What is Animal Assisted Therapy and How Does It Support Your Child?

If you’ve ever had the chance to witness an occupational or speech therapy session where an animal was skillfully involved, you know about the magic that can happen.

This method, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), is a growing field associated with research-backed benefits in emotional regulation, social exploration, communication, and functional skill development. At Blume, we have begun incorporating AAT through partnering with a specially trained facility dog named Cordelia, and we’re excited to share what AAT is and how it supports meaningful participation in sessions.

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention that targets skill development in an individual or in a group where an animal is an integral part of the session. AAT is used by a variety of healthcare professionals, such as occupational and speech therapists, by incorporating an animal into treatments within their scope of practice (Andreasen et al., 2017). For our purposes, we’ll explore how AAT is applied when a handler is partnered with a facility dog. 

What are the Different Types of Assistance Dogs?

It’s important to understand how different types of working dogs are classified. Service dogs and facility dogs can be trained by organizations that are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), which is widely considered to be the gold-standard for developing working dogs.

Broadly speaking, there are several different types of assistance dogs:

• Service dogs work one-on-one with an individual to perform a wide variety of tasks that increase independence.

• Facility dogs are specially trained to work in a professional setting, such as a clinic. ADI-certified facility dogs and their handlers are trained to the same standards as ADI-certified service dogs. They have public access only within the facilities where they work. Cordelia, Blume's facility dog, underwent an extensive, specialized two-year training program through Canine Companions, during which she learned over 40 skills. Facility dogs are handled only by facilitators (handlers) who have completed a full-time, two-week training program with both written and practical testing. 

• Therapy dogs are pet dogs trained to provide comfort to numerous individuals in community settings, such as schools, libraries, or hospitals. Therapy dog owners often volunteer their time to visit facilities. Therapy dogs do not have the same public access rights or training as service dogs and facility dogs. 

• Emotional support dogs are considered companion animals that provide emotional support to an individual simply through their presence. They do not receive the same training as service or facility dogs and do not have the same rights to public access or training as service dogs and facility dogs. 

  
  

What are the Benefits of AAT?

There are numerous benefits associated with the incorporation of a facility dog into occupational and speech therapy sessions, including:

• Motivation and engagement: A facility dog can increase meaningful participation and enthusiasm in skill-building activities.

• Emotional regulation: Interactions with a facility dog can reduce stress, anxiety, and dysregulation. Research has shown that petting an animal can help to lower blood pressure and heart rate while increasing oxytocin.

• Communication: Facility dogs naturally promote communication and social exploration.

• Sensory support: Gentle touch, deep pressure, and other sensory input from interacting with a facility dog can support sensory processing development.

• Skill development: Activities such as brushing, feeding, or participating in obstacle courses can strengthen fine motor, gross motor, and executive functioning skills. 

• Language development: Talking to or about a facility dog creates natural opportunities to practice expressive language, articulation, and vocabulary.

• Relationship building: Interacting with a facility dog can support the rapport and trust-building process between the client and practitioner.

• Well-being: Interactions with a facility dog can make sessions more joyful and positive, encouraging consistent attendance and carryover of skill development in the home setting.

Who Can Benefit from AAT?

Animal assisted therapy can benefit individuals with a wide range of needs, including those who benefit from support with fine motor, visual motor, gross motor, communication, regulation, executive functioning, and sensory processing skills. Many kids and teens may find that working with an animal makes their sessions feel more engaging and joyful. 

That said, AAT isn’t a good fit for everyone. Some clients may be fearful of dogs, have allergies, or simply prefer to engage in other activities. In these cases, OTs and SLPs will implement alternative strategies to support engagement and therapeutic progress. The decision to involve AAT is always guided by the child’s needs, comfort level, preferences, and goals. 

Animal assisted therapy offers meaningful opportunities to support client motivation, engagement, regulation, and skill development, making therapy more effective and engaging. 

References

Andreasen, G., Stella, T., Wilkison, M., Szczech Moser, C., Hoelzel, A., & Hendricks, L. (2017). Animal-assisted therapy and occupational therapy. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 10(1), 1-17.

ADI Terms & Definitions. (n.d.). Assistance Dogs International. https://assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/adi-terms-definitions/