Animals help to heal emotional and psychological pain of human beings. They intervene in times of crisis, grief and loss. Animal Assisted Therapy is considered one of the 21st Century Holistic Healers.

I first learned of AAT five years ago when teaching at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. One of my graduate psychology students presented a paper on AAT using a certified Rottweiler for her demonstration. I began to further research AAT and decided that our next dog would be in my life for the purpose of working with me in my psychotherapy practice and doing community service. I was ready for a new dimension in the psychotherapeutic field after working as a marriage and family therapist for over 30 years and planning to retire from university teaching. I attended a workshop in Santa Monica for therapists and AAT. I was hooked!

Duke, my Cavalier, King Charles, Spaniel was then 4 months old as we began to train as a Seeing Heart Dog. He is now three. We began training with an animal behaviorist and attended workshops on AAT. I took him with me to my offices in Los Alamitos and Irvine. My clients sign an informed consent permitting me to have Duke in our sessions. While I recognized that Duke was, no doubt, more of a confident than I was; I wanted to be sure that the client was not allergic, nor afraid of dogs. I developed a checklist for informed consent signed by the client and/or their parent. My clients were advised that I use AAT during the phone contact that scheduled their first appointment.

The difference in my client’s comfort and safety coming to therapy was immediately noticeable. Duke provided a trust level and unconditional acceptance for my clients. The following is a case example where Duke helped to provide the rapport and connection for a reluctant, depressed teenager.

Anthony, age 15, came for his first psychotherapy meeting with his mother Nancy. He sat in the waiting room with his head lowered, eyes cast down, jacket disheveled and arms folded over his chest. This tall, slight-built youngster had been referred for treatment of “depression”. His mother was completing the intake form.

The therapist stepped out of her office into the waiting room with dog co-therapist Duke on leash.

“Oh what a cute dog,” Nancy said.

“Thanks, would Anthony like to give Duke a treat?” The therapist responded.

Anthony nodded his head affirmatively. The therapist handed Anthony three treats. He kept his head down and gave Duke, who was now sitting in front of him, a treat. Then Duke shook hands and Anthony gave him another treat. Anthony began to smile when Duke proceeded to jump in his lap. Anthony then grinned from ear to ear and held his head high.

“He’s really nice. I’d like a dog like this,” Anthony said. “I can’t believe it,” said Nancy, her eyes began to tear up, “Anthony hasn’t smiled like this in months.”

In 1961, Boris Levinson, Ph.D. presented the first paper on “pet therapy,” at the APA convention. His book Pet-Orientated Child Psychotherapy was published in 1969. History dating to the 9th century documents AAT in Belgium. In 1790s the York Retreat in England had the mentally ill care for animals as part of their therapeutic treatment. In 1919, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington, D.C. began using dogs with their treatment for mental health patients. Most recently, in 2000, Aubrey Fine edited the Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy.

In 1976 Therapy Dog International [TDI] was established in Flanders, New Jersey. The following year Delta Society began in Seattle, Washington. These organizations along with Pets Are Wonderful Support [PAWS] founded in San Francisco, California, certify AAT dogs and their handlers. The K-9 must be at least one year old and the K-9 team must successfully pass the two-part test. The handler and K-9 have one million dollars liability insurance when performing their AAT services through one of the associations. Delta Society also evaluates cats, hamsters, birds, lamas and horses. I checked with my malpractice carrier indicating our AAT Delta and TDI certification and was advised that we were covered.

Duke and I are advancing our skills and training. HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response, Eugene, and Oregon recently certified us. Cindy Ehlers who worked at Ground Zero with her dog Tivka was one of the trainers. Duke and I are now one, of handful K-9 teams qualified to respond to a national disaster, crisis or other such trauma working with related rescue personnel.

My mission is to promote the use of animals as natural healers. I stress that proper training and certification are an absolute necessity for responsible psychotherapy AAT treatment.