This book brings the animal into the scholarly discussion of animal-assisted therapy and other interventions. Challenging the current reliance on outcome studies, the author offers a new way of thinking empirically about animal-assisted interventionsanalysis of human-animal interaction as a critical component. Through empirical demonstrations from laboratory and applied settings, the book encourages practitioners and scholars to undergo a deeper examination of the basic interactions that occur between clients or patients and therapy animals. Dr. Fournier provides new ideas on measurement, experimentation, and interpretation of human-animal interaction, aimed at identifying the role of the animal in interventions for human health and well-being.

Promotes the use of empirical methods in animal practices with a specific focus on animal-assisted intervention Introduces a conceptual model to organize and explain animal-assisted intervention outcomes Centers around deep analysis of the human-animal interaction and the animal's role within animal-assisted interventions

Autorentext

Angela K. Fournier is Professor of Psychology in the College of Individual and Community Health at Bemidji State University, USA. She is a licensed psychologist and certified mental-health specialist in equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Human-Animal Interaction Analysis.- Chapter 3: HAI Dose in Animal-Assisted Intervention.- Chapter 4: Animals as Anodyne.- Chapter 5: Animals as Intervention Agents.- Chapter 6: Studying Animal-Assisted Intervention Through Citizen Science.- Chapter 7: Toward Empirical Thinking and Creative Inquiry.