Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy with Children in Special Education

Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy with Children in Special Education
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 86
Release: 2018
Genre: Animals
ISBN:

"Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is used to improve the overall mental, physical, emotional, and social functioning of a patient. The use of animals in therapy practice is becoming more common, yet it is still not entirely integrated in to the educational setting. It is more common to find this type of therapy used in hospitals, therapeutic boarding schools for teens, and mental health facilities. There are a variety of animals used in animal-assisted therapy, such as horses, cats, dogs, dolphins, and llamas. The research regarding the effectiveness of this type of therapy is limited, but there are a number of therapists and patients who can attest to its benefits. Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to have profound effectiveness with specific populations of students who receive special education services. These populations include students diagnosed with emotional/behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Upon evaluation of appropriateness, therapy dogs can be used in the classroom to increase social communication, as well as assist in helping students understand emotions and feelings. In certain cases, a 1:1 service dog may be essential in helping a child with autism spectrum disorder find success."--Leaf 4.

How Animals Help Students Learn

How Animals Help Students Learn
Author: Nancy R. Gee
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2017-03-27
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1317217489

How Animals Help Students Learn summarizes what we know about the impact of animals in education and synthesizes the thinking of prominent leaders in research and practice. It’s a much-needed resource for mental-health and education professionals interested in incorporating animals in school-based environments, one that evaluates the efficacy of existing programs and helps move the field toward evidence-based practice. Experts from around the world provide concrete examples of how animals have been successfully incorporated into classroom settings to achieve the highest level of benefit while also ensuring the health and welfare of the students and animals involved.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy
Author: Nancy Parish-Plass
Publisher: Purdue University Press
Total Pages: 526
Release: 2013-07-15
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1612492746

The integration of animals into the therapy setting by psychotherapists has been a growing trend. Psychological problems treated include emotional and behavioral problems, attachment issues, trauma, and developmental disorders. An influential 1970s survey suggests that over 20 percent of therapists in the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association incorporated animals into their treatment in some fashion. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number is much higher today. Since Yeshiva University psychologist Boris Levinson popularized the involvement of animals in psychotherapy in the 1960s, Israel has come to be perhaps the most advanced country in the world in the area of animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP). This is true especially in the areas of academic training programs, theory-building, and clinical practice. Great effort has been put into understanding the mechanisms behind AAP, as well as into developing ethical guidelines that take into account the therapist's responsibility toward both client and animal. This book exposes the world to the theory and practice of AAP as conceived and used in Israel. It emphasizes evidence-based and clinically sound applications with psychotherapeutic goals, as differentiated from other animal-assisted interventions, such as AAE (animal-assisted education) and AAA (animal-assisted activities), which may have education or skills-oriented goals. Not just anyone with a dog can call him-or herself an animal-assisted therapist. This volume demonstrates not only the promise of animal-assisted psychotherapeutic approaches, but also some of the challenges the field still needs to overcome to gain widespread legitimacy.

How Animal Assisted Therapy Can be Used to Motivate Children in Special Education

How Animal Assisted Therapy Can be Used to Motivate Children in Special Education
Author: Colleen Miller
Publisher:
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

The research question addressed in this capstone is, in what ways might animal assisted-therapy be used to promote positive growth on the IEP goals of children with various disabilities in a public school setting? I discuss several experiences that have inspired me to research this topic. The first area of research is, positive emotions, motivation and its impact on learning. The second area describes the specific disability categories in special education and their individual characteristics. The majority of my research defines Animal Assisted Therapy and unfolds the ways that it has been used effectively to motivate people and improve their quality of life. The fourth area of research describes the types of dogs that are best suited to work in Animal Assisted Therapy and what the criteria is for these dogs. The author develops a brochure to help educate others.

Service Animals in Schools

Service Animals in Schools
Author: Anne O. Papalia
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 203
Release: 2022-07-27
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1538158221

Is that dog allowed in school? Can the miniature horse ride on the bus with my son? Must the service animal leave the classroom if the teacher is allergic? Do I need to include the service animal in the IEP? These are some of the many questions that arise when a child with disability brings a service animal to school. Service Animals in Schools: Legal, Educational, Administrative and Strategic Handling Aspects (LEASH), provides a comprehensive overview of the legal, educational, and accessibility issues surrounding service animals in schools and provides practical guidelines for addressing these concerns within an academic setting. The authors explore topics such as types of assistance animals, educational planning and IEP development, classroom integration, transition planning, and more, providing practical information about service animal use from both ends of the leash.

