Even before clarifying the specific practices of the animal-assisted therapist profession, it is important to specify the qualifications for such a professional.
An animal-assisted therapist is a professional trained in the field of animal-assisted therapy, with access to a membership number from the Quebec Animal-Assisted Therapists Corporation. This corporation aims to regulate and supervise the practice of animal-assisted therapy through a code of ethics, ensuring the public receives quality services from its members. The therapist must have up-to-date insurance and possess animals carefully selected and trained for this purpose.
First, animal-assisted therapy is a form of alternative therapy that uses animals as working partners, aiming to help individuals with specific difficulties. Memory, attention, language difficulties, fine motor skills, concept integration, self-awareness, and the development of healthy social relationships are just some of the elements that can be improved through animal-assisted therapy. The therapist works in collaboration with the treatment team and the patient’s family to fully understand the individual’s overall situation. Then, after assessing the patient’s specific needs, the therapist establishes concrete therapeutic objectives to improve the assisted person’s situation, while selecting the animal best suited to the present difficulties. They ensure the smooth running of sessions and monitor the patient’s progress by writing reports.
The animal-assisted therapist is also called upon to conduct animal-assisted activities. This type of animal presence is simply intended to entertain and benefit a group of people, whether or not they have a health issue. The goal of these sessions is to provide well-being (entertainment, relaxation, stimulation, warm presence) through the animal’s presence. Animal-assisted activities are much less rigorous than animal-assisted therapy and require no follow-up. The time spent with each person is not sufficient to be considered therapy. The support is short-term, and interaction between the facilitator, the person, and the animal is limited. The aim is to allow the greatest number of people present to benefit from the animal’s presence.
Ultimately, whether in the form of therapy or activities, the main goal is to allow as many people as possible to benefit from the benefits that animal presence brings.
Next time, we’ll see if owning a pet at home can be called animal-assisted therapy. Food for thought!
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