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Therapy Dog Jobs in Delaware (NOW HIRING)

Veterinarian

Dover, DE · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

We provide compassionate, high-quality care for cats, dogs, pocket pets, and birds, with a strong ... Laser therapy * Full in-house laboratory * Ultrasound * Modern, well-equipped surgical suite We ...

Veterinarian

Dover, DE · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

We provide compassionate, high-quality care for cats, dogs, pocket pets, and birds, with a strong ... Digital dental radiology * Laser therapy * Full in-house laboratory * Ultrasound * Modern ...

Veterinarian

Dover, DE · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

We provide compassionate, high-quality care for cats, dogs, pocket pets, and birds, with a strong ... Laser therapy * Full in-house laboratory * Ultrasound * Modern, well-equipped surgical suite We ...

Travel CT Tech

Dover, DE · On-site

$3.0K/wk

... occupational therapist has opened so many new doors for me. I've gotten to live in so many ... dog) opportunities to see parts of the world I never dreamed of. Whether for work or fun we're ...

Travel CT Tech

Dover, DE · On-site

$3.0K/wk

... occupational therapist has opened so many new doors for me. I've gotten to live in so many ... dog) opportunities to see parts of the world I never dreamed of. Whether for work or fun we're ...

Therapy Dog information

See Delaware salary details

$44K

$52.5K

$59.6K

How much do therapy dog jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for therapy dog in Delaware is $52,545.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $56,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a therapy dog?

Therapy dogs are specially trained animals that provide comfort, support, and affection to people in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, disaster areas, and other settings. Unlike service dogs, which assist individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs work with their handlers to improve the emotional well-being of groups or individuals in need. They help reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness, and their presence can have positive effects on mental and physical health. Therapy dogs must be calm, friendly, and well-behaved in various environments, and they usually undergo certification or training to ensure they are suitable for this important role.

What are jobs that work with therapy dogs?

Therapy dog training jobs involve teaching dogs to perform specialized behaviors with the goal of providing support to people who have disabilities or physical limitations. As a trainer for a therapy dog, your duties focus on training the dog to assist a client with particular tasks, like helping a blind person cross the street, or to provide general animal therapy. Your responsibilities vary but typically include training a dog while evaluating their temperament and progress. Some trainers work with dogs who serve people with a specific limitation, while others train dogs to service people with multiple disabilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a therapy dog, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Therapy Dog, a dog must have a calm temperament, be well-socialized, and have basic obedience training, often validated through therapy dog certification programs. Handlers and dogs typically work with organizations that require evaluation and registration, and familiarity with environments like hospitals or schools is beneficial. Exceptional patience, gentleness, and the ability to respond positively to new people and situations are vital soft skills for therapy dogs. These qualities ensure that therapy dogs can safely and effectively provide comfort, support, and emotional benefits to individuals in need.

What can handlers expect in terms of collaboration and support when working with a therapy dog in healthcare settings?

Handlers working with therapy dogs in healthcare environments often collaborate closely with medical staff, social workers, and facility administrators to ensure visits are safe and beneficial for patients. Communication is key—handlers are typically briefed on patient needs and facility protocols before visits. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, handlers may help set goals for patient interaction and adjust their approach based on feedback. This collaborative structure not only supports the handler and dog but also enhances the overall effectiveness of therapy dog programs.

What is the difference between Therapy Dog vs Service Dog?

AspectTherapy DogService Dog
Required CredentialsTraining programs, certifications from therapy dog organizationsExtensive training, certification from organizations like the ADA or Assistance Dogs International
Work EnvironmentHospitals, schools, nursing homes, therapy sessionsPublic spaces, assisting individuals with disabilities in daily activities
Employer/Industry UsageHealthcare, education, therapy servicesIndividuals with disabilities, federal and state programs

Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and emotional support in various settings, while service dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities in daily tasks. Both roles require specific training and certifications, but service dogs have legal protections to accompany their owners everywhere, unlike therapy dogs which are primarily used in designated environments.

How do you become a therapy dog?

To become a therapy dog, a dog must complete basic obedience training and pass a temperament assessment to ensure they are calm, friendly, and well-behaved around people. Afterward, the dog and handler typically undergo certification through a recognized organization, which may include health checks, behavior testing, and training in handling skills. Ongoing socialization and regular re-evaluation help maintain the therapy dog's suitability for visits.

What are the most commonly searched types of Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware?

The most popular types of Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware are:

What are popular job titles related to Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware?

For Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware look for?

The top searched job categories for Therapy Dog jobs in Delaware are:

What cities in Delaware are hiring for Therapy Dog jobs?

Cities in Delaware with the most Therapy Dog job openings:

Infographic showing various Therapy Dog job openings in Delaware as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,545 per year, or $25.3 per hour.

Clinical Supervisor & Nature-Based Child and Family Therapist

Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy-

Middletown, DE • On-site

$69K - $75K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago


Job description

Clinical Supervisor & Nature-Based Child and Family Therapist

LPCMH  •  LCSW  •  LMFT

Buddy’s Place at Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy

Middletown, Delaware  |  Full-Time  |  W2


Help Build the Future of Nature-Based Mental Health Care

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced clinician ready to expand their leadership through clinical supervision while helping shape an innovative model of nature-based mental health care.

You believe the connection between people, animals, plants, and the natural world can be a powerful part of healing. So do we.


At Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy, we’re proud to partner with Buddy’s Place, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to nature-based wellness by helping healthcare, mental health, and wellness providers incorporate agricultural settings into their work. Together, we’re creating a place where therapy extends beyond four walls—where children and families experience healing through meaningful connections with animals, gardens, and the natural world.


Here, therapy doesn’t begin when a child sits in a chair.

  • It begins with muddy boots.
  • Chicken feed in your hands.
  • Fresh herbs growing in the garden.
  • Curious rabbits and gentle therapy dogs.
  • Trails that invite conversation instead of pressure.


At Buddy’s Place, nature isn’t simply where therapy happens—it becomes an active partner in the healing process. Every garden, every animal, and every shared experience offers opportunities to build confidence, strengthen relationships, regulate emotions, and reconnect with the world around us.


We’re looking for an experienced clinician whose connection to animals, gardening, agriculture, and the natural world is authentic—not someone who’s simply curious about nature-based therapy, but someone who naturally incorporates these values into both their personal life and clinical philosophy.


If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.


Compensation & Benefits

Expected first-year earnings of approximately $69,000–$75,000 or more, depending on completed sessions, supervision responsibilities, schedule, and annual performance incentives.


Compensation

  • $45 per completed clinical session to start
  • $100 per week for each supervisee
  • Paid documentation time
  • Paid meetings and trainings
  • $5 per session held at 5 PM or after or on weekends
  • Annual performance-based compensation reviews
  • Paid onboarding and training


Benefits

  • W-2 employee position (not a contractor)
  • Health insurance (50% employer-paid employee premium)
  • Employer-paid malpractice and supervisory liability insurance
  • 80 hours of Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid leave through the Delaware Paid Leave program
  • Retirement savings through Delaware EARNS (state-sponsored retirement program)
  • Employer-funded horticultural therapy certification and ongoing training in nature-based therapeutic approaches
  • Performance-based raises
  • No non-compete agreement
  • Full administrative support, including scheduling, billing, insurance verification, credentialing, and client communications


You’ll Feel at Home Here If…

  • Spending time outdoors isn’t just something you encourage clients to do—it’s part of how you recharge and care for yourself.
  • Whether you’ve built your own chicken coop, spend weekends tending a garden, care for animals, or simply feel most at home outdoors, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people who believe nature isn’t just the setting—it’s an essential part of the healing process.
  • You understand the unique therapeutic relationships that can develop between children, animals, and the natural environment.
  • You’re excited to integrate ecotherapy, animal-assisted therapy, horticultural therapy, and experiential approaches into your clinical work—not as occasional activities, but as meaningful therapeutic interventions.
  • You enjoy mentoring clinicians and helping others develop confidence in their clinical work.
  • You value collaboration, curiosity, lifelong learning, and strong clinical standards.
  • You’re looking for more than your next job—you want to help shape the future of nature-based mental health care.


We’re looking for someone who wants to share their love of nature with children and families through exceptional clinical care.


