cookieImage
2025-2026 / University certificate

Animal mediation and connections to nature (next session in 2023-2024)

14 crédits
University certificate in animal mediation and connections to nature (next session in 2023-2024)
HYCUMA91

Cycle view

  • Bloc
  • Organization
  • Theory
  • Practical
  • Others
  • Credits

Compulsory courses

B1
14Cr
CodeDetailsBlocOrganizationTheoryPracticalOthersCredits


Module 1: Introduction to animal ethology (15h TH 9h PR) 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Aspects of evolutionary biology: humans among other living beings, Fany Brotcorne (3h)
- Social ethology and ethological methods, Fany Brotcorne (6h)
- Physiology of the sensory organs in domestic mammals (horse, dog, cat), in relation to their behaviour, Tatiana Art (3h)
- Ethology, behaviour and cognition in dogs, Fabienne Delfour (3h)
- Practical ethological observation exercises 1, Fany Brotcorne (3h)
- Practical ethological observation exercises 1, Fany Brotcorne (6h)


Module 2: acting respectfully - practising interactions with animals (6h Th, 18h Pr) - 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Animals and philosophy, Vincianne Despret (3h)

Choose one focus area:
Focus area "Animal-assisted mediation and relationships with nature"
- Creating collaborative spaces with horse, Patrick Guilmot (12h)
- Learning principles in dogs: from operant conditioning to phenomenology, Bénédicte de Villers and Vanessa Ipsen (3Th, 6Pr)

Focus area "Equine mediation"
- Learning theories applied to horses, Marc Pierard (9h)
- Learning theories applied to horses: practical implementation, Marc Pierard (9h)
- Elements of mounted work for option 2, Patrick Guilmot (3h)


Module 3: Structures that link us to animals: culture, imagination and communication (12h TH, 12h PR) 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Animal law, Vincent Chapaux (3h)
- Anthropology of human-animal communication, Véronique Servais (3h)
- Empathy in interspecies relationships: a psychological and phenomenological approach, Michel vidal (6Th 6Pr)

Continuation of the chosen focus area from:
Focus area "Animal mediation and relations to nature"
- Mindfulness and relationship with animals, Patrick Guilmot (6h)

Focus "Equine mediation"
- Technique and sensitivity in the relationship with the horse, Patrick Guilmot (6h)


Module 4: Animal mediation systems and their assessment (18h TH, 6h PR) 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Ethics and animal well-being, Fabienne Delfour (3h)
- The problem of evaluating animal mediation projects, Véronique Servais (3h)
- Multiplicity of animal mediation approaches involving animals in institutional settings, Bénédicte de Villers (3h)
- Home-based work: readings (9h)
- Animal-assisted mediation arrangements and their evaluation: seminar (3h)
- Introductory session on using the library + building a bibliography, Alix Hubert (3h)


Module 5: Mediation and collaboration spaces (18h Th, 6h Pr) - 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Introduction to mediation, Christine Servais (2Th)
- Lecture on animal-assisted mediation, Véronique Servais (1Th)
- Psychopathology and animal-assisted mediation, Jérôme Englebert (3Th)
- The notion of transitional space in animal-assisted mediation and relationships with nature, Véronique Servais (3Th)
- Designing a framework for interventions involving animals and/or nature, Bénédicte de Villers (3Th)
- Critical history of animal confinement, Violette Pouillard (6Th)
- Supplementary readings (6Pr)


Module 6: continuation of the chosen component (see the number of theoretical and practical hours associated with each component) - 2 credits

Component "Animal-assisted mediation and relationship with nature"
Ecopsychology and relationship with nature (18h Th, 30h Pr)
- Horse, nature and snoezelen - Laurence Farine (6h Pr)
- Clinical work in nature - N. (3h Th)
- Eco-training and ecopsychology - Guillemette Lauters (6h Th, 6h Pr)
- Centred walking and experiencing nature in nature - Laurence Farine (3h Th, 12h Pr)
- Practical exercises and critical analysis seminar on our relationship with nature (6h Th, 6h Pr)

Component "Equine mediation" (12h Th, 36h Pr)
- Horse, nature and snoezelen - Laurence Farine (6h Pr)
- Horse ethology - Marc Pierard, Patrick Guilmot (6h Th, 12h Pr)
- Gestalt therapy and equine mediation - Veerle Maes (9h Pr)
- Equine mediation with a trauma-informed approach - Veerle Maes (9h Pr)
- Encounter between neuroscience and equine mediation - Charlène Leconstant (6h Th)


Module 7: practical insights and experience sharing (12h Th, 15h Pr) - 1 credit

Core curriculum

- Systemic approach to support systems and animal-assisted mediation, Constant Picqueray (3Th)
- Working with horses from a rehabilitation perspective, Géraldine Senterre, Hippopassion (3Th)
- Violence, trauma and animal-assisted mediation, Bénédicte de Villers (3Th)
- Psychotrauma and animal-assisted mediation, Veerle Maes and Bénédicte de Villers (3Pr)
- Educational farms and animal-assisted mediation, Catherine Petit (3Th)
- Working with animals other than dogs and horses, Vanessa Ipsen (3Pr)

Continuation of the chosen focus area among:
Focus area: "Animal-assisted mediation and relationships with nature"
- Neuroscience and animal-assisted mediation, Charlène Leconstant (3Pr)
- Animals in psychotherapy, Sandrine Willems (6Pr)

Focus area: "Equine mediation"
- Equine mediation and professional experience, Patrick Guilmot (9Pr)


Module 8: Reflective practices and analysis of professional situations (15 hours Th, 9 hours Pr) - 1 credit

Common core
- Critical autobiography of one's relationship with animals, all year (12h Th)
- Debriefing of the placement in a large group, Véronique Servais, Bénédicte de Villers, Patrick Guilmot (3h Th)

Continuation of the selected track among:
Track: "Animal-assisted mediation and relationships with nature"
- Supervision, Bénédicte de Villers (3h Pr)
- Group analysis of professional situations, Constant Picqueray (3h Pr)
- Exercise on professional positioning, Véronique Servais (3h Pr)

Track: "Equine mediation"
- Intervision and supervision, Patrick Guilmot and Veerle Maes (9h Pr)


Module 9: Internship

Internship
Collégialité
B1TA---2
- Internship in an association (40h Pr), collegiality
- Writing of a placement report (8h Th)

Module 10: Final project

Final project B1TA---12
- Writing of a final dissertation (72h Th), Fany Brotcorne, Tatiana Art, Christine Servais, Véronique Servais, Bénédicte de Villers, Patrick Guilmot)