Customer Reviews

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy, Second Edition: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice

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This tome features a number of various case study articles on different subjects pertaing to not only animal-assisted therapy, but also to service animals (there is a significant difference). One area (service animals)is for disabled individuals who have an animal-usually a dog-to assist them. The other area is for those interested in Biophilia, how clients benefit from exposure to animals from a therapeutic stance, where handlers bring their animals into long-term facilities, and the like.
I enjoyed this book so much I loaned my copy to a psychiatrist at a neighboring mental health clinc that I know who was conducting a group. She wanted to talk to them about the benefits of service animals for those with mental and emotional disorders, but didn't have the background on the subject. This book was indispensible for her. I plan to add more volumes like it to my library.

The Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy edited by Aubrey Fine is a must have book for anyone really serious about Animal-Assisted Therapy and its incorportaion into your profession. It is well written with articles by the "who's who" professionals currently in the field of AAT. I have been waiting a long time for this book and I'm glad it's finally here! It's worth every penny you pay for it.

This book contains bonafide information to help AAT professionals in everything from forming a practice, zoonotic disease charts, guidelines for AAT in a variety of settings (hospitals, schools etc.), and with a variety of clients to Nature therapy and animal abuse issues.

Additionally, it offers information on assessment tools that can be applied to research in this area. It explains different statistical methods and how to use them.

This book is a 'must have' reference. It is encouraging to see good literature emerging in this field. As a practitioner in this area, I am encouraged by works like this.

A lot of the new animal-assisted therapy books are pretty lightweight and conversational. This book is written by the most experienced people in the field of animal therapy today. Each chapter has a substantial reference list. If you want to understand the results of real research, with proper citations, this is the book to get. If you are looking for a book on how to train your pet to do therapy visits, this is not it. There are other books for that.

Seeing eye dogs for the blind are the best known example of animal assisted therapy. But this book describes several other cases, that are perhaps not so familiar. Like the theraputic effect on humans of watching a fish tank. Or interacting with chimpanzees. Or, in some instances, with snakes. The book describes how for many people, there is a stress reduction effect of touching these animals.

Other aspects covered in the book include listing stress signs in dogs or cats. As possible warnings that they might not be useful as companions. Another topic is the difference between a child and an adult having a pet companion.

The book is a good guide for those health care professionals seeking to match animals with humans.

The Hanbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy is a useful resource on the topic of anthrozoology and animal-assisted therapy. The sections of the book are written by many of the most prominant researchers in the field. The book is interesting, as well as informative.

I found it to be a helpful resource. I will probably refer back to it as I continue learning about animal assisted therapy.