Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that strategically incorporates the child-animal interaction into the therapy process. Goal-directed interventions are utilized in the treatment process to coincide with treatment plan goals.
Potential Benefits of AAT:
- Increased Self-Regulation
- Increased Problem-Solving Skills
- Reduction of Anxiety and/or Depression
- Ability to Assist in Grief/Loss Issues
- Increased Self-Confidence
- Increased Ability to Recognize Emotions
- Improvement in Communication
- Positive Relationship Development
- Development of Social-Emotional Thinking Skills
- Improvement in Cooperation and Motivation
- Building Rapport and Trust
- Increase in Attention & Impulse Control
I incorporate AAT into my sessions after discussing the benefits and potential risks with families. My therapy dog, Kylo, loves coming to the clinic. His favorite games to play with the kids are “pass” with a ball and “hide and seek” (with toys/treats). His absolute favorite part of being a therapy dog is definitely the getting ALL the pets and love.
Kylo is a three-year-old male miniature bernedoodle, and he weighs ~40 pounds. He is American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (AKC CGC) certified, a certified Emotional Support Animal (ESA), as well as a certified therapy dog through The Lincolnshire Animal Hospital Pet Therapy Group (LAHPTG). He is hypoallergenic and has a very gentle demeanor. For more information on AAT or Kylo, connect with me below.
Taylor Johnson Therapy, PLLC 