This book provides an overview of Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and demonstrates how they can be incorporated into solution-focused treatment programs. Pichot, ...focusing on the use of therapy dogs, starts with a discussion of the basics of AAA/T and solution-focused therapy, as well as what every practitioner should know about dogs before partnering with them. Successfully combining all of this into an effective treatment program is considered next. Pichot draws upon her own experience developing an AAA/T program in the substance abuse counseling program at a county public health agency to illustrate the effective implementation of such a program and the struggles and lessons learned in doing so. Using AAA/T with special populations, cultural considerations, and the impact a therapy dog can have on the handler. New in this edition are client scenarios that demonstrate the therapist’s thought process when making clinical decisions about when and how to use a therapy dog. Sample forms and treatment plans are also provided that professionals can use to modify or structure in their work with clients. The concepts and information provided in this valuable guide will be helpful for any therapist regardless of whether he or she is in private practice or working in an agency setting.
Teri Pichot, LCSW, is the founder of the Denver Center for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, where in addition to seeing clients, she provides international training and consultation to agencies and professionals.
"Pichot's second edition of Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy provides a valuable practical resource for mental health providers interested in incorporating animal assisted interventions. Her use of personal examples makes her insights come alive as strong supporting evidence. I highly recommend this book to any professional interested in incorporating animal assisted therapy into their practice." - Aubrey Fine, EdD, Professor, California State Polytechnic Institute, Pomona
"I think very highly of Teri Pichot's work and the seriousness she has always shown and shows again in this wonderful book. Reading it I learned new things about dogs, about people, about solution-focused therapy, and about the complexity and thoughtfulness required when adding something into the complex context of a therapy program." - Harry Korman, MD, Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Owner and director of SIKT in Malmö, Sweden
Dolan , Foreword. The Basics of Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy (AAA/T). The Solution-Focused Basics. What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Dogs Before Partnering with One in AAA/T. How to Create a Successful AAA/T Program for Your Setting. Using AAA in Solution-Focused Treatment Settings. Using a Therapy Dog in Solution-Focused Treatment Sessions. Applying AAA/T to Special Populations. Using Animal Assisted Activities with Employees and Agencies. The Gift of the Imperfect Dog. Unexpected Lessons Learned.
Solution-Focused Substance Abuse Treatment describes the standard of care for substance abuse treatment, demonstrates how solution-focused brief therapy exceeds this standard, and shows how it can ...effectively be used in substance abuse evaluation, case management, and both individual and group treatment. Beginning and advanced concepts are provided to address the questions of even the most advanced clinician, all placed in the context of cultural awareness.
Most importantly, the author answers the many questions professionals may have about how solution-focused brief therapy can be successfully integrated into the field of substance abuse. It provides a thorough understanding of the issues that therapists face when working with this at times challenging population, and demonstrates how the use of solution-focused brief therapy can minimize power struggles and enhance client success. Sample forms and handouts are included, as are additional resources for effective evaluation and treatment.
Since a therapy dog can have such an incredibly positive impact on an
agency and treatment environment, it seems obvious that it would be a
good idea to bring the dog into the actual treatment ...session. However,
including a therapy dog in a treatment session simply because the client
likes the dog lacks purposefulness and solution focus. This chapter gives
clear guidelines for when including a therapy dog in a treatment session
is most useful, how to write treatment plans that include a therapy dog as
a purposeful intervention, and how to structure a treatment session once
the dog is in the room.
Being an animal-assisted therapist is an eye-opening experience. Despite
preparation through reading and research, many things about my current
day-to-day activities are very different from what I ...originally imagined.
It was easy to watch other handlers with their registered therapy dogs
and imagine that my dogs would behave in a similar manner or would
enjoy similar interactions. My original vision centered on the work my
dogs would do directly with clients. While that direct client contact work
is part of my professional life, handling therapy dogs has brought so much
more-an unexpected broadening of the original vision. Working with
dogs, while rewarding, is also humbling. It takes one from a place of predictability and control to a place of adventure and openness to what may
come. It has helped me realize that this is the place from which our dogs
live their lives. Dogs do not plan or envision themselves in the future. They
simply take each moment as it comes, enjoying (or tolerating) everything
that comes their way. They do not look forward to vacations or time offsomething that is so central to human work life. They have a wonderful,
innate ability to find the simple pleasures in each day. (This trait is, to a
large extent, what makes them so effective in their work as therapy dogs.)
Because of this more accepting way of interacting with the world, humans
who work with them are frequently invited to set aside human agendas
and worries of the future and past.
Creating an effective animal-assisted activities (AAA) or animal-assisted
therapy (AAT) program for an agency or within a private practice can be a
challenging endeavor. However, before one can begin ...to create a program
and use a therapy dog safely and effectively within a therapeutic setting, it
is vital that therapists really understand how dogs think and what motivates them. Without this, therapists risk over-or underestimating their
canine partner’s ability, thereby creating a potentially dangerous situation
for clients. This chapter explores the common myths about dogs and provides basic information that every therapist should know about dogs before
entering into a partnership with them as cotherapists.
While many therapists intuitively recognize the healing power of animals,
there is solid evidence to support it as well. Animals’ healing properties
have been well researched and used for decades. ...This chapter provides an
overview of the history, research, and current developments in the field of
animal-assisted activities and therapy (AAA/T).
With a solid understanding of the canine culture described in Chapter 3,
the necessary foundation is now in place for you to design and implement an effective animal-assisted activities and therapy ...(AAA/T) program. Although many therapists have skipped this planning phase
without incident, I do not recommend this. In this age of evidence-based
treatment and ever-increasing accountability, planning is an important
way to avert legal or credibility problems before they happen. Although
the tasks of design and implementation may seem daunting at first
glimpse, the benefits will outweigh the potential struggles. In this chapter, I clearly delineate the common threats to credibility and potential
liability and provide ideas on how to address these areas according to
national standards.
Now that all the concerns have been addressed and you have a solid animal-assisted activities (AAA) program design, you may be wondering just
how a therapy dog can really assist in the goals and ...purpose of a solutionfocused therapist or agency. This chapter explores how a therapy dog team
can have a skillful impact on the treatment environment, thereby paving
the way and lightening the load for a therapist to effectively engage and
work with clients.
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