1st Edition
Animal-Assisted Interventions for Emotional and Mental Health Conversations with Pioneers of the Field
Animal-Assisted Interventions for Emotional and Mental Health provides a unique opportunity to learn from a variety of leaders in the field. Leading scholar Dr. Cynthia Chandler and colleague Dr. Tiffany Otting present interviews with pioneering experts from the U.S., U.K., Israel, India, and Hong Kong, revealing key beliefs, values, and ideas that are fundamental to animal-assisted interventions. Their words will inspire and guide current and future generations of practitioners, teachers, and researchers.
Acknowledgments About the Editors About the Contributors Introduction Part I: U.S. and U.K. 1. Dr. Aubrey Fine of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 2. Dr. Samuel Ross, Jr. and Myra Ross, also Michael Kaufmann of Green Chimneys 3. Dr. Risë VanFleet and Tracie Faa-Thompson of the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ Studies 4. Dr. Cynthia K. Chandler of the University of North Texas Part II: Israel 5. Dr. Sarit Lev-Bendov, Inbar Barel, and Gal Hakim of Oranim Academic College 6. Dr. Michal Motro and Tamar Axelrad-Levy of David Yellin Academic College of Education, and Dr. Lauren Wolfsfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 7. Rabbi Eitan Eckstein and Efrat Maayan of the Retorno Jewish Center for Addictions 8. Nancy Parish-Plass, Private Practice Part III: India and Hong Kong 9. Minal Kavishwar of Animal Angels Foundation 10. Dr. William Fan of the Hong Kong Animal Therapy Foundation, Dr. Paul Wong and Dr. Rose Yu of the University of Hong Kong, and Steven Lai and Fanny Leung of the Chinese Evangelical Zion Church 11. Yuen, Sin Nga Gloria; Ng, Chu Kong Morgan; Leung, San Wan Gloria; and Wong, Lo Ming of the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention 12. Yim, Yat Kēuah; Angie Yu; Lily Tang; and Lau, Yin Fei Joyce of the Hong Chi Association 13. Eddie Lee of the Hong Kong Institute of Animal Assisted Intervention 14: Debbie Ngai of the Hong Kong Animal Assisted Therapy Association
Biography
Cynthia K. Chandler, EdD, is a professor of counseling at the University of North Texas and the founder and director of the UNT Consortium for Animal Assisted Therapy. She received the American Counseling Association’s Professional Development Award and the Association for Creativity in Counseling’s Thelma Duffey Award for Vision and Innovation. Dr. Chandler has been practicing, teaching, researching, and supervising animal-assisted therapy in counseling (AAT-C) for many years and is recognized worldwide as a leading expert in the field. She is the author of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling.
Tiffany L. Otting, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Georgetown, Texas. She specializes in animal-assisted counseling.
"Animal-Assisted Interventions for Emotional and Mental Health offers an important and unique contribution to animal-assisted therapy. It documents the visionary work of key leaders, capturing their expertise and knowledge and honoring their contributions to the growth and development of this emerging area of clinical practice. I really enjoyed reading this book and believe it is a valuable addition to any professional’s resource library."
Leif Hallberg, MA, LPC, LCPC, author of The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy, The Equine-Assisted Therapy Workbook, and Walking the Way of the Horse
"In this unique and expansive exploration of the human-animal connection, a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary group of experts sheds light on ways to incorporate animals into therapeutic interventions. This style of knowledge exchange offers the reader a sense of being part of an intimate conversation and of being gifted the kind of special knowledge offered by a personal mentor. Clear and concise, this book is a valuable resource for clinicians, teachers, researchers, and others interested in understanding and optimizing our relationship with other animals."
Philip Tedeschi, MSSW, clinical professor and executive director, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
"Animal-Assisted Interventions for Emotional and Mental Health is a natural complement to Chandler’s foundational Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling. It offers richness and depth in the perspectives from many leaders in animal-assisted interventions, and it presents valuable cross-cultural and international views on the therapeutic application of the human-animal bond."
Leslie Stewart, PhD, LPC, assistant professor of counseling, Idaho State University
