To help us build an animal-assisted support services voluntary sub-sector be sure to send us your links, stories, articles, feedback, favorite quotes, and photos to teambuilders@cf4aass.org.

We look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks!

Common Ground

Registered charities and Practitioners that provide guide and assistance dogs, therapeutic riding, and animal-assisted therapy have a number of things in common.

They serve Canadians with disabilities, youth, children, and seniors.

Service providers want to inspire and ensure a consistent level of quality, safety, and participant satisfaction.

In every case the animal becomes the channel represented in treatment and/or utilized for assistance.

The Human-Animal Bond is the catalyst that enriches quality of life by fostering inclusiveness and unconditional love.

Sustainability challenges are mutual and cannot be resolved by one person or by one group alone.

Success
In the words of Henry Ford,
‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.’

Potential Stakeholder Asset Inventory Map

Canadian Animal-Assisted Therapy Research Study

Sarah Schlote
M.A. student in Counselling Psychology
The University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, CANADA
(250) 370-2358
sarahschlote@gmail.com

I am conducting a national, bilingual survey of Canadian animal-assisted and equine-facilitated therapy/learning practitioners as part of the requirements of a master's degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. Since there is very little accessible information about this field as it exists in Canada, the goal of my study is therefore to document the practