Purdue University Press spoke with authors Linda Chassman Craddock and Ellen Kinney Winston about their new book Animal-Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Clinician’s Guide.
Q: Could you give a brief description of your book?
Our book describes the actual process of animal-assisted counseling and psychotherapy. We describe the fundamental issues that clinicians need to consider and describe how to work with a variety of different animals and with a variety of ages of clients. The dynamic relationship between clinician, client, and animal(s) can be quite complex, so we wanted to try to outline and clarify many of the areas that have not been well defined.
Q: What is the goal of your book? What motivated you to write it?
We wanted to write a book that could be a useful reference for clinicians at any stage of their career in AACP. We wanted to provide the information we believe is necessary to practice professionally and ethically.
We started our trainings and our book because there are so many clinicians who simply think having an animal in the office is conducting AACP, but the actual practice of AACP can be complex and confusing. Being able to conduct AACP that is both beneficial to the client and animal(s) is extremely important to us.
Q: What are a few things that are being studied for the first time in this book?
This is the book that everybody interested in AACP really wanted but did not know how to ask for! We provide the basics of how to provide AACP but also explore the depth of the work that can be done. It is also one of a very limited number of books that discusses how to work with a variety of animals, beyond dogs and horses.
Another unique aspect of the book is in the last section where we have outlined hundreds of interventions for different treatment goals. We wanted to give readers an idea of the creativity involved in the work and offer a starting point for them to create their own interventions with their own animal(s) and clients in mind.
Q: Is there anything that shocked or surprised you while working on this project?
We were shocked at how much information we had! We realized we had to edit it down quite a bit and now have information for several more books.
Q: Please describe the difference between animal-assisted treatment and animal-assisted support.
Animal-assisted treatment is provided by a qualified health professional, such as a licensed professional counselor, or occupational therapist. The approach requires the intentional addition of an animal (or animals) to meet a specific treatment goal. We have found that different animals are beneficial at different phases of treatment, as well as with different clients. While animal-assisted treatments may also be provided by a recreational therapist, occupational therapist, etc., our book only focuses on the mental health aspect of animal-assisted treatment.
Animal-assisted support is a more casual way of introducing animals to human to support them in non-specific ways. The “handler” of the animal is not required to be trained in any way and usually is a volunteer with their own animal.
Q: Please describe some of the ways in which animals might assist in counseling or psychotherapy.
All of the work we do is based on building healthy relationships between the client, clinician and animal(s). It is through the relationship that clients learn and can change behavior.
At the outset, including the animal in sessions allows for more flexibility surrounding where and how the session will be conducted. When an animal is included, the sessions may be more active and may take place outdoors. For instance, a session may involve a client and clinician standing with an animal nearby, while the client is attempting to do something specific with the animal, such as go for a walk to teach a trick.
One of our favorite ways that animals assist in counseling and psychotherapy is when the animal spontaneously reacts to something the client is doing or saying. A skilled clinician can incorporate the animal’s response in order to provide immediacy about what may be happening within the relationship at that moment.
Q: Your work focuses on three types of animals that assist humans. Please give us a brief overview of each type, how they differ, and why they are important.
Our work actually focuses on more than three animals! We work with many different species of animals; currently at our therapy farm we have horses, donkeys, miniature horses, alpacas, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and rats. We also have several types of insects. Each species, and each individual animal has something unique to offer clients. Some animals, such as dogs, are very friendly and accepting, while others, like our guinea pigs or rabbits, are shy and take time to earn their trust. Whether the animal is a predator or prey also distinguishes some of the ways it will engage with clients. We appreciate the prey animals who require time and trust in order to build relationships, as this is how humans are (or should be) with each other. We find that these animals require that clients find healthier ways of relating, thus allowing the client to act and then see themselves differently.
Q: What are some things practitioners need to be aware of and address to practice animal-assisted counseling and psychotherapy ethically and effectively?
AACP requires training in mental health treatment while also learning intentional ways for animals to be integrated into the process. Because treatment is based on relationships, we must always be cognizant of the welfare of the client and animal(s). And since the animals do not “speak,” the clinician must know how to monitor the animal’s consent and experience in session, while also monitoring the client’s consent and experience of the session. As they spend more time doing AACP, clinicians naturally develop a deeper sense of how their animal(s) contribute physically, emotionally, and energetically to the relationship with the client. Clinicians learn to spot subtle changes in the animal(s) that can bring light to dynamics occurring in the present.
Q: Is animal-assisted treatment limited to dogs and cats?
Absolutely not. As we noted earlier, many types of animals can become good therapy partners. But the animals need to want and enjoy being involved in sessions.
We only work with domesticated animals and do not advocate working with animals that have not yet reached the evolutionary stage where they are comfortable around humans.
Q: Are there specific situations in which a certain animal is more or less effective?
We have found that different animals are effective with clients depending on the client’s age, presenting issues, stage in therapy, and other factors. It is a very individual decision but certainly some animals work better with some clients.
Many of our clients have come to us because they have previously been in more traditional talk therapy with limited success. We also have many children, teens, and reluctant clients who are motivated to attend therapy because of the relationships they develop with the animals. We also find that some clients have little interest in the animals but enjoy other experiential forms of therapy which we also provide, such as nature-based work. Whether or not to include the animal(s) is a choice made by the clinician, client and animal(s). Sometimes, one of more of those declines to participate.
Q: What is a good way for a clinician to determine whether animal-assisted therapy might be effective and/or what animal might be most helpful?
If a client has a natural affinity or comfort with animals or can benefit from a more experiential form of therapy, then AACP may be helpful. We are challenging some conceptions about psychotherapy by allowing and encouraging the therapeutic process to be enjoyable, fun, and active.
As mentioned above, as a clinician gets to know a client and their reasons for seeking therapy, the clinician can choose certain animals to integrate into sessions based on the client’s goals, relational style, and interests.
A well-trained clinician will be able to foster the kind of relationships needed for the client to grow and ideally, this allows the animal to grow as well.
You can get 30% off Animal-Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Clinician’s Guide and any other Purdue University Press publication by ordering from our website and using the code PURDUE30 at checkout.