Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling

Preface  Acknowledgements  About the Author  About the Author's Therapy Animals  1. An Introduction to Animal Assisted Therapy  2. Research in Animal Assisted Counseling and Related Areas  3. Selecting an Animal for Therapy Work  4. Training a Pet for Therapy Work  5. Evaluation of a Pet for Therapy Work  6. Animal Communication, Risk Management, and Ethics in Animal Assisted Counseling  7. Animal Assisted Interventions and Counseling Theories  8. Animal Assisted Counseling Practices  9. Equine Assisted Counseling  10. A Variety of AAT Applications  12. Sensitivity to Cultural Differences and Populations With Special Needs  12. Crisis and Disaster Response Counseling With Therapy Animals  13. Establishing a School-Based Program for Animal Assisted Counseling and Education  14. International Considerations and Applications of Animal Assisted Therapy  APPENDIX A: RECOMMENDED COMPETENCY AREAS AND ACCOMPANYING PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES FOR THE PRACTICE OF ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING ASSISTED THERAPY AND RELATED AREAS  APPENDIX B: CLIENT SCREENING FORM FOR ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY  APPENDIX C: PSYCHOSOCIAL SESSION FORM  APPENDIX D: ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY ANIMAL ILLUSTRATIONS: INSTRUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES  APPENDIX E: SAMPLE POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR THE PRACTICE OF ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY IN A COUNSELOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM  APPENDIX F: SAMPLE POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR THE  PRACTICE OF ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY IN AN AGENCY OR PRIVATE PRACTICE  REFERENCES  INDEX

Biography

Cynthia K. Chandler, EdD, is a professor at the University of North Texas, where she has taught courses in counseling since 1989 and is founder and director of the UNT Consortium for Animal Assisted Therapy. She is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist in Texas. She has been practicing, teaching, researching, and supervising animal assisted therapy in counseling (AAT-C) for many years and is recognized worldwide as a leading expert in the field.

"Cynthia Chandler’s 3^rd edition of Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling is a real gem. It is full of updated research and provides the reader with strong practical suggestions for implementation. The book will be a great asset for any mental health practitioner interested in applying animal assisted interventions into their practice."

Aubrey H. Fine, EdD, professor, California State Polytechnic University

"This book is an excellent resource for practitioners who want to include AAT into counseling practice. It is very well written, clear, thorough, and approachable for novice and experienced AAT practitioners alike. Of particular value are Chandler's strategies for including AAT into well-established counseling theoretical orientations. It is the first book I recommend to my own counseling students who are interested in AAT."

Leslie A. Stewart, PhD, LPC, assistant professor of counseling, Idaho State University

"The new edition of Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling clearly explains the practical skills needed for clinical application of animals in counseling settings and the empirical evidence supporting how animals can improve mental health treatment outcomes. This volume is a carefully organized review of the practice and promise of animal assisted therapy in the treatment of mental health issues with attention to the safety, well-being, and ethical considerations of the human and non-human participants."

Philip Tedeschi, clinical professor, executive director, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver

"It is within relationships that counselors and clients process therapeutic material leading to change. In this substantially updated third edition, Dr. Chandler not only provides comprehensive information about all aspects of animal assisted therapy in mental health, but also offers clear insight into how this unique modality actually works. Her contribution of human-animal relational theory is significant because it delves into the process by which the ethical involvement of animals facilitates therapeutic work. Very highly recommended!"

Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, cofounder, International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy