Date: June 29, 2015
To: VP/ Dean Peter Grouse, Associate Dean Michael Frank, and Housing Director John Smith
From: Stacy Starzl, Coordinator for Mental Health and Staff Counselor
Subject: Animal Assisted Therapy Program for Clients visiting the Counseling Center
Mental health professionals provide an array of therapeutic services and tools. Our campus at the University of South Dakota continually strives to increase their professional knowledge and skills in order to help those coping with life changes on campus.
Background and Goals
The Student Counseling Center at the University of South Dakota strives to help make the most of the college students’ years. The college years can be filled with new exciting experiences, but can also present challenges that may interfere with the academic and emotional well-being of the student. The overall goal is to increase more effective means of therapy to student and staff in order to promote resilience and enhance the well-being of students served on the campus of the University of South Dakota.
Proposed Plan
The proposed program is to implement an Animal Assisted Social Work (AASW) program on campus. It will train three current counselors to be AASW
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Student Counseling Center will conduct research on the benefits of animal therapy from a researched program that will be used in the following ways: 1) in which an animal becomes the teacher, 2) becomes a therapist, 3) and becomes a companion. SCC will analyze the ways the Assisted Animal can reduce long term therapy sessions. Research data that provides proof on the improvements in feeling hopeless, and peer relationships. Further, research will be done on what kind of activities the Assisted Animal can partake in on campus and what kind of animal is the most beneficial. Lastly, SCC will analyze which Assisted Animal Therapy certified program will provide the best training for three staff to become certified to integrate an Animal Assisted Therapy