Welcome to the 2022 ATRA Virtual Conference!
The virtual conference is uniquely different from the face-to-face conference being held in Birmingham AL September 10 - 13, 2022. Attendees registered for the face-to-face conference also receive access to the virtual conference. Individuals interested in the virtual conference may register separately for just the virtual conference. To register, go to https://www.atra-online.com/page/ACON2022
Best Practices in Animal-Assisted Interventions
Session Description/Research Abstract
As animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are implemented in professional settings at higher rates than ever before, more best practices for working with therapy animals are emerging to protect all involved. Organizational data from one of the largest therapy animal organizations in the world will be presented along with recent findings in the literature related to AAI. This information will set the stage for a discussion on standards of practice that should be integrated when working with therapy animals, whether a professional partners with their own pet or works with volunteer teams to deliver their services.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to differentiate between the key terminology in the AAI field, including: animal-assisted interventions, therapy animal, service animal, and emotional support animal.
Participants will be able to identify the key steps that must be taken to prepare clients and fellow colleagues for the provision of AAI.
Participants will be learn how to utilize behavior charts and weekly assessments to ensure safe AAI that not only protects participants but upholds the highest standards of animal welfare.
Population/Setting:
All
CEUs:
0.1
Primary Presenter
Taylor Chastain Griffin, PhD, Pet Partners/AAAIP
Credentials
PhD
Biographical Information
In her role as National Director of AAI Advancement for Pet Partners and Executive Director of the Association for Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals, Taylor Chastain Griffin, Ph.D., focuses on supporting research and professional development within the therapy animal arena. Having witnessed hundreds of interactions between her own therapy animals and the people with whom they’ve visited, Taylor is passionate about bolstering the intervention with empirical investigation. Taylor obtained her doctorate in research psychology in 2018, with her studies focusing on the human-animal bond as it is experienced in contexts of shared traumatic experiences. Through her undergraduate education in psychology and animal behavior to her graduate work to become a mental health counselor, Taylor has always strived to shape her educational and professional endeavors with the foundational goal of promoting AAI. Taylor is also a dog trainer and Pet Partners team evaluator and has been a registered handler with Pet Partners since 2015. Taylor has been secretary for the APA’s Section on Human Animal Interaction and serves as a mental health expert on the GVMA Resilience & Well-Being Committee. Taylor is based in Georgia where her family includes 6 dogs and 3 cats.
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