ACA
   APA
   Mental-Health Sites
   Mental Health Part D

Animal Assisted Therapy
Implementation Date Summer 2009

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) incorporates the use of pets as a therapeutic agent in the counseling process. Animal Assisted therapy is appropriate and used in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, and private practices. AAT promotes positive animal-human interaction and incorporates the talents and traits of animal into the counseling process to facilitate the emotional well being of the agencies consumers.

   NAMI
   PsychCentral
   EMDR Institute, Inc.
   NCDHHS

According to Chandler (2005) pet therapy can alter the dynamics of the therapy process in the following ways:

  • The consumer may be more motivated to participate because of their desire to spend time with the therapy pet.
  • The consumer’s focus could shift away from a disabling pain due to the interaction with the animal to the extent that the individual can worker harder and longer in treatment, thereby gaining more benefit per session.
  • The consumer may experience nurturance and affection through physical contact with the therapy pet.
  • The consumer may experience comfort from physical contact with the pet (petting or holding).
  • The consumer may experience unconditional acceptance.
  • The consumer may experience enjoyment and entertainment from the human-animal interaction.
  • The consumer may be able to form a more trusting relationship with the clinician who demonstrates acceptance by the therapy animal.
  • In some cases, the consumer may be able to perform activities and achieve goals that he/she would not otherwise be possible without the assistance of a therapy pet.

Sims Consulting & Clinical Services Animal Assisted Treatment Goals

  • Social skills training
  • Reduction of depressive symptoms
  • Increase self esteem/self confidence
  • Grief and loss
  • Improve cooperation and problems solving skills
  • Improve concentration and attention
  • Reduce anxiety
  • Resolve trust issues
  • Boundaries/appropriate touch
  • Improve communication skills
  • Decease defiance/manipulative behaviors

Animal Assisted Counseling Techniques

  • Give and receive affection through physical contact
  • Learn gentle ways to handle therapy pet
  • Learn to communicate with therapy pet
  • Learn about animal behavior
  • Observe and discuss pet’s response to human behavior
  • Taking care of pet through proper care, feeding, and grooming
  • Talk to and about the animal
  • Engage in play
  • Generalize animal behavior to human circumstances
  • Discuss how animal might feel in certain situations
  • Metaphors
  • Following a sequence of instruction with therapy pet