The Treating Animal Abuse Professional Development Certificate Program is a collaboration between the ASU School of Social Work and Animals and Society Institute that focuses on  training advanced level health and human service practitioners to treat those children and adults who have abused animals. Animal abuse is a very serious and alarming behavior. For children it is one of the early manifestations of conduct problems associated with “low empathy and callous disregard” (Dadds, Whiting & Hawes, 2006, p 141) and requires intervention (Merz-Perez & Heide, 2004). A substantial body of research also suggests that animal cruelty may be an early indicator of later violence toward humans, as well as included in one of a cluster of deviant behaviors in families such as domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse.

Twenty-eight states contain counseling provisions in their animal cruelty laws. Four of those states (California, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee) require counseling for all persons convicted of animal cruelty. Colorado orders counseling for a second offense and Florida for acts of intentional torture or torment. Kansas and West Virginia require an evaluation. Six other states mandate counseling for juveniles. Counseling can include the perpetrator as well as his/her immediate family. It is recommended when counseling children who have abused animals that their parents be involved. Legislators in many other areas are considering such mandates. This program is designed to help meet this emerging need for practitioners trained in treating animal abuse.

The purpose of the certificate program is to enhance practitioners’ knowledge of human-animal relationships and the ability to assess for, and treat animal abuse. It  provides practitioners with extensive knowledge on the assessment of human-animal relationships and treatment of animal abuse through such activities as directed readings in evidence based journal articles and books, online lectures, service learning, field observation, individual research papers, experiential projects and Q&A tests.

This professional development certificate is open to Masters or PhD level professionals in such disciplines as social work, psychology, nursing, counseling, psychiatry and other health and human service professionals and may include CEUs. This is a NOT FOR credit program. A minimum of a Master’s degree is required to enter the certificate program but professionals with a bachelor’s degree in health or human services can take any of the courses with CEUs available.

Courses
Note: these are non-credit online course offered in the fall (TAA1) and Spring ( TAA2 ). To register for either, contact Dr. Christina Risley-Curtiss at 602-496-0083 or risley.curtiss@asu.edu

TAA1 Human-Other Animal Relationships (14 weeks), available Fall semesters
This course focuses on two broad areas of current significance for health and human service professionals;(1) the link between non-human animal abuse and other forms of violence such as domestic violence, child and elder abuse; and (2) the powerful potential that positive connections with other animals have for healing and promoting resiliency in human beings while at the same time benefiting other animals. This course examines issues of prevention and treatment; it considers animals across the human life span, non-human animal abuse, and healing connections within an ecological and empowerment context; and works to build sensitivity to various cultural contexts. This is a prerequisite for courses TAA2 for students pursuing one of the two certificates.

TAA2 Assessment and Treatment of Animal Abuse (14 weeks), available in Spring semesters
This course presents the AniCare and AniCare Child models of treating animal cruelty. AniCare provides an assessment and treatment approach for adults (age 17 and older) who abuse animals. Based on a well-established clinical theory and interventions for perpetrators of domestic violence, AniCare emphasizes the social-psychological causes of violence. The cognitive-behavioral approach provides clinical exercises with homework assignments through a manual, a demonstration DVD, and clinical case materials. Anicare keys on issues of accountability and relationship.

AniCare Child is an assessment and treatment approach for children (up to age 16) who have abused animals. Building on cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and attachment theories. AniCare Child keys on empathy-building and self-management. Through a manual,  demonstration DVD, and clinical case materials, students are introduced to a variety of exercises and other tools, such as puppet role play and projective material.