What You’ll Be Doing

Clinical Care

You’ll provide therapy for children, adolescents, and families using an integrated approach that may include:

  • Ecotherapy
  • Canine-assisted therapy
  • Small farm animal-assisted therapy
  • Horticultural therapy
  • Evidence-based clinical approaches tailored to each client

Families actively seek our services, and our referral pipeline continues to grow. Our administrative team manages scheduling, billing, insurance verification, and client communication so you can focus on providing exceptional care.


Clinical Leadership

As a Clinical Supervisor, you’ll play an important role in shaping both our clinical team and the future of nature-based mental health care. In addition to providing supervision, you’ll mentor developing clinicians, contribute to program development, and help cultivate a collaborative culture where therapists feel supported, challenged, and inspired to grow.


Success in This Role Looks Like

  • Maintaining approximately 25 completed therapy sessions each week
  • Supervising 1–2 associate clinicians
  • Completing documentation accurately and on time
  • Delivering thoughtful, relationship-centered therapy that integrates nature, animals, and experiential interventions whenever clinically appropriate
  • Participating in consultation, collaboration, and ongoing professional development
  • Helping build a practice where clinicians feel supported and families receive exceptional care


About Buddy’s Place

Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy proudly provides therapy services at Buddy’s Place, a partner nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful connections between people, animals, and the natural world.


Together, we’re creating one of the most distinctive therapeutic environments in the region—where evidence-based mental health care is intentionally woven together with gardens, animals, outdoor spaces, and meaningful experiences in nature.


Sessions may take place throughout gardens, outdoor therapeutic spaces, and alongside therapy dogs and small farm animals in ways that are intentional, ethical, and clinically meaningful.


Nature isn’t just the backdrop for therapy. It’s part of the therapeutic process.


Why Clinicians Stay Here

Resilient Kids was founded on a simple belief: Children and families receive the best care when therapists feel genuinely supported.


We’ve built a practice where clinicians can focus on meaningful work instead of administrative burdens. That means:

  • Consistent referrals
  • Administrative support that handles billing, scheduling, insurance verification, and client communication
  • Paid documentation and meeting time
  • A culture that values innovation, mentorship, and continuous professional growth
  • Leadership opportunities
  • Professional development


We believe clinicians do their best work when they have time to think, supportive leadership, meaningful relationships with colleagues, and opportunities to keep growing. Our clinicians often tell us this is the first place they’ve been able to practice therapy in a way that truly reflects why they entered the profession in the first place. That’s the culture we’re intentionally building every day.


Qualifications

Required

  • Active Delaware LPCMH, LCSW, or LMFT license in good standing
  • Minimum two years of post-licensure clinical experience
  • Must meet Delaware requirements to provide clinical supervision or be eligible to do so
  • Experience working with children, adolescents, and families
  • Strong clinical documentation and organizational skills


In addition to the required clinical qualifications above, candidates should meet one of the following:

  • Option 1: Demonstrated experience caring for chickens, rabbits, dogs, or other animals and/or maintaining gardens, orchards, or other agricultural spaces, along with a genuine desire to integrate these experiences into therapeutic work through nature-based therapy, ecotherapy, animal-assisted interventions, or horticultural therapy.

OR

  • Option 2:  Current certification in a recognized nature-based therapeutic modality (e.g., animal-assisted interventions, horticultural therapy, ecotherapy, or a related field), with practical experience applying these approaches in therapeutic, educational, or wellness settings.


Preferred, one or more of the following:

  • Previous clinical supervision experience
  • Certification or advanced training in animal-assisted interventions
  • Play therapy training
  • Trauma-focused treatment training (EMDR, TF-CBT, CPP, or similar)
  • Neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming practice experience
  • Bilingual clinicians (Spanish especially welcomed)


Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.


Ready to Help Shape What’s Next?

We’re not just hiring another therapist.


We’re looking for a clinician and leader who wants to help redefine what therapy can look like for children and families.

If you believe healing can happen while walking a trail, caring for animals, planting a garden, or simply slowing down long enough to reconnect with the natural world, you’ll find a place here where those values are shared—and where you’ll have the opportunity to help shape an innovative model of care from the ground up.


We’d love to meet you.