Companion Animal Practitioner Training & Mentor to Help Support Your Learning

Practitioner Trainings are Held at the UK TTouch & TTEAM Centre

Tilley Farm is the Centre for TTEAM and TTouch in the UK. The Practitioner Training Courses are held at Tilley Farm throughout the year. Accommodation is arranged with local Bed and Breakfast establishments that are situated within easy reach of the farm.

How To Become a TTouch Practitioner

This Certification program 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 on a full or part-time basis. There are hundreds of professional TTouch Practitioners all over the world.

Some work full-time with private clients, many do TTouch part-time in addition to their other jobs, and some incorporate what they have learned into their work with animals in shelters, obedience schools, veterinary clinics and zoos. The rewards of this training program include an inspiring way to relate to animals and a new appreciation and understanding of themselves. Many of the best-known shelters in the UK incorporate TTouch into the work they do with the animals in their care.

The certification programme to become a TTouch Practitioner takes at least three years and requires a considerable investment of time and effort. The programme consists of six sessions, each lasting five or six days.

During the TTouch Training and Certification Programme, you will:

Experience ways of working with dogs, cats, birds and other companion animals that are unique and rewarding. Acquire easy-to-use skills to deal with common behaviour and health-related problems. Use techniques to increase performance and reduce stress in show, obedience, agility and trial dogs.
Work with shelter animals to reduce stress and help them adapt more easily to new environments. Learn how to help animals recover more quickly from surgery and injury.

Part 1 - Four Trainings
In the first series you will learn more about the Tellington TTouch philosophy and techniques. Our professional instructors demonstrate various techniques through lectures and hands-on work with dogs, cats, birds and other small animals. You will visit animal shelters to work with animals in rescue as well as working with some of the equine residents at Tilley Farm.

You will learn how to:

• Identify behaviour, health and temperament problems and learn creative solutions.

• Work with cats to alleviate common issues such as aloofness, timidity and aggression.

• Learn to use the canine head collar, body wraps, and other TTouch training tools.

• Use ground exercises, obstacles and the playground of higher learning to increase the dog's learning ability.

• Implement new approaches to stress-free grooming.

The first four sessions will give you a firm foundation in the work. To enhance your education in this program, you will be asked to work with animals between trainings and to keep a journal of your work.

On successful completion of your first four trainings and case studies, you will have earned your Certificate as a Practitioner-in-Training. You are then qualified to:

• Charge for work with individual animals according to the agreement signed on entry into the program.

• Give short presentations, up to one hour, introducing TTouch to clubs and organizations.
  

Part 2 - Two Trainings
The second part builds on the skills and tools you have learned. As you continue working with your classmates, teachers and the animals, you will incorporate new skills and deepen your understanding of the techniques and philosophy. You will also be working with clients and their animals during the trainings so that you can hone your ability to work with individual animals and satisfy the needs of their owners. You will acquire information on how to market yourself and your TTouch skills.

During the third year, you will be required to:

• Attend two week-long trainings.

• Attend two weekend trainings when possible given by TTouch Practitioners or Instructors.

• Continue private sessions with companion animals and prepare case studies.

Upon successful completion of the course work, you will receive a Tellington TTouch Training Certificate, Practitioner-1. You are then qualified to:

• Work privately with animals on a one-to-one basis.

• Give one-day hands-on workshops.

• Give a series of hands-on trainings to groups, i.e. one session per week, afternoon or evening, for 6-8 weeks.

• Use the official TTouch logo on your business cards, letterhead and advertisements according to the terms of the agreement.

Cost

Each Practitioner Training Clinic costs £475.00 per six day session. This does not include accommodation or meals.
On-Going Training and the Practitioner Guild.

In order to advance to the higher levels of Practitioner (levels 2 and 3), graduates must assist at a number of week-long trainings and workshops. Details will be available on graduation from the two-year program.

After your second year, you will be given a free one-year membership to the Guild as a Practitioner-in-Training. When you have achieved the status of Practitioner, level 1, you have the option of applying for full membership of the Guild. The Guild maintains a directory of Practitioners in the UK. When people ask the TTEAM-TTouch office for a Practitioner near them, referrals are made from the Guild list.

Instructors of the Practitioner Training Programme

You will be taught by our team of professional instructors, each of whom have had a minimum 13 years experience with The Tellington TTouch. Linda Tellington-Jones, Robyn Hood, Debra Potts, Edie Jane Eaton and Jodi Frediani are the main trainers. There will also be qualified Practitioners assisting at your trainings so that you can benefit from their experience and have plenty of individual attention as you hone your skills. Occasionally people from related fields such as allopathic and holistic veterinary medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, animal communication and business consultants will be invited to address the group.

Mentor to Help Support Your Learning

You have the opportunity to be allocated a Mentor after your second six day Training. The aim is to help to support your learning between Practitioner Trainings and give a special point of contact for any questions that you may have as you progress through your Training.

You are encouraged to express a preference if you already know a qualified Practitioner who you would like to be your Mentor. However, while we will endeavour to allocate one of your named choices, please be aware that this is also a commitment on the part of the Mentor and that they may already be committed to other students at that time.
For students who require further information about the Mentor Programme email Marie Miller