Companion Animal Practitioners
If you are looking for a more gentle and effective way to work with your own animals, or you want to work with animals professionally, TTouch may be the answer for you. TTouch involves the use of techniques that will mutually enhance the relationship between people and animals, improve an animal’s wellbeing and encourage a better response to training.
The certified Practitioner programme is designed for people who want to share the benefits of TTouch with their own animals as well as for people who want to work with animals professionally on a full or part-time basis. There are hundreds of professional TTouch Practitioners all over the world.
The Tellington TTouch Method, is an extremely effective way of working with companion animals including dogs, cats, birds, small furries and exotic species. It is not essential to become a practitioner to make a difference to the companion animals you own or work with. Some people choose to attend one or two training clinics and incorporate TTouch into the care of their own animals, others with the work they do with animals professionally including animal training and behaviour, rescue and rehabilitation and veterinary practice amongst others. We encourage and appreciate the integration of the method in these ways.
The Tellington TTouch Method sets high standards for its teachers. The philosophical “seed” is easy to learn, and the work looks very easy, but extensive training and practice back up the techniques. It is the knowledge of the details that makes the work effective in a wide range of training situations.
Some people attend one clinic and feel confident that they can teach the work. After attending two or three more trainings, they begin to realise how much there is to learn. It is at this time, when people realise what they do not know, that they start to have a good understanding of the work. Tellington TTouch concepts and methods are like a giant puzzle. As one learns, pieces are added to the puzzle. This is what keeps the material fresh to teach and the teachers flexible.
There are five levels of accreditation on the Companion Animal Practitioner Programme:
- Practitioner
- Practitioner Level 1
- Practitioner Level 2
- Practitioner Level 3
- Instructor
Practitioner
The first level of accreditation to work with people and their companion animals is Practitioner. This is an opportunity for both professional and non-professional people to teach TTouch techniques that encourage understanding and partnership with animals and resolve behavioural and physical difficulties.
To become a Practitioner, you must:
- You need to achieve 60 Credits (these are awarded by taking Online and Interactive courses, Electives, and in-person practitioner trainings with a Tellington TTouch® Instructor.
- Submit 5 case histories of the work for assessment by a Tellington TTouch® Instructor.
- Achieve 80% in your written exam
Once a student has earned at least 60 credits and completed course assignments, including the 5 detailed Case Studies; they are eligible for the evaluation process. Some students will be ready for testing at this time, others may want to continue to study before testing. Upon submitting an application for testing and paying the required fee, the student will schedule testing with an instructor. Testing may be in-person, online, with video or a combination of these and will include a written test as well as an assessment of practical skills and applications. Study materials will be provided to those students on the certification track.
The qualification will be awarded by Linda Tellington Jones and Robyn Hood, Senior Tellington TTouch Instructors. Once awarded you will receive a certificate and be eligible to use the Tellington TTouch® name, use the logo and advertise your services.
You cannot charge for the work nor use the Tellington TTouch® logo until you have achieved Practitioner status.
Practitioner 1
To advance to the next level of accreditation and become a Practitioner 1 you must achieve 72 credits and achieve the criteria above.
Practitioners P1s may then:
- Charge when working with individuals and their animals;
- Give, and charge for, talks for clubs and other organisations;
- Teach one-day workshops.
Practitioner 2
To advance to the next level of accreditation and become a Practitioner 2 you must:
- Teach ten one-day workshops with multiple participants
- Submit participant feedback forms for each of your workshops for review by Linda-Tellington-Jones or Robyn Hood;
- Assist on two practitioner training clinics.
Qualification is approved by Tellington TTouch® Canada and you will receive a further certificate.
With increasing skills and experience, P2 practitioners may wish to be considered for advancement to the next level of accreditation. Each will be at the discretion of, and awarded by, Tellington TTouch® founder, Linda Tellington-Jones and Robyn Hood.