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Training Program
Psychiatric Service Dog Program
Task training for dogs supporting handlers with psychiatric disabilities.
16 weeks
In-person with remote check-ins
Contact ASDI for current pricing
Program Overview
Individualized task training for psychiatric service dog teams, developed with handler-specific disability-related needs and coordinated care when appropriate. Five modules progress from intake and task selection through alert behaviors, grounding interventions, environmental support, and reliability proofing — each with ASDI-branded worksheets for clinical coordination and training documentation.
What Teams Will Learn
- Perform deep pressure therapy on cue
- Interrupt repetitive or escalating behaviors
- Guide handler to a safe, low-stimulation space
Course Materials & Worksheets
Professional ASDI curriculum modules with printable worksheets for session planning, field practice, and trainer review.
Official ASDI MaterialsModule 1
Module 1 — Intake, Task Planning & Ethics
Define disability-related tasks, set ethical boundaries, and establish a written task plan with your trainer.
Lesson material
- Handler intake and disability-related task identification
- Task vs. comfort distinction under ADA standards
- Written task plan with cue, behavior, and termination criteria
- Coordination with care team when clinically appropriate
Module 2
Module 2 — Deep Pressure & Grounding Tasks
Train tactile grounding tasks with clear onset, duration, and release criteria.
Lesson material
- Deep pressure therapy positioning and pressure guidelines
- Guided grounding cue chains and handler feedback loops
- Duration limits and dog welfare monitoring
- Generalizing grounding across seated and standing contexts
Module 3
Module 3 — Interruption & Redirect Tasks
Build reliable interruption of repetitive or escalating behaviors without creating dependency on chaos.
Lesson material
- Identify target behaviors for interruption (handler-defined)
- Alert → interrupt → redirect sequence training
- Fade prompts while maintaining reliability
- Avoid over-cuing and accidental reinforcement of escalation
Module 4
Module 4 — Environmental Support & Wayfinding
Train room checks, path finding, and guided exit to low-stimulation spaces.
Lesson material
- Room perimeter check behaviors on cue
- Guided path to designated safe space
- Low-stimulation settle in novel environments
- Public access integration without task interference
Module 5
Module 5 — Reliability, Proofing & Maintenance
Proof tasks across environments, document reliability, and plan ongoing maintenance.
Lesson material
- Reliability tracking sheet and minimum criteria
- Proofing in three environment categories
- Handler self-care and dog burnout prevention
- Maintenance schedule and trainer review cadence
Worksheets are branded ASDI training documents for Psychiatric Service Dog Program. Bring completed worksheets to your ASDI-affiliated trainer or workshop facilitator.