Animal Assisted Interventions
The Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) organization is a group of students dedicated to making a positive therapeutic impact by incorporating animals into mental health treatment. Membership is open to graduate students with an interest in incorporating animal-assisted interventions in practice. Our goal is to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of animals in relation to mental health and well-being. We hold pet therapy events, general member meetings, philanthropic endeavors, and psycho-educational presentations related to the benefits and logistics of incorporating animals in clinical practice. AAI gives students within the College of Psychology an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals as well as further their education on relevant topics and issues when incorporating animal-assisted interventions in current and future practice. The organization will support graduate students within the College of Psychology in the areas of research, education, and advocacy of therapeutically incorporating animal-assisted interventions, as no other organization or courses offer this specialty in the graduate program.
| Executive Board 2024-2025 | |
|---|---|
| President | Kelsey Applegarth |
| Vice President | Danielle Ketter |
| Secretary | Cosette Rodriquez |
| Treasurer | Kylee Cullen |
| External Events Chair | Haley Barry |
| Internal Events Chair | Samantha Guajardo |
| Research Chair | Dina Alhassani |
| Diversity Chair | Taylor Tejara |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy Program Representative | Maggie Smith |
| Public Relations Chair | Bryona Bonomo |
| General Member Committee Representative | Soraya Ziemert |
| Fundraising Chair | Nadia Mazinani |
| First Year Representative | Cynthia Torres |
| School Psychology Representative | Alejandra Chavez |
| Counseling Representative | Ciara Castro |
| Faculty Advisor | David Feldman, Ph.D. |
Accomplishments
- Organization of the Year 2024
Poster Presentations, Publications, & Ongoing Research
- Individual Projects:
- Kelsey Applegarth, MS: “Incorporation of Animal-Assisted Interventions with Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses” – Presentation at the Minnesota Association for Treatment & Prevention of Sexual Abuse (MnATSA) Conference 2024
- This preliminary literature review examines the benefits and usefulness of animal-assisted interventions with individuals convicted of sexual offenses in correctional settings. The current literature review is acting as a pilot study leading to future empirical studies investigating the usefulness of animal-assisted interventions as a component of treatment for individuals convicted of sexual offenses.
- Kelsey Applegarth, MS: “Incorporating Canine-Assisted Therapy into Treatment for Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses” – Directed Study
- Danialle Ketter, MS: “The Impact of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Veterans with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia” –Directed Study
- Kylee Cullen, MS: “Systematic Review of the Effects of Animal-Assisted Interventions on Stress in Graduate-Level Students” – Directed Study
- Morgan Lawrence: “Human-Canine Bonding as a Diversion Program for Adolescents with Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” – Directed Study
- Alyssa Stein, PsyD & David Feldman, PhD: “Courtroom Facility Dogs Assist Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Provide Live Testimony: A Proposal for a Training Manual” – Poster presentation
- Alyssa Stein, PsyD: “A Training Manual for Incorporating a Facility Dog into a Courtroom Setting: Accommodating Child Witnesses in Cases that Involve Sexual Abuse” – Directed Study
- Kelsey Applegarth, MS: “Incorporation of Animal-Assisted Interventions with Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses” – Presentation at the Minnesota Association for Treatment & Prevention of Sexual Abuse (MnATSA) Conference 2024
- Organization Projects:
- Kelsey Applegarth, MS and Danielle Ketter, MS: “Soothing Frontlines: The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy for First Responders in Crisis and Disaster Management” – Pending publication
Click HERE to see Animal Assisted Interventions Organization pictures.
Past Events
- 2024
- Healing Paws: Exploring the Power of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Treatment with Guest Speaker Dr. Jill Levenson
- Animal-Assisted Interventions Meet ‘N’ Greet
- Equine Interventions for Youth with Psychological Distress: Student Presentation
- Trevor Project’s Mutt Strut: Fundraiser to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth in collaboration with PRIDE
- Mine and Mane: Understanding Equine-Assisted Therapy with Guest Speaker Carly Loor, LCSW
- Pawsitivity Pet Picnic: Nourishing Souls and Spreading Smiles (Pet Therapy Event) in collaboration with the Positive Psychology Club
- Paws for a Cause: Fundraiser Benefiting Broward County’s Animal Care and Adoption Center
- Herd Foundation: Equine-Therapy Volunteer Event in collaboration with SURV
- Community Fest: Booth promoting AAI
- 2023
- Pawliday Pet Photo Contest
- Pets n’ Patterns Custom Bandana Fest
- Let’s Tacobout it Tuesday: Pet Therapy Wellness Event in collaboration with SGA
- NSU Wellness Event: Pet Therapy in collaboration with NSU’s
- College of Pharmacy
- Help Paws for a Cause: Fundraiser for Broward County’s Animal Care and Adoption Center
Resources on AAI
- Certification requirements to legally incorporate animal-assisted interventions into psychotherapy vary by location. Clinicians should do their due diligence to comply with the APA code of ethics and state laws when considering incorporating animal assisted interventions into their practice (training, continuing education, research, consultation, etc.). Various programs offer certifications in Animal-Assisted Therapy Interventions, Animal-Assisted Therapy, or Animal-Assisted Social Work.
- At base level, the canine should be able to pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test for obedience:
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Appearance and grooming
- Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
- Walking through a crowd
- Sit and down on cue and stay in place
- Coming when called
- Reaction to another dog
- Reaction to distraction
- Supervised separation
- The animal should undergo further training to obtain specific certifications based on the population they will be utilized with.
■ Persons with mobility difficulties
■ Persons with visual impairments
■ Deaf and hard of hearing
■ First responders
■ Military/Veterans
■ Individuals with chronic disease
■ Children with emotional or behavioral problems
■ Individuals with mental health disorders including but not limited to:
● Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
● Anxiety disorders
● Depressive disorders
● Substance use disorders
● Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
● Neurocognitive disorders
● Schizophrenia and other psychotic related disorders
● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma related disorders
● Developmental disorders
● Intellectual disabilities
● Specific learning disorders
■ Therapeutic riding facilities
■ Mental health facilities
■ Hospitals
■ Physical therapy
■ Rehabilitation
■ Correctional settings
■ Educational settings
■ Nursing facilities
■ Dogs
■ Cats
■ Horses
■ Livestock
■ Rabbits
■ Birds
■ Reptiles
■ Animal assisted interventions (AAI) include the following:
● Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)
● Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA)
● Animal-Assisted Education (AAE)
● Animal-Assisted Special Programs (AASP)
● Animal-Assisted Placement Programs (AAPP)
- President: Kelsey Applegarth, M.S.
- Faculty Advisor: David M. Feldman, Ph.D.
- Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor
Coordinator, Clinical Forensic Psychology Concentration
NSU College of Psychology
(954) 262-5651
dfeldman@nova.edu
- Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor