This month, we are sharing our core theme for June: Bringing Animals into Your Setting - How, Where and Why? Whether you work in healthcare, education or community spaces, integrating Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) can be incredibly powerful. However, doing it safely, effectively and ethically requires the right framework. This month, we are focusing on the practical ways you can bring AAI into different environments, offering day-to-day tips, and showing you how to develop high-quality programs that create the ultimate lasting impact.
On The Air: David Talks AAI & PDA
We are thrilled to share that our very own David was recently invited as a guest on the PDA podcast!
In this episode, David discusses the profound impact of Animal Assisted Interventions and how tailored animal interaction can beautifully support individuals with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile. He shares valuable insights on creating low pressure environments where connection can truly blossom.
Animal Features: Meet George the Chameleon
To complement our theme of bringing animals into diverse settings, we are highlighting a very special helper... Meet George the Chameleon!
While many people automatically picture dogs or horses in therapy roles, chameleons offer something completely unique in AAI - calm and slow engagement.
Why George is a Therapeutic Superstar:
- Mindfulness and Patience: his unhurried movements and gentle presence naturally encourage clients to slow down, practice mindfulness and focus on steady breathing.
- Low-Pressure Interaction: for individuals who find highly active animals overwhelming, George provides a quiet and gentle experience.
- Boundary and Consent Awareness: Chameleons are solitary animals by nature and prefer minimal handling. Working with George is a fantastic way to teach clients about respecting personal space and understanding consent-based nonverbal boundaries.
You can work with an animal like George as a pause point. Invite your clients to slow down, observe his subtle colour changes and describe what they notice.
Upcoming Live Event: June Webinar Spotlight
If you're looking for a deep dive into how to implement these concepts in a specific professional environment, then this is the session for you.
We bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Learn the exact steps required to successfully introduce Animal Assisted work into educational and clinical settings, complete with risk management strategies, framework planning and logistical best practices.
If you miss the live session on the 24th June, don't worry. Our webinars are discounted after the live recording and available for you to download and watch whenever you can.
June Course Highlights
Are you ready to build or refine your own high-quality AAI program? This month, we are highlighting three core courses designed to give you the practical tools, safety protocols and foundational knowledge you need to succeed in any setting:
Principles and Benefits of AAI in Care:
Discover the foundational principles behind animal assisted therapy and learn how to safely unlock the therapeutic benefits of the human-animal bond in your day-to-day practice.
Safe and Inclusive AAI for Diverse Learners:
Learn how to adapt your animal interaction to support diverse learning needs, ensuring sessions are accessible, low-pressure and deeply impactful for everyone involved.
Understanding the Impact of AAI in Care Settings:
A must for program development. This course focuses on measuring outcomes, evaluating the effectiveness of your interventions, and understand the deep psychological and emotional impact of AAI on clients.
