Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies

The Center for Counseling Practice, Policy, and Research | 703-823-9800 x324

Competencies for Counseling

Developed in collaboration with the Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Interest Network of

the American Counseling Association

Based on the ﬁndings of a qualitative investigation of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of

competent animal-assisted therapy practitioners

Authors

Leslie A. Stewart,

Catherine Y. Chang,

Lindy K. Parker,

and Natalie Grubbs

Major Contributors

Amy Johnson

and Laura Bruneau

Table of Contents

Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 2

Background and Current Issues .......................................................................................................... 2

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies Framework .................................................3

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling (AATC) Competencies ........................................................4

References ...........................................................................................................................................8

Citation

Stewart, L. A., Chang, C. Y., Parker, L. K., & Grubbs, N. (2016). Animal-assisted therapy in counseling competencies.

Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association, Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Interest Network.

Idaho State University; correspondence may be sent to [email protected].

Georgia State University.

Oakland University.

Adams State University.

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 2

Overview

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is deﬁned as a goal-directed intervention, delivered by an appropriately credentialed

health or human service professional, in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical health

care treatment process and utilized during counseling sessions (Pet Partners, n.d.). Animal-assisted therapy in

counseling (AATC) is deﬁned as the incorporation of specially trained and evaluated animals as therapeutic agents

into the counseling process, whereby professional counselors use the human–animal bond as part of the treatment

process (Chandler, 2012). AATC shares certain commonalities with AAT, such as the inclusion of a specially trained

and evaluated therapy animal, an appropriately credentialed health or human services provider, and clearly deﬁned

goals for treatment; however, the application and delivery of AAT interventions vary greatly depending on the

professional identity of the health or human service provider involved (e.g., physical therapist, nurse, physician,

mental health professional). Thus, AATC represents an evolving subspecialty within the ﬁeld of AAT, which is unique

to mental health professionals, such as professional counselors, counseling psychologists, and clinical social workers

(Stewart, Chang, & Rice, 2013).

When implemented with the appropriate education and training, AATC has the potential to affect the therapeutic

experience of a diverse range of clients across a wide variety of settings in a highly positive manner (Chandler, 2012;

Chandler, Portrie-Bethke, Barrio Minton, Fernando, & O’Callaghan, 2010; Fine, 2015). A number of beneﬁts to the

therapeutic process are associated with AATC, including facilitating and enhancing the therapeutic alliance (Chandler,

2012; Fine, 2015; Wesley, Minatrea, & Watson, 2009), decreasing the need for language in therapy (Fine, 2015),

increasing client disclosure (Reichert, 1998), and providing pivotal therapeutic experiences for survivors of trauma

(Reichert, 1998; Yorke, Adams, & Coady, 2008). AATC is growing in use and popularity, and the empirical support for its

efﬁcacy is steadily increasing (Stewart, Chang, & Jaynes, 2013). The intervention’s broad and ﬂexible applicability and

positive impact on the therapeutic process make it an attractive and valuable treatment option for many professional

counselors. Thus, the popularity and prevalence of this approach in the profession of counseling are likely to continue

growing. If professional counselors are to provide this intervention ethically and effectively, specialized knowledge and

training are necessary.

Background and Current Issues

In addition to demonstrating professional competencies in areas essential to general counseling, ethical professional

counselors demonstrate competency in specialty areas (Myers, 1992). With regard to specialty areas, the ACA Code

of Ethics (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014) clearly states, “Counselors practice in specialty areas

new to them only after appropriate education, training, and supervised experience. While developing skills in new

specialty areas, counselors take steps to ensure the competence of their work and to protect others from possible harm”

(Standard C.2.b.). AATC is an evolving ﬁeld of specialized skills and competencies that allows professional counselors

to incorporate specially trained animals into the counseling process. Together, the mental health professional and

the therapy animal inﬂuence the therapeutic process in ways that are beyond the scope of traditional counselor–

client helping relationships. However, there is currently no deﬁnition of counseling-speciﬁc competencies to guide

practitioners in this specialty area.

To address this gap, we recruited experts in the area of AATC (N = 20) to participate in a grounded theory investigation

of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of competent AATC providers (Stewart, 2014). The participants of this

study represented a wide variety of mental health professional identities, practice settings, client populations, and

choice of therapy animal species. All participants were invited to review and provide feedback on the themes and

subthemes that we identiﬁed. On the basis of the themes and subthemes that emerged from the data, we constructed a

theoretical framework that represents competencies in AATC.

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 3

Using this theoretical framework, we propose nine important competency areas for professional counselors using

AATC. These competency areas are divided into three domains—knowledge, skills, and attitudes—in accordance with

the competency framework (see Figure 1; Myers & Sweeney, 1990). Professional counselors practicing AATC are advised

to be familiar with all areas in which the counselors are involved in their practice of AATC. These domains, competency

areas, and supporting subthemes are represented in this document. This document is intended to address the clear call

for such standards of competence by many researchers and experienced practitioners of AATC.

These competencies are intended to apply only to counselors who incorporate their own animals into the counseling

sessions and therapy. The competencies are not intended to apply (a) when a counselor has a pet with whom the client

is permitted to casually interact at the ofﬁce; (b) when a counselor suggests that a client consider adopting an animal/

pet for companionship; or (c) when a counselor authorizes or prescribes a service animal to her or his client, which

should be covered under the existing ACA practice standards.

FIGURE 1

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling (AATC) Competencies Framework

Note. Adapted from Competencies in Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling: A Qualitative Investigation of the Knowledge, Skills and Atti-

tudes Required of Competent Animal Assisted Therapy Practitioners (p. 66), by L. A. Stewart. Retrieved from: http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/

Knowledge

• FormalAATC

training

• In-depthanimal

knowledge

• Knowledgeof

existing ethical

requirements

Skills

• Masteryofbasic

counseling skills

• Intentionality

• Specializedskill

set

Attitudes

• Animaladvocacy

• Professional

development

• Professionalvalues

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 4

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling (AATC) Competencies

A. Knowledge

1. Formal AATC training. Providers of AATC are expected to acquire AATC-speciﬁc training, assessment, and

supervision, including:

a. Successful completion of formal evaluative course work, to include:

i. Evaluation of animal knowledge, including:

1. Knowledge of how animals are incorporated in therapeutic settings

2. Ability to work effectively as a team with a therapy animal

ii. Evaluation of AATC knowledge, including:

1. AATC professional identity

2. History of AATC

3. Literature and evidence-based practice of AATC

b. Knowledge of AATC-speciﬁc counseling techniques and principles, including implications for speciﬁc

presenting concerns and client populations

c. Understanding of the relevant aspects of the human–animal bond, including:

i. Physiological and neurological impact of human–animal interaction

ii. Awareness that human–animal interaction can elicit unexpected vulnerability and disclosure in others

iii. Impact of the human–animal bond on the therapeutic process, including advantages, limitations, and

contraindications

d. Participation in supervised professional practice, including:

i. Applied experience under the supervision of an appropriately qualiﬁed AATC provider to supplement

didactic knowledge

ii. Feedback and assessment of AATC skills by a supervisor

2. In-depth animal knowledge. Providers of AATC are knowledgeable about their therapy animal on an individual,

breed, and species level, including:

a. Adequate, species-speciﬁc ethological knowledge about the selected therapy animal(s), including:

i. Physiology, behavior, and history

ii. Care and husbandry

iii. Understandings that knowledge about one particular species is not necessarily generalizable to other

species

iv. Limitations on the utility of using animals and selecting speciﬁc animals in client situations

b. Knowledge of the importance of animal training techniques, including:

i. Ability to apply positive, noncoercive training methods

ii. Ability to ensure that the animal is trained for the counseling environments and situations in which it

is working

iii. Ability to detect and, as necessary, arrange to facilitate the animal’s socialization, desensitization, and comfort

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 5

c. Establishment and maintenance of a strong working relationship with the therapy animal(s), to include:

i. Knowledge of triggers to stress

ii. Ability to educate others about the animal’s triggers

iii. Ability to recognize and apply effective calming interventions to a stressed therapy animal

3. Knowledge of existing ethical requirements. Providers of AATC demonstrate integrated ethics. Thus, competent

providers of AATC are aware of AATC-speciﬁc ethical considerations and are able to incorporate AATC practice

within the ACA Code of Ethics, with actions that include:

a. Ability to recognize and discuss the ethical implications of AATC, including:

i. Assessing the suitability and amenability of each client to this type of counseling

ii. Informing clients of the purpose of AATC

iii. Discussing and addressing potential safety issues

iv. Maintaining respect for the animal(s), the client(s), and the therapeutic process

v. Being aware of the provider’s personal biases, including the impact of the provider’s emotional bond

with the animal and its impact on the therapeutic process

b. Ability to understand the social and cultural factors relevant to AATC and multicultural implications of

AATC, including:

i. Respecting the attitudes of others, particularly those concerned with the animal’s presence

ii. Understanding that human–animal interaction may hold different meanings across a variety of

cultures

c. Ability to maximize the potential for safe interactions between clients and animals, including:

i. Infection prevention/control and consideration of other zoonotic agents

ii. Considerations for allergies, phobias, past history of animal abuse, and past history of animal-related

trauma

d. Effective risk-management strategies and skills, including:

i. Knowledge of liability issues related to AATC

ii. Knowledge of legal issues associated with AATC

iii. Inclusion of appropriate documentation procedures

iv. Conﬁrmation of personal and professional insurance coverage for AATC

B. Skills

1. Mastery of basic counseling skills. Competent providers of AATC demonstrate competency in general counseling

skills prior to integrating AATC interventions. AATC is practiced only within the boundaries of a provider’s

professional scope of practice.

