Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

Book excerpt: In the 15 years since the first edition of Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy published, the field has changed considerably. The fourth edition of the Handbook highlights advances in the field, with 11 new chapters and over 40% new material. In reading this book, therapists will discover the benefits of incorporating animal-assisted therapy (AAT) into their practices, best practices in animal-assisted intervention, how to design and implement animal-assisted interventions, and the efficacy of AAT with different disorders and patient populations. Coverage includes the use of AAT with children, the elderly, those receiving palliative care, as well as people with chronic disorders, AIDS, trauma, and autistic spectrum disorders. Additional chapters cover techniques for working with families, in juvenile and criminal justice systems, and in colleges and universities. - Summarizes efficacy research on AAT - Identifies how to design and implement animal assisted interventions - Provides methods, standards, and guidelines for AAT - Discusses AAT for children, the elderly, and special populations - Describes AAT use in different settings - Includes 11 new chapters and 40% new material