Chapter 25 - Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy: Guidelines for Standards, Theory, and Practice

Abstract

When animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is incorporated into occupational therapy (OT) intervention, it can be a powerful tool to support people in overcoming barriers and achieving greater health, well-being, independence, and participation in activities of everyday life. This chapter presents guidelines for standards, theory, and practice of AAT within OT treatment. An overview of the domain and process of occupational therapy, standards of practice, and theoretical frameworks is provided to describe the scope and distinct value of OT. For practitioners interested in incorporating animal-assisted therapy into their practice, it is suggested that they follow a tiered approach to education and skill development that involves resource building, preparatory phase, volunteer visiting, and then AAT. This will ensure that practitioners are knowledgeable and experienced in areas such as human–animal interactions; animal behavior, training, and handling; animal welfare and well-being; reviewing the literature for evidence-based practice; and AAT program development. Key considerations for evaluation, treatment planning, implementation, and measuring outcomes are described to guide practitioners in effectively and skillfully delivering animal-assisted therapy within occupational therapy intervention.