a. Counselors are expected to effectively integrate AATC into their personal model of counseling.

b. Counselors are expected to demonstrate counseling effectiveness without the integration of a therapy

animal

c. Counselors are expected to recognize

that AATC is used to enhance the therapeutic process rather than as a

stand-alone intervention

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 6

2. Intentionality. Competent providers of AATC demonstrate intentional incorporation of AATC into the counseling

relationship, plan, and process. Providers are able to demonstrate:

a. Knowledge that AATC is a skillful intervention and that AATC is:

i. More than owning/loving animals

ii. More than simply including an animal in the counseling setting

b. Knowledge and integration of theory-based interventions, including:

i. Ability to articulate the role of AATC within a provider’s personal theoretical approach or personal

model of counseling

ii. Understanding of the goals of AATC interventions

iii. Awareness of the validity of the AATC interventions being used

c. Skillful selections and assessment of AATC intervention strategies, including:

i. Selection of appropriate interventions and strategies for each client, in each session, based on

treatment goals

ii. Ability to assess the outcome of AATC interventions

3. Specialized skill set. Competent providers of AATC recognize that AATC is a specialty area with a learned and

practiced skill set. Competent AATC providers demonstrate specialized skills and abilities that are appropriate to

the specialty area of AATC, including:

a. Ability to understand the experiential nature of AATC interventions and demonstrate skill in spontaneous

situations

b. Ability to attend to/care for the client(s) and therapy animal(s) simultaneously by demonstrating:

i. Effective judgment when assessing the session’s impact on the therapy animal(s)

ii. Effective judgment when assessing the session’s impact on the client(s)

iii. Effective judgment when assessing the session’s impact on volunteers/assistants/paraprofessionals (if

applicable)

c. Ability to assess, interpret, and utilize the animal’s responses in a therapeutically meaningful way, including:

i. Ability to link animal–client interactions to client behaviors, goals, or conceptualization

ii. Willingness to allow natural client–animal interactions to occur

iii. Ability to link unexpected events or interactions to client goals or presenting concerns

iv. Ability to model appropriate, respectful, and empathetic animal care

d. Ability to prevent and respond to animal stress, fatigue, and burnout

i. Ability to immediately address unexpected animal stress and proactively plan stress-relief and stress-

prevention strategies for the animal(s)

ii. Ability to identify and respond to the animal’s signals and body language, especially when the animal

does not want to interact

iii. Ability to provide for the animal’s needs, both at the site and in general, including:

1. Attending to the animal’s access to water, a quiet rest/retreat area, and regular bathroom breaks

2. Attending to the animal’s overall wellness through appropriate provision of quality nutrition,

exercise, grooming, and veterinary care

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 7

e. Ability to objectively assess an animal’s suitability, strengths, and limitations despite the provider’s potential

emotional bond with or personal bias toward the animal

i. Ability to identify and address personal biases toward the therapy animal(s), including:

1. Awareness of transference/countertransference considerations related to AATC interventions

2. Objective assessment of an animal’s suitability for AATC in general

3. Objective assessment of an animal’s suitability for each AATC session on an individual basis

ii. Ability to identify and address personal biases toward AATC interventions in general

f. Ability to attain and maintain compliance with applicable legal requirements for registration, care, and

inoculation of the animals used for AATC

C. Attitudes

1. Animal advocacy. Competent providers of AATC prioritize their responsibility to animals involved in AATC and

demonstrate that they are effective animal advocates by:

a. Understanding that the animal(s) involved in AATC is (are) the provider’s responsibility, including:

i. Understanding how and why animal welfare and advocacy directly affect client safety

ii. Understanding how and why animal welfare and advocacy are essential to the ethical practice of AATC

b. Respecting animal rights and animal welfare, including:

i. Recognizing that animals have a right to choose their level of participation in AATC

ii. Recognizing the potential for animal exploitation, either accidentally or intentionally

2. Professional development. Competent providers of AATC continue the development of their AATC skills by:

a. Active involvement in continuing education and engagement in professional development, including:

i. Regular consultation and collaboration with other AATC providers

ii. Regular consultation and collaboration with professional animal specialists

b. Familiarity with existing and emerging AATC literature, including:

i. Familiarity with current AATC language/terminology

ii. Encouragement and support for the continued development of AATC literature

3. Professional values. Competent providers of AATC strive toward AATC-speciﬁc professional values, including:

a. Demonstrating enthusiasm and passion for AATC

b. Demonstrating ﬂexibility, openness, and creativity

c. Demonstrating a calm demeanor during unexpected events/situations

d. Demonstrating empathy for humans and animals

e. Demonstrating a willingness to embrace the experiential nature of AATC by being cognitively present and

responsive to ever-changing situational factors

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling Competencies | 8

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