It's All About The Dog: Using a Therapy Dog in the School Setting

It's All About The Dog: Using a Therapy Dog in the School Setting
Author: Leona Davis
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2016-04-15
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1483446670

Years ago, a colleague came up with the novel idea of bringing my dog to school to work with students with emotional issues. Since then this one dog has touched many people and has prompted other programs to add a therapy dog to their staff. My book explores my personal experiences working with a therapy dog in three different school settings over a 7-year period. The therapy dog program involves using dog and handler teams that have been certified through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Animal assisted therapy is a nontraditional method for working with regular and special education students in a variety of programs. This research project involved the work of many individuals. I have been blessed to work with many outstanding people throughout my career who have been willing to think outside of the box and support such a nontraditional idea. This book is a must read for educators, therapists, and animal lovers and sends a message about the climate of our schools and connecting with our youth.

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy
Author: Megan Mueller
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 554
Release: 2011-04-28
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0080463835

The original edition was the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of the ways in which animals can assist therapists with treatment of specific populations, and/or in specific settings. The second edition continues in this vein, with 7 new chapters plus substantial revisions of continuing chapters as the research in this field has grown. New coverage includes: Animals as social supports, Use of AAT with Special Needs students, the role of animals in the family- insights for clinicians, and measuring the animal-person bond. Contributions from veterinarians, animal trainers, psychologists, and social workers Includes guidelines and best practices for using animals as therapeutic companions Addresses specific types of patients and environmental situations

Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy

Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy
Author: Teri Pichot
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2011-02-14
Genre: Pets
ISBN: 1136867724

Learn to use a powerful tool in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy—a pet Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy (AAA/T) is an innovative intervention in which an animal becomes a crucial—and highly effective—part of the treatment process. Pet-Assisted Brief Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach gives therapists the tools they need to begin and maintain an effective treatment program that meaningfully merges dogs and other therapy animals with Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). This unique book clearly explains how AAA/T integrated with SFT in one substance abuse counseling program. It provides a revealing description of the program’s challenges and successes, and discusses the possibilities for AAA/T implementation in other agencies. The authors review in detail the multitude of scenarios where animals can add a valuable dimension for treatment with clients on specific issues. Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach provides therapists with concrete examples of how to appropriately implement AAA/T to cultivate positive effects in treatment. The book explains how this loving and patient therapy for clients need not be the difficult challenge that it at first appears to be. This resource takes you step by step through the process, showing what practical strategies can be used to offset most obstacles and unknowns. This one-of-a-kind guide clearly explains how to blend and structure the numerous aspects of AAA/T with Solution Focused Therapy to become a more effective treatment program. Appendices provide AAA/T resources, sample policy and procedures, and training resources across the United States. Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach discusses: the history of AAA/T common values between AAA/T and Solution-Focused Therapy the principles and goals of SFT how to understand canine culture the creation of a successful AAA/T program phobias, allergies, liabilities, and insurance therapy dogs’ needs common interventions therapy with children therapy with adolescents therapy with adults therapy with substance abusing clients Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach provides a comprehensive look at AAA/T and is perfect for therapists struggling to find new and effective ways to work with clients; therapists trying to utilize this approach in their practice; administrators and clinical supervisors wanting to implement AAA/T at their agency; educators; and students.

Animal-assisted Interventions for Individuals with Autism

Animal-assisted Interventions for Individuals with Autism
Author: Merope Pavlides
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2008-04-15
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1846427959

This book looks at how therapies involving animals can be used to help individuals with autism to develop skills, including sensory and social skills, to manage challenging behaviors, and improve quality of life. Whether participating in therapeutic horseback riding, utilizing a trained service dog, visiting a dolphin therapy center, or simply experiencing companion animal therapy, people with autism can reap a multitude of benefits from interaction with furry, feathered, and finned friends. Merope Pavlides relates the success stories of different animal-assisted interventions, as well as noting the challenges of working with particular animal species. She also emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the specific needs of the individual and of monitoring progress. With recommendations for resources and further reading, this book will be of great interest to people with autism, their parents, and the professionals who work with them.