Animal-Assisted Therapist

Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Position: Full-time 

Duties:

• Conduct individual, family, and group therapy sessions to improve cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional competencies using service animals.
• Manage therapy animal care, including health, grooming, and training, to meet program requirements.
• Maintain detailed patient documentation, including encounter reports and treatment outcomes, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
• Track clinical metrics such as patient progress, therapy session efficacy, and program utilization.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers, to develop and execute therapy goals.
• Advocate for Wounded Warriors and their families, providing resources on service animals and addressing their therapeutic roles.
• Act as a subject-matter expert, educating patients about the benefits of service animals.
• Evaluate therapy success through patient feedback and clinical outcome measures.

Requirements:

• Completion of an industry-recognized Animal Assisted Therapy education program.
• At least one year of experience as an Animal Assisted Therapist.
• Demonstrated experience working with patients suffering from TBI and psychological health conditions.
• Familiarity with healthcare environments, preferably military medical facilities.
• Knowledge of TBI and PTSD symptomology.
• Ability to perform physical tasks, such as bending, lifting, and working with large-breed service animals.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification approved by the American Heart Association.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Proficiency in electronic medical record (EMR) systems and HIPAA compliance.
• Strong planning, organizational, and decision-making skills.