Foundations of
Animal-Assisted
Interventions
Master the ethics, evidence, and essentials of AAI — at your own pace, from anywhere — and gain the confidence to bring animals into your clinical practice.
Everything you need to practice AAI ethically and confidently
Developed by a Registered Psychologist and Certified Animal Assisted Therapy Professional with over a decade of clinical experience.
Evidence-Based
Grounded in the latest research in the field. You'll understand not just what to do, but why — backed by current science and clinical evidence.
Ethics First
Deep focus on the unique ethical and cultural considerations of AAI — what sets this training apart and ensures your practice is sound and defensible.
Clinically Practical
Created by a practitioner who has been incorporating AAI since 2012. You'll walk away ready to implement, not just to understand.
Learn Your Way
Videos, audio files for on-the-go listening, downloadable slides, and closed captioning. Designed to fit your lifestyle and how you learn best.
CE Approved
Pre-approved by the CCPA and CACCF for 24 continuing education hours. International students can submit the course outline to their board for approval.
All Animals Welcome
Not just dogs and horses. This training covers all types of therapy animals, with dedicated guidance for the specific animal you work with.
This training is for you if…
- ✓ You love animals and you're passionate about the human-animal connection
- ✓ You know animals provide deep healing effects and want to learn more
- ✓ You care about your clients and want them to experience the transformative effects of AAI
- ✓ You want to expand your services and offer something more impactful
- ✓ You want to connect with clients on a deeper level
- ✓ You want to study on your own time, in your own way
The problem is… you're not sure where to start.
- Where do I even begin with AAI?
- What training do I actually need?
- How do I implement this ethically in my practice?
- What are the risks, and how do I manage them?
That's exactly what this course addresses — step by step, module by module. By the end, you'll have a clear path forward and the confidence to walk it.
6 modules. 18 lessons. 20+ hours of learning.
A structured path from foundational knowledge to confident, ethical implementation — with support every step of the way.
Introduction to Animal-Assisted Interventions
History, definitions, key terminology, and the landscape of AAI — the foundation you need before everything else. First lesson free to access.
The Evidence Base for AAI
Current research, studies, and the science behind why and how animals help — so your practice is grounded in evidence, not just intuition.
Ethics & Cultural Considerations
The ethical frameworks unique to AAI, cultural considerations, professional standards, and how to navigate the complexities of this work responsibly.
Understanding Animals
Animal behaviour, welfare, stress indicators, and species-specific guidance — so you can work competently with your specific therapy animal, whatever the type.
Applications Across Settings
How AAI is used across diverse clinical populations, programs, and settings — from private practice to schools, hospitals, corrections, and eldercare.
Implementation & Next Steps
Documentation, risk management, safety protocols, and a practical framework for starting to integrate animals into your own program or practice.
Everything you need to learn in the way that works for you
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Video Lectures
20+ hours of clear, structured video content covering every module in depth.
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Audio Files
Downloadable audio versions of every lesson — learn on your commute, during a walk, or wherever works for you.
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Downloadable Slides
PDF slides for every module, so you can review, annotate, and reference content at any time.
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Closed Captioning
All videos include closed captions for accessible, flexible viewing.
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Self-Study & Reflection Sections
Guided exercises throughout to help you integrate learning and apply it to your specific context.
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Certificate of Completion
A certificate confirming your competency in Animal-Assisted Interventions upon completing the course.
Bonus: Private Facebook Community
Upon enrolment, you get lifetime access to a private Facebook group of like-minded, animal-loving professionals. Connect, share, and get continued support — from the community and from Lyndsay directly.
Lyndsay Wright
Hi — I'm Lyndsay, and I am so glad you're here. I have a Master's of Counselling, I'm a Registered Psychologist, and I'm a Certified Animal Assisted Therapy Professional.
I've been incorporating Animal-Assisted Interventions into helping professions since 2012, and training others in AAI since 2018. I've always had a deep connection with animals and a firsthand understanding of how powerful the human-animal bond can be.
I took my clinical training and over a decade of hands-on experience to create this all-in-one training — to give you the fundamentals of this beautiful field of work in a way that's accessible, ethical, and genuinely practical.
My dream is for every clinician who wants to incorporate AAI into their work to have access to the tools to do so competently. That's why the first module is completely free — experience the training before you commit.
Start building your AAI foundation today
The Foundations of Animal-Assisted Interventions course gives you the knowledge, confidence, and credentials to begin integrating animals into your clinical practice — on your schedule, at your pace.
Whether you complete it in a week or over several months, the content will be there, the community will be there, and Lyndsay will be there. No deadlines. No pressure. Just learning that fits your life.
The first module is completely free to access. Experience the training, the format, and the depth of content before spending anything.
Who can take this course? Psychologists, therapists, counsellors, social workers, nurses, teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, child and youth workers, eldercare workers, corrections officers, and any professional who wants to incorporate animals into their work — from Canada and internationally.
- ✓ 6 modules · 18 lessons · 20+ hours
- ✓ Video lectures, audio files & slides
- ✓ Closed captioning on all videos
- ✓ Self-study & self-reflection sections
- ✓ Certificate of completion
- ✓ 24 CCPA & CACCF CE hours
- ✓ Private Facebook community (lifetime)
- ✓ First module free to access
Common questions about the Foundations course
You're in the right place. This course was designed for beginners. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in AAI and the confidence to start incorporating animals into your work.
No. The course covers all types of therapy animals. The Understanding Animals module provides guidance specific to the animal you work with, regardless of species.
Yes — the course is pre-approved by the CCPA and CACCF for 24 CE hours. If you're outside Canada, you can download the course outline and submit it to your licensing board for approval.
You can still enrol. This training is not limited to Canadian professionals. Download the course outline and submit it to your licensing board for CE approval in your region.
The course is completely self-paced with no deadlines. Whether you complete it in a week or over several months is entirely up to you.
Lifetime access — to all course content and the private Facebook community. Once you're in, you're in.
No license is required to take the course. There is also no license required to incorporate AAI into your practice — however, you do need to be licensed in your own professional field.
Yes. The first module is completely free to access. Experience the format, the depth, and the quality of the content before spending anything.