Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ Is for All Professions – A blogpost by Cyndie Kieffer
The principles and practices of Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ are applicable to a wide range of professions – mental health, allied health, and education, among others, and for a variety of client populations. It takes a solid understanding of AAPT and one’s own work, and then some creativity to think outside the box sometimes. In this blogpost, Cyndie Kieffer, LCSW, CPP-AAPT, CAAPT-I discusses how she incorporated AAPT into her non-traditional work situations and interviews professionals from other professions about their views.
Read MoreProfessional Decision Making in Animal Assisted Play Therapy™: How the Goodness-of-Fit Model Impacts Practice
Decision-making in Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ and Animal Assisted Therapy practice is a complex process. Not only must practitioners know how to intervene to meet client goals, they must consider and advocate for the needs of the animals. Other factors play a role in determining what an actual intervention, lesson, or session might look like, also. This blogpost considers four aspects that are forefront in the minds of professionals using AAPT in their work.
Read MoreAdapting to Adoption: Appreciating What Our Dogs Must Learn
When dogs are adopted from a shelter, rescue, or other caretaking situation, they have an enormous amount to learn as they adapt to their new environment. We sometimes take that for granted and develop unrealistic expectations of them as a result. As we give them space and time to adjust, we can observe the situation from their viewpoint and alter our own expectations and actions to better help them feel comfortable in their new homes.
Read MoreThe Distinctiveness of Animal Assisted Play Therapy™
This article explores the unique features that comprise Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ as it was created and developed by Dr. Risë VanFleet (USA) and Tracie Faa-Thompson (UK). There are distinct differences with many other forms of Animal Assisted Intervention, and some of these distinctions are described here.
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