Conference: Animal-Assisted Services

The one-day conference will take place at Reykjadalur in Mosfellsbær on Saturday, September 14th, 2024, and is held by Æfingastöðin, Iceland’s largest rehabilitation center for children. For over 18 years Æfingastöðin has offered Animal-Assisted Services by a team of specialized physio- and occupational therapists. 

Register here

Animal-Assisted Services have established themselves in many parts of the world in the past decades as studies have shown the usefulness of services with the help of animals. Many professions and volunteers make use of this approach including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, teachers, speech pathologists, dentists, developmental nurses, psychologists and social workers. The animal's presence and participation has been shown to have a positive effect on well-being and participation.

The conference is intended for those who want to learn about the benefits of Animal-Assisted Services in their work and the wellbeing of the animals. This is a unique opportunity for those interested in the AAS approach and establish relationships with people who work with animals in their work. The one-day conference will offer lectures by specialists in the field, including Internationally renowned educator and behavior specialist Eva Bertilsson; AAI coach Line Sandstedt; physician and psychiatrist Norunn Kogstad and other professionals.

Conference program (pdf)

SPEAKERS: 

Eva Bertilsson

Title: Choice and Control in Practice 

Eva Bertilsson is a globally recognized authority in the field of animal training. Eva’s extensive knowledge and experience, backed by her master’s degree in behavior analysis, makes her an invaluable resource for trainers seeking to advance their skills. Eva Bertilsson is the co-author of 'Agility Right from the Start' and her expertise covers a wide spectrum in animal training. Bertilsson will discuss the meaning of “choice” and “control” and, how we can provide our animals with further opportunities for choice and control, and aspects to consider when implementing new strategies. 

Line Sandstedt

Title: New Definitions in Animal Assisted Service AAS and Cats in AAS

Line Sandstedt is managing director of the Norwegian Centre of Anthrozoology. She is a lector in science and a postgraduate in special needs education and coaching. Sandstedt is also a dog behaviorist and dog trainer, and evaluator of dogs personality for AAS. Sandstedt regularly hosts training courses internationally and has led both “Introduction course for animal-assisted interventions” and “Animal-assisted interventions with Dogs” at Æfingastöðin as well as at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Line will both introduce new definitions in AAS and introduce examples of cats in AAS for her latter talk.

Norunn Kogstad

Title: Professionalism in Horse Assisted Services 

Norunn Kogstad, physician and psychiatrist, is the founder and owner of Lundehagen Center for Psychotherapy and Research in Norway that specializes in education, research and therapy with horses. Norunn has specialized in psychiatry and body-oriented psychotherapy with horses and regularly offers courses for professionals in Norway and internationally. She is a HEAL designated instructor and EAGALA certified professional. The topic of Kogstad´s talk will be about the horse's role in psychotherapy and professionalism in therapy with horses.
After the conference Norunn Kogstad will lead an introductory course titled Foundations for Incorporating Horses Into Services with Humans, on Sept. 15th-16th. Register for the 2-day course here.