Emergent Theory and Model of Practice in Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling

A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of an Animal-Assisted Outreach Program

“…Student scores on the UPLAS were significantly lower when compared with scores before participation. The socially facilitating effect of humananimal interaction (Stewart, Chang, & Rice, 2013) may be one potential explanation for the reduction in loneliness, as the presence of the therapy animal may have provided participants with opportunities for nonthreatening interactions with one another. Other potential explanations for this result are the group-based nature of the intervention, which encouraged participant interaction, and the presence of common factors among participants (i.e., fondness for dogs/animals, missing family pets, feeling lonely).…”

“…Based on the results of this study, AAT may be a beneficial treatment option for other populations that experience loneliness and anxiety. Examples of some of these settings include correctional facilities, residential treatment programs and hospitals, group homes, secondary schools, and older-adult care facilities (Chandler, 2012;Stewart, Chang, & Rice, 2013). This pilot study may serve as a framework for other practitioners to create AAT outreach interventions to serve clients on college and university campuses as well as in other settings.…”

“…Although the empirical benefits associated with AAT in counseling are only beginning to be explored, several researchers and practitioners have found that AAT may facilitate the alliance between mental health providers and clients, while decreasing the need for language in therapy (Chandler, 2012;Fine, 2006;Reichert, 1998;Stewart, Chang, & Rice, 2013). Stewart, Chang, & Rice, (2013) found that interacting with an appropriately qualified therapy animal often encourages nonthreatening interactions between people.…”

“…Stewart, Chang, & Rice, (2013) found that interacting with an appropriately qualified therapy animal often encourages nonthreatening interactions between people. Additionally, Stewart et al's (2013) findings suggested that the presence of a specially trained therapy animal positively impacted the climate of therapy and encouraged client relaxation (Barker, Knisely, McCain, Schubert, & Pandurangi, 2010;Cole, Gawlinski, Steers, & Kotlerman, 2007;Odenaal, 2000).…”

Effective Coping with Loneliness: A Review

“…Since in-office counseling may not be sufficient to help the lonely, or not attractive enough for them to attend, the inclusion of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is gaining momentum on college campuses nationwide (Stewart, Chang, & Rice, 2013). AAT in counseling is defined as the incorporation of specially trained and evaluated pets as therapeutic agents into the counseling process; thus, counselors utilize the human-animal bond in goal-directed interventions as part of the treatment process.…”