Considerations for Utilizing Animal Assisted Therapy in Pediatric Practice

Animal assisted therapy is a growing therapy tool often sensationalized by the misunderstood human-animal relationship and the perceived health benefits. Evidence defines this relationship as "biophilia" or an emotional connection to another living thing and attachment or the bidirectional connection between human and animal (Hoagwood, et al., 2017). In a systematic review the evidence shows positive outcomes for use of animal assisted therapy within the pediatric population (Hoagwood, et al., 2017). However, caution must be taken in choosing wisely for the following: the animal, the training, the certification, and the therapeutic use of the animal (Antonucci, 2022). This course will guide you in clearing up the cloud of confusion around what is and is not animal assisted therapy and which animals are useful in therapeutic practice with children. The participant will be able to discern if animal assisted therapy isright for their pediatric practice and you will receive valuable resources for training, certification, and use of your therapy animal. This includes meeting a therapy dog and seeing demonstrations of how he is used in practice.

Highlights

• Clarify misconceptions about animal assisted therapy-what it is and is not
• How to integrate animal assisted therapy in the pediatric practice setting
• Using animal assisted therapy to support improved outcomes, increased goal attainment, and improved motivation for therapy compliance

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists