1,065. For Pet Owners/Volunteers There are also several groups that register gruppes of volunteers and their pets to visit nursing homes, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other community centers. These groups do not require the extensive coursework that must be completed for the certification programsbut instead focus on community service type activities that can be completed with a volunteers personal pet. Pet Partners, formerly known as the Delta Society, registers teams of handlers and animals. To become registered, an individual and their pet must complete a handler course in person (eight hours) or online, pass a screening by a veterinarian, pass an evaluation, and pay the two-year membership fee (which includes liability insurance). Many types of animals have been certified through the Pet Partners program including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, miniaturepigs, equines, llamas, rats, and alpacas. Therapy Dogs International registers therapy dogs that can pass a two-phase, 13-exercise testing process. Animals will be exposed to a variety of test situations including children playing, adults using walkers, and several people approaching the dog simultaneously. The dogs must also meet all health requirements, including an annual vet visit and up-to-date vaccinations. There is a $10 testing fee per dog. Therapy Dogs Inc. registers therapy dogs that are well behaved and able to pass evaluations by a veterinarian and a tester/observer. The handler must also pass inspection by the TDI tester/observer.There is a one-time new member fee for $10, and dues are $30 per year for a handler/dog team which includes liability insurance.

Internship Tips for First Year College Students

Internship Tips for First Year College StudentsInternship Tips for First Year College StudentsIt canoften be more difficult for first-year students to find a summer internship but it is not impossible for them to find something that will lend to their current knowledge and skills. Doing something substantialwill help students prepare toget a great internship after their sophomore year. First-year students are often viewed by employers as candidates possessing less knowledge and limited skills than upperclassman going to the same college. It is obvious that a first-year student will have less academic preparedness and experience than their upperclassmen, but employers also find that these differences may depend more on the individual attributes of candidates than it does on age and class year. TakingRisks As a first-year student, it is important to begin taking some risks by facing the challenges it takes to land an internship or a job. Reaching out to family, friends, previous te achers and employers is a logical first step. As a first-year student, you may not know what type of internship you want. Conductinginformational interviewswill help you get a better handle on specific careers as well as what employers look for when hiring talented new professionals. Polishing Up Your Resume and Cover Letter Working on your resume and?? titel letter with a career counselor at your college will help you to create professional documents that will make employers take notice. Although as a first-year student you may feel that you have nothing to put on a resume, after speaking to a counselor you may find that you have more things you can put down than you thought. A resume highlights previous and current experiences that provide employers with an outline of your skills and previous accomplishments. This may include high school and college coursework, internships, jobs, community service, co-curricular experiences, and working as a volunteer at a nonprofit organizati on. Your career counselor can provide help with your resume and cover letter to ensure that your most relevant experiences stand out. Using Social Media As a Tool One thing that all college students have as an advantageis their ability to utilize social media to their benefit. Many companies seek students to help them with their social media campaigns since many of their more senior employees are not familiar and dont know how to use it to the companys advantage.?Social media can also be a great way to get your name out there when seeking a summer internship or job. Creating a Blogor Website Many students today have their own blog and websites. This is an excellent way to highlight your interests and skills by getting your name out there. Blogs are a good way to work on your writing skills and are a good way to showcase your skills for employers seeking a college student for an internship or entry-level job.For some professionals like photography, journalism, etc., having a n online portfolio really gives an employer a good opportunity to learn more aboutcandidates even prior to the first interview. Career Exploration Even though first-year students are often not yet sure of their major, first-year gives them an opportunity to explore and research how specific majors relate to future career options. When conducting this research students can also determine what types of internships others do to get some experience in the field they are looking to pursue. The Importance of Internships In todays job market doing an internship is not just a good idea it is a must in buchen to be considered for employment with certain companies. Whether youre doing community service or volunteer work or something more tangible, by doing these experiences you are showing employers that you have the motivation and initiative to succeed on the job. Ask Those in the Know You can also talk to your professors and other students to find out about internships that the y know of. Your peers may be able to provide information on internships they have completed or heard about through one of their personal networks. Faculty works with students all the time and often hear back from students on both the good and bad summer internship experiences they had. Some faculty maintain a departmental website that includes information on internships in the field, or they may just keep a list that they share with students in class or in one-on-one appointments. Looking to the Future You may decide to continue with your previous summer jobs the summer after your first year in college (and thats ok too), but its important to give yourself some time to try out different experiences in order to decide which ones you would like to pursue when selecting a career following your college graduation.

4 Tips for Dealing with an Indecisive Boss - The Muse

4 Tips for Dealing with an Indecisive Boss - The Muse4 Tips for Dealing with an Indecisive BossIf youve ever worked for someone who cant make up his or her mind, you know how frustrating an average day on the job can be. An indecisive boss creates a unique challenge for you as an employee Its tough to build yur experience and portfolio when your managers mind changes with the wind. So how do you deal when your supervisor wont stop wavering and make a damn decision about work and assignments that affect you? Actually, theres quite a bit you can do to help and get things moving.If youre going to overcome an obstacle, it helps to understand what youre dealing with so you can approach it optimally. Likely, one of two things is behind your supervisors indecision his own indecisive boss or fear of failure. Yes, your department head (or CEO, or whoever is in charge) may be equally- if bedrngnis mora- indecisive than the person you work under, which probably makes it hard for him to make a c onfident decision, let alone any decision at all. Factor in insecurity and a worry about failing, and its no wonder youre forever waiting on concrete direction. Once you have a grasp of the hurdles your manager is dealing with, do your best to keep her on track with the following tips. 1. Ask QuestionsOne approach to pushing past a stuck spot is to ask strategic questions thatll ultimately help your boss clarify the next step. If you inquire as though youre trying to elicit information to help you do your job, your supervisor will have a hard time leaving you hanging. The questions you pose will vary by your industry and the specific project, of course, but the broad examples below will give you an idea for how to get startedWhat is our primary goal?What is our biggest priority? Why?Who are we responsible to? What evidence do we need to demonstrate efficacy?How hard is our deadline? What happens if we dont deliver on-time/in-budget/within expectations?By discussing priorities, clien t expectations, and potential ramifications if a project doesnt go well (i.e., a decision isnt made) youll aid your boss in working through potential snags while being mindful of why its important to move forward. Youll also arm him or her with a logical argument if she needs to sell it to her own indecisive leader. 2. Offer a ProposalAnother way to help a supervisor see past indecision is to propose the course of action you wish to pursue. And I dont mean simply saying, I think we should do this Put together something concrete and well-reasoned and present it to him. It might be a detailed project outline, mock-ups of print materials, a written justification that cites relevant research, or anything else thatll help your supervisor visualize a clear path to the desired outcome. By doing this prep work, your boss wont have to muddle through different options youll have done the hard work for him. Not only will this approach help alleviate your managers fear of making the wrong choic e, but itll arm her with a strong argument to use higher up the chain of command if necessary. This maneuver has the subsequent benefit of demonstrating what a proactive, solution-focused team member you are. 3. Address it Head-onIts possible your boss doesnt realize that she wavers so much, or how much distress it creates for her team when she does so. This person might be in charge, but he or shes also human, subject to the same personal blind spots as the rest of us. So if youve tried more subtle approaches to addressing indecision with little progress, it might be worth a face-to-face meeting so you can lay your frustrations out on the table. As always, avoid accusations and finger-pointing. No human in the history of the human race generally responds well to hostility. Focus on the work, the hurdles that the indecision creates, and what it is that you need from your supervisor. Be clear that you are eager to find a way forward that allows you to be more productive. Remember to incorporate concrete evidence when possible. For example, if you use an app like Toggle to track the time you spend on projects, you can bring that data to your meeting and show exactly how time-consuming frequent changes in direction- or the lack of any direction- really are. Multiply that time by your hourly rate, and you have even more substantial evidence pointing to the expensive cost of indecisiveness. 4. Maintain Perspective and Your ReputationSometimes an indecisive boss will be an indecisive (maddening) manager, no matter what you do. Remind yourself that you cant control everything or everyone. If a project stalls out because he cant decide how to address an obstacle, hes the one whos going to have to face it and figure out a way to keep things moving forward. To avoid any finger-pointing, be sure to document your attempts to be proactive and decisive. If necessary, calmly address your efforts to move past the problem, without including inflammatory remarks or accusatory details. Have a suggestion for how to proceed, and youll continue to present yourself as a solution-and-action-focused professional. Remember that no matter how indecisive your boss is- and no matter how he or she responds to your efforts to address said indecision- you are not powerless. Take control when and where you can, and make sure other key people in your organization are aware of your efforts. When your manager is busy agonizing over a decision that hinders your productivity, look for other tasks to focus on. A simple, quick mention of your accomplishments in conversation or via an email exchange lets others know that youre action-oriented without being obnoxious or negative.If your bosss indecision leads to a complete stand-still in your work, look for opportunities to collaborate across departments. Take a stroll or pick up the phone to chat with your contacts around the company. When, during those conversations, an opportunity arises for you to offer your support on som ething, jump on it. Your determination to be productive and add value to your company will open doors for you, even if your manager stays in his or her own revolving door of indecision. Photo of woman at work courtesy of Shutterstock.