Have you met the therapy dogs who, with their handlers, are here for us during Finals Week? Are you writing a paper or presentation on animal-assisted therapy (AAT)? Are you a Human Services student looking to explore this kind of therapy? We have added two important books to our collection on this topic. Both are well-established science books with loads of case studies, literature reviews including new neurological research, and sample protocols. These are introductory texts that explain the evidence and science behind AAT and should be helpful to anyone interested in how interventions with animals work. They are ready for check out now.

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling

Third edition. By Cynthia K. Chandler.
Call Number: RC489.P47 C48 2017
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“New to this edition is discussion of the human-animal relational theory … Consistent with previous editions, a variety of animal-assisted interventions are described with case examples provided in a variety of settings with different types of animals … an indispensable guide for any counselor or psychotherapist looking to develop and implement AAT techniques in practice.”

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions

Fourth edition. Edited by Aubrey H. Fine.
Call Number: RM931 .A65 H36 2015
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“The fourth edition of the Handbook highlights advances in the field … with over 40% new material. In reading this book, therapists will discover the benefits of incorporating animal-assisted therapy into their practices, best practices in animal assisted intervention, how to design and implement animal-assisted interventions, and the efficacy of AAT with different disorders and patient populations. Coverage includes the use of AAT with children, the elderly, those receiving palliative care, as well as people with chronic disorders, AIDS, trauma, and autistic spectrum disorders. Additional chapters cover techniques for working with families, in juvenile and criminal justice systems, and in colleges and universities.” The chapters are written by practitioners and researchers with particular expertise on each subtopic.