Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI)

Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) is now consistently used in the literature as the umbrella phase to describe any intervention that intentionally includes an animal as part of a therapeutic or ameliorative process (IAHAIO, 2014; Kruger & Serpell, 2006). Within the umbrella of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI), there are three disparate categories: Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA), Animal-Assisted Education (AAE) and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) (IAHAIO, 2013). Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA) is an informal and goal-oriented visitation conducted by a human-animal team for motivational, recreational, and/or education purposes (Fine, 2015; IAHAIO, 2014). An example of an Animal-Assisted Activity is visiting companion animals with residents in nursing homes (IAHAIO, 2014). Animal-Assisted Education (AAE) is a goal-oriented, structured, and planned intervention delivered by an educational service professional (IAHAIO, 2014). An example of an AAE would be a dog-assisted reading program delivered by a special education teacher (IAHAIO, 2014). Lastly, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-oriented, planned, and structured therapeutic intervention directed and/or delivered by education, health, and human service professionals (Fine, 2015; IAHAIO, 2014). AAT is delivered by a formally trained professional (licensure or credentials for field of practice) with the intentional inclusion of an animal in a treatment plan (Fine, 2015; IAHAIO, 2014; Nimer & Lundahl, 2007). The treatment providers guide interactions between a patient and an animal to achieve specific goals (IAHAIO, 2014). A wide variety of disciplines may incorporate AAT. Possible practitioners could include physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, certified therapeutic recreation specialists, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, or mental health professionals (Kruger & Serpell, 2006). Examples of AAT include animal-assisted psychotherapy, animal-assisted social work, animal-assisted physical therapy, and animal-assisted speech therapy (Fine, 2015). Even with the movement toward standardization of terminology, the application and delivery of AAT services vary greatly depending on the professional identity of the service provider involved, service setting, and goal of services (Fine, 2015).