Christina Strayer Thornton – Animal-Assisted Interventions: Incorporating Animals in Therapeutic Goals & Treatment

Outline

Brief OverviewBrief Overview

• Human-animal emotional bondHuman-animal emotional bond
• Therapy animal vs. service animal vs. emotional support animalTherapy animal vs. service animal vs. emotional support animal
• Animal-assisted therapy vs. animal-assisted activitiesAnimal-assisted therapy vs. animal-assisted activities
• Handler vs. therapistHandler vs. therapist

Mindfulness of Animals and How it Helps the Human BrainMindfulness of Animals and How it Helps the Human Brain

• The neuroscience of the human-animal bondThe neuroscience of the human-animal bond
• Why zebras don’t get ulcersWhy zebras don’t get ulcers
• Animal-assisted interventions without an animalAnimal-assisted interventions without an animal

The Legal LandscapeThe Legal Landscape

• Four federal laws that impact animal-assisted interventionsFour federal laws that impact animal-assisted interventions
• Client rights and when not to involve an animalClient rights and when not to involve an animal
• Informed consentInformed consent

Evidence-Based Interventions and Treatment Goals/Outcomes:Evidence-Based Interventions and Treatment Goals/Outcomes:

• PTSD, Trauma, Anxiety and depressionPTSD, Trauma, Anxiety and depression
  • Tapping technique via pettingTapping technique via petting
  • Breathing techniques to relax and calmBreathing techniques to relax and calm
  • Empower self-efficacyEmpower self-efficacy
  • Increase socializationIncrease socialization
  • Increase motivation and goal settingIncrease motivation and goal setting
  • Mindfulness exercises with animalsMindfulness exercises with animals
• Attachment Disorders and Conduct DisorderAttachment Disorders and Conduct Disorder
  • Strategies to build trust and strengthen the therapeutic allianceStrategies to build trust and strengthen the therapeutic alliance
  • Structured play to share emotions/cognitionsStructured play to share emotions/cognitions
  • Identifying with therapy animal’s narrativeIdentifying with therapy animal’s narrative
  • Animal commands to develop norms of behaviorsAnimal commands to develop norms of behaviors
  • Interventions that provide emotional support and enhance quality of lifeInterventions that provide emotional support and enhance quality of life
• Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHDAutism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
  • Social skills via role play and conversing with the therapy animalSocial skills via role play and conversing with the therapy animal
  • Animals as mirrors to internal statesAnimals as mirrors to internal states
  • Improve sensory sensitivity through AATImprove sensory sensitivity through AAT
  • Increase confidence in clientsIncrease confidence in clients
  • Animals facilitating relaxation strategiesAnimals facilitating relaxation strategies
  • Impulse control via body cues/narrativesImpulse control via body cues/narratives

Pairing AAT with Other Evidence-Based TherapiesPairing AAT with Other Evidence-Based Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)Solution phd/">Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Gestalt TherapyGestalt Therapy

Components of Animal-Assisted InterventionComponents of Animal-Assisted Intervention

• Protocol for introducing animal and clientProtocol for introducing animal and client
• Interaction techniques for client and animalInteraction techniques for client and animal
• Closure, documentation and secure liability insuranceClosure, documentation and secure liability insurance

Become an Animal-Assisted TherapistBecome an Animal-Assisted Therapist

• Animal qualifications/characteristics and choosing your therapy animalAnimal qualifications/characteristics and choosing your therapy animal
• Tools to assess therapy animal’s temperament, limitations and stress levelsTools to assess therapy animal’s temperament, limitations and stress levels
• K-9 training and AAT certification programsK-9 training and AAT certification programs
• Compassion fatigue: your therapy animal as a support systemCompassion fatigue: your therapy animal as a support system
• Telemental health: Incorporate your animal in distance video-conferencingTelemental health: Incorporate your animal in distance video-conferencing