Animal-assisted therapy is all about how the presence, closeness, and active interaction of animals can boost physical, emotional, and social well-being. Whether it’s for recovery, learning support, or emotional aid, animals play a vital role—offering a sense of safety, calm, and motivation, and often making communication easier. Sessions always involve trained animals and professionals, under strict hygiene and safety standards.
On October 4, 2025, in Budapest (Budapest), an event will dive deep into animal-assisted therapies for treating mental health issues. If you prefer to participate online, don’t worry—the presentations will be available to watch from October 6 to 12 if you select that option when signing up.
This is not a private club: anyone interested can join with preregistration and by paying the entry fee. Presentations will cover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about animal-assisted interventions—from their basic categories, target groups, and regulation in healthcare, to the science behind why they work.
Exploring Real-Life Practices
The program walks through dog-assisted therapy for adults dealing with psychiatric and addiction problems and explores why dogs belong in pediatric wards, providing hands-on examples from children’s medicine. There’s also a deep dive into how equine (horse) therapy functions in healthcare, presenting tried-and-tested Hungarian (Hungarian) models. Ever wondered about therapy rabbits, turtles, and hedgehogs? One session shows how these little helpers are integrated into therapy at the Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital (Kaposi Mór Oktató Kórház) child psychiatry department.
The Details You Need
Attending in person costs $60, while online access is $74. Medical doctors, dentists, and clinical psychologists can earn 12 credit points by passing a test, with points also awarded in areas like addiction, health psychology, pediatrics, occupational medicine, forensic psychiatry, school health, and more. For healthcare professionals in any specialty, 8 further education points are available through this accredited course.
The organizers reserve the right to modify the program or schedule, but they promise full immersion in the world of therapy animals.
