Christina Strayer Thornton – Animal-Assisted Interventions

Do you need an intervention that builds trust with clients? Animals can help bridge the trust gap, and speed up the therapeutic alliance.

Christina Strayer Thornton – Animal-Assist Interventions

A Brief Overview

• Human-Emotional bond between animals
• Service animal vs. animal for therapy
• Animal-Animal assisted therapy vs. assisted treatment-Assistive activities
• Handler vs. the therapist

Mindfulness in Animals and Human Brains

• Neuroscience of the Human-Animal bond
• Why zebras don’t get ulcers
• Animal-Assistance without the need for an animal

The Legal Landscape

• Four federal laws have an effect on animals-Assistive interventions
• Client rights and when an animal should not be involved
• Informed consent

Do you have evidence?-Based Interventions Treatment Goals/Outcomes

• PTSD, Trauma and Anxiety.
  • Tapping technique via petting
  • Relax and calm your mind with breathing techniques
  • Empower yourself-efficacy
  • Socialization should be increased
  • Motivation and goal setting can be improved
  • Mindfulness exercises with animals
• Attachment Disorders and Conduct Disorder
  • Strategies to strengthen and build trust in the therapeutic alliance
  • Structured play for sharing emotions/cognitions
  • Identifying with therapy animal’s narrative
  • To establish norms of behavior, animal commands must be used
  • Interventions They provide emotional support and improve quality of life
• Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
  • Role playing and talking with the therapy dog can help you develop social skills
  • Animals are mirrors of our internal states
  • Increase sensory sensitivity with AAT
  • Client confidence will increase
  • Animals facilitating relaxation strategies
  • Impulse control via body cues/narratives

Combining AAT with other evidence-Based Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• Solution Focused Therapy (SFT),
• Gestalt Therapy

Animal Components-Assisted Intervention

• Protocol for introducing an animal or client
• Interaction techniques between client and animal
• Secure liability insurance, documentation, and closure

You can become an animal-Assisted Therapist

• Animal qualifications/characteristics and choosing your therapy animal
• Tools to assess therapy animal’s temperament, limitations and stress levels
• K-9 AAT training and certification programs
• Your therapy animal can be a support system for compassion fatigue
• Telemental Health: Integrate your animal via distance video-conferencing

Would you like a gift? Christina Strayer Thornton – Animal-Assisted Interventions ?

Description:

• Neuroscience for the human-Emotional bond between animals
• Combining AAT and other evidence-The use of based therapies
• Interventions The treatment and goals for:
  • Depression, anxiety, and PTSD
  • Attachment disorders, trauma, and conduct disorder
• Telemental Health and ATT

Do you need an intervention that builds trust with clients? Animals can help bridge the trust gap, and speed up the therapeutic alliance.

Join Christina Strayer, Ed.D., LPC. CCTP. AAT. DCC. and learn about animals-You can use assisted therapy to help clients with attachment disorders, trauma and anxiety, depression, PTSD and conduct disorder. Specific examples of animal therapy will be provided.-Therapy goals and strategies that are supported by:

• Encourage social interaction, trust, safety and security through the development of friendships
• Reduce hyperarousal, impulse control, and dysregulation
• Empower yourself-Quality of life and efficacy
• Encourage motivation and goal setting
• Enhance your communication and empathy skills.

The seminar will also include the most recent research results, as well as solid foundational knowledge about human behavior.-Animal emotional bond and up-To-date information about relevant laws. Additionally, you will find very practical information and resources that can help you implement your animal.-Assistance in Interventions