Chair: Angela Fournier
This symposium is designed to fuel a discussion on the theoretical underpinnings of animal-assisted psychotherapy. Two individual presentations will provide information on animal-assisted psychotherapy from different perspectives (i.e., mental health professional, animal specialist), and across specific species. Presenters will discuss education and training, animal characteristics, and measures of treatment progress. We will then propose a theory on animal-assisted psychotherapy, incorporating the multiple perspectives. Data supporting the theory will be presented. We will end with questions and discussion from the audience.
This 1 hour 20 minute symposium will include several speakers, and time for general discussions. Details of the individual presentations are provided below.
Mental Health Perspective
Elizabeth Letson & Jennifer Laitala
This presentation will discuss animal-assisted psychotherapy from the mental health perspective, sharing information on training, animal characteristics and roles, and outcome measures.
Animal Specialist Perspective
Jennifer Laitala
This presentation will discuss equine-assisted psychotherapy from the perspective of the equine specialist, sharing information on training and horse characteristics and roles.
Research and Theory on Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy
Dr Angela Fournier
In this presentation, a theory will be proposed, explaining the animal-assisted psychotherapy process. The theory describes animals’ roles in interventions from these perspectives. Data from empirical investigations of the theory will be discussed.