Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy, Sixth Edition continues to be the leading textbook and reference in this field for clinical practitioners. The book provides the evidence basis for the effectiveness of this treatment, as well as guidelines for how to perform it from the selection of treatment animal to application with patients. This new edition is fully updated and contains 15 new chapters on culture, research, standards, of practice, and more. Organized into four sections, the book explores the conceptualization of the animal-human bond, best practices for AAI professionals, considerations related to animal selection/ training/ welfare, and utilizing AAI in special populations. The book may serve as a study guide for the Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification Exam.

Section One: The Conceptualization of the Animal-Human Bond: The Foundation for Understanding AAI 1. Understanding our Kinship with Animals: Input for Health Care Professionals Interested in the Human-Animal Bond 2. AAI in Historical Perspectives 3. Conceptualizing AAIs: Honoring our past, understanding our present and building a new future for the field of AAI 4. Understanding the Influence of Culture, Race, Ethnicity, and Identity on Animal-Assisted Interventions 5. The Animal-Human Bond: Health and Wellness 6. The State of Research in AAI Section Two: Best Practices for AAI Professionals 7. Professional Competencies and Standards of Practice in AAI 8. Incorporating AAI into Psychotherapy: Guidelines and Suggestions for Therapists 9. Application of AAI in Professional Mental Health Settings: An overview of practice considerations 10. The Application of Animal Assisted Interventions in Various Allied Health Professions Section Three: Considerations Related to Animal Selection, Training, and Welfare 11. What’s love got to do with it? Selecting animals for AA mental health interventions 12. Getting the Right Dog for the Right Job for AAI. Essential Understanding of Dog Behavior and Ethology 13. The role of the Equine in AAI 14. Preparing a Canine for Therapy Dog Work through Training and Relationship-Building 15. Trends in animal welfare research in animal-assisted interventions 16. Our Ethical and Moral Responsibility: Strategies for Ensuring the Welfare of Therapy Animals: 17. Species Specific Welfare Considerations for animals involved in AAI 18. Zoonoses in animal-assisted interventions Section Four: AAI in Special Populations 19. Animals in the Lives of Children 20. Animals in Educational Settings: Research and Practice. 21. The role of Animals for Individuals with Executive Functioning Disorders 22. Companion Animals in Older Adulthood: Engaging and Sustaining the Bond 23. AAI in Special Settings: Hospitals, Colleges, & Correctional Facilities 24. Understanding the Role of Human-Animal Interaction in the Family Context 25. Treating human trauma and depression with the help of animals: Trauma-informed intervention for child maltreatment, adult post-traumatic stress, and depression 26. The Complete Journey: Navigating the Death, Dying & Grief of a Therapy Animal Partner 27. Animal-assisted interventions for military families: A synthesis of the current evidence 28 (Updated and with a few new snapshots) Global Snapshots of Therapy Animal Programs 29. Final Thoughts: The Editors’ Reflections on the State of AAI: The Unknown Future 30. A Personal Tribute to Animals in Our Lives and the Field of Animal Assisted Interventions: Oh the Places We Have Gone and Will Go!