Abstract
This paper reviews the use of Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) to effectively treat individuals experiencing symptoms of depression. This paper discusses the symptoms of depression, the process and techniques of AAA and AAT, and the effectiveness of AAA and AAT in reducing depressive symptoms. It also describes the differences between AAA and AAT and how these techniques can be used individually or in combination with more traditional forms of treatment for depression. An extensive review of literature is provided in this paper with the final section discussing limitations of research and suggestions for future research is this field of study. This paper concludes that there are several reasons for mental health professionals to consider incorporating the use of AAA and AAT in to their practice to enhance the therapeutic experience and implement skills that are beneficial to individuals and society as whole.
Date of Award
12-1-2016
Document Type
Capstone Paper
Department
Counselor Education
Recommended Citation
Hauser, Alexis J., "The Effectiveness of Animal Assisted Activity and Animal Assisted Therapy in Reducing Symptoms of Depression" (2016). Counselor Education Capstones. 58.
https://openriver.winona.edu/counseloreducationcapstones/58
Unique Identifier
wsucedcap0000058
Rights
Educational use only. All copyright protections apply.
