Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy uses animals, and dogs in particular, to improve cognitive and emotional functioning. Animals help to build a report between the therapist and the patient, and can include domesticated pets and farm animals.

During the first stages of animal-assisted therapy, the therapist will assess the client's needs without animals present. The animal is only introduced once the therapist has developed a treatment plan.

The next stage involves a bond being developed between the client and the animal through motor skills. The animals are used to motivate the client, and to create positive interactions that can be translated into human interaction.

The therapist will monitor improvement and once a positive interaction is established between the client and the animal, the client is given independence in making choices for their partner in Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) therapy.

If you are looking for a counsellor who offers Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Rosanne Johnson

M.A., RCC
  As a counsellor, Rosanne offers therapy to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Greater Vancouver and Burnaby. She understands how important it is for these populations to have a... Read more

dean diamond

M.Ed., CCC
    • Online booking
I am a Nature Guided Focusing Oriented Therapist, Sandplay Therapy Intern, and Canadian Certified Counsellor with a Master’s of Education in Disability Studies.  I offer embodied and experiential forms of... Read more

Salley-Ann Ross

M.A., RCC
Salley-Ann sees the potential in every person; whether it is working with families through divorce, parenting issues, children, youth, trauma, anger, grief or mental health issues. She believes that the road to... Read more