My Start with AAT or Animal Assisted Therapy

Counseling and Dogs
My start with AAT or Animal Assisted Therapy

Last year, in the middle of planning for just the right stud dog for my gal, Stella, for breeding, I was talking to Jan, a stud dog owner in CA who asked what kind of work I did. When I replied: “I work as a Clinical Social Worker in private practice,” Jan stated that she felt very firmly, that every Psychiatrist should always have a Bernese Mountain Dog sitting at the front door! I chuckled because I knew exactly what she meant. It led me to think of the times I brought puppies and some of my dogs to my clinic and the office.

One day a college student, who was a client of mine, arrived for his appointment and was unusually calm. After the typical welcoming and greeting comments he started sobbing and told me the story of his father’s unexpected and sudden death. As coincidence happens (or maybe it was not coincidence), I had brought a couple of four week old puppies from a current litter to my office. I watched my client’s eyes as I talked to him and he continued to stare at the pups playing on the floor and then asked if he could hold one. I responded “Of course!” He picked one up and cradled it and after several minutes, he was able to talk more about his recent loss.

Patricia McConnell, PH.D., just wrote a book: For The Love Of A Dog that speaks of the emotion in people and in dogs and the remarkable similarities. There is a rising demand nationwide for visiting pets in nursing homes, hospitals, and community adult centers. I had a weekend job as a house parent for developmentally disabled and the only way I could find to get one resident up in the morning was to have my dog, Amelia, jump onto her bed. The woman would light up and yell: “Stop being such a Yahoo!” However, she would then finally get up and out of bed for the day.

In order for dogs to be involved in therapy work, it is important for us to understand that canines have emotions similar to humans and that not every dog is suited to this type of work. There is proper training, screening, and credentials dogs receive. These include AKC’s recognized Canine Good Citizen Test, and organizations such as Delta Society and Therapy Dogs International to allow special dogs for this purpose to be certified as Therapy Dogs. General Obedience training is required as well as desensitizing, acclimation, and orientation to novel experiences that the ordinary dog may never experience such as elevators, escalators, loud or unusual noises, wheel chairs, rehabilitation devices, etc.

Service dogs and Therapy dogs are not the same. Service dogs or assistance dogs “are vitally important to those people with disabilities.” This would include: dogs for the blind, hearing dogs, mobility assistance dogs, seizure alert dogs and more. Therapy dogs provide a task “by invitation.” A Service dog is entitled to be with its owner while a Therapy dog does not have a right of access. The right is associated with the person and not the dog.

When I bring my dogs to my place of work, I find a rippling effect of joy and smiles in the waiting room. More importantly I find it often; the other therapists ask me if they can borrow of the dogs for one of their sessions. When working with clientele of all ages, ranging from young to children to elderly, there is a universal common bond that dogs provide for most people. In the book: Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals this bond is spoken of. The author, Rupert Sheldrake points out “Social animals are linked to other members of their group by invisible bonds.” We can compare this truth to that of human bonds. For some reason, this statement impressed me: “The bonds between people and animals are a kind of hybrid between bonds that animals form with each other and those that people form with each other.”

Pets can help people who are bereaved. Sheldrake points out that “some of the dog owners reported that their dog was a greater source of comfort than relatives and friends.”

Pets can offer children both companionship and security. This relates to the eight year old who experienced a negative past with her alcoholic father referred to below.

Dogs in particular help people make friends. Research at Cambridge University showed that people acquiring dogs developed a greater sense of security and self esteem. One study showed that delinquent adolescents were twice as likely to talk to their pets and seek out their company when lonely or bored. A study in Baltimore, Maryland as explained by Sheldrake, the impact of pets in sixty families experienced increased closeness, spent more time playing together, and argued less.

(I always ask if the clients are allergic or afraid of dogs before utilizing them in a therapy session.) Also, I make sure that the purpose of the pup or the dog in the room has a therapeutic meaning and is not a distraction or merely convenience for me. I must confess, however, what a GREAT manner of socializing puppies. In large litters I alternate who gets to go to the office. 

“Dogs are forever in the moment. They are always a tidal wave of feelings, and every feeling is some variant of love.” (Cynthia Heimel)

In another example, I dealt with an eight year old girl, who did not trust men. Her mother divorced her abusive alcoholic father and my dogs and puppies assisted in providing a buffer for her to learn that all men are NOT like her father. She used to be confused if her mother or her family accounted men who were healthy, displaying kindness, humor, and support. The scars her father left behind were hard to overcome; however, given time, her mother informed me that she is a very different little girl with newly bolstered self-esteem and trust in others in an appropriate manner.

Change in people in counseling is achieved through forming a therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the client. It will not occur without that basic foundation. I feel the following quote is related to this sentiment:

“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better.” (George Bird Evans)

Many people mistakenly have the notion that working as a clinical therapist is an easy job that gains one lots of money. This is not the case in my opinion. An experienced and sound therapist must utilize every trick learned in graduate school, clinical internships, and consultation with other therapists, educational seminars, and experience.

“I have found that when you are deeply troubled there are things you get from the silent, devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” (Doris Day)

As a clinician, I find myself frequently using psychobabble terms such as: empathy, acceptance, companionship, emotional security, and affection. The single most important factor in a healing power whether it comes from animals or from people is unconditional love. This may very well sum up my rationale for having dogs at the work place.

(Please note that I did not elaborate on liability issues when bringing dogs to the work place. I recommend that anyone who currently or is planning on bringing their dog(s) to work explore this topic further.)

Mark J. Mohapp, MSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor

Below are links on the net that you may be interested in related to this topic:

Animal-Assisted Therapy Links…
Delta Society
Therapy Dogs International
Therapy Dogs Incorporated
Latham Foundation
Center for The Human-Animal Bond
Censhare
Green Chimneys
Prison Pet Partnership Program
Furry Friends
Therapy Dogs.Net

Recommended Readings on AAA/AAT
Therapy Dogs, Training Your Dog To Reach Others by Kathy Diamond Davis. A nice overview of the basic skills needed in a handler-dog visiting team.
Volunteering With Your Pet, How To Get Involved In Animal Assisted Therapy With Any Kind Of Pet by Mary R. Burch, Ph.D. A good, basic overview of the types of animals and settings suitable for AAA programs, and how to get started.
Handbook of Animal Assisted Therapy, Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice by Aubrey Fine. A well-researched text geared towards professionals looking to include AAT into their clinical practices.
Between Pets and People by Alan Beck and Aaron Katcher. This book is a well-written review of some of the physical, mental and social benefits to humans living with animals.
Rosie, A Visiting Dog’s Story by Stephanie Calmenson. A lovely picture book for children documenting the training of a visiting dog. Includes many nice photos of Rosie visiting with clients in a variety of settings, including children.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Award winning children’s book on how a stray dog brings a community of lonely people together. The protagonist is a little girl who has lost her mother. A touching and moving story for adults as well.

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