About this course

Learning Objectives

• 1. Participants will understand many of the key reasons that clients do not find success in mental health treatment, including resistance and other ways clients may be stuck, or treatment-resistant.
• 2. Participants will understand the “sideways” approach that animal assisted psychotherapy can take and its power in bypassing resistance and other reasons for the lack of treatment success.
• 3. Participants will learn how to set up and direct several different “sideways” interventions, that include a variety of animals, and taps into the clients’ natural interests and motivation.
• 4. Participants will understand the basis of this technique to be able to create unique and eloquent “sideways” interventions that are based on the treatment plans for their own clients.
• 5. Participants will learn to utilize intervention success to create a paradigm shift for the client that helps move past their resistance and helps clients to actively engage in successful therapy.

Learning Levels

• Advanced

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Linda Chassman Craddock

  Linda Chassman is a licensed Marriage, Family Therapist in Colorado and California and has been working with clients since 1986. Before starting AATPC, she had a successful private practice for over 20 years as well as directing several agencies treating severe trauma and chemical addiction.

  Dr. Chassman (Dr. Linda) is also an educator, having taught at California State University at Fullerton and CU Denver for 14 years, and consulted to residential treatment programs throughout the U.S. She and her first animal partner, Norman, provided animal assisted therapy for more than 15 years with a variety of clients, including children, adolescents, adults and couples. Dr. Chassman opened Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado with the inspiration and assistance of Mazey, her former feral kitten that she raised after Mazey and her siblings were found outside in freezing weather. Sadly, Mazey passed away at only 17 months, but made a strong impact on those she helped.

  In addition to holding a Doctoral degree in Counseling, and a Master's Degree in Clinical/Community Psychology, Dr. Chassman has advanced certificates in: Animal Assisted Psychotherapy, Animals and Human Health: Animal Assisted Therapy Activities & Learning, Treatment of Child Abuse, & Treatment of Adult Children of Alcoholics. She and Rupert have been Certified as a therapy team from Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado since 2011. She has lectured around the world and has several professional publications to her credit.

  In her private life Dr. Chassman is married with two children and several adopted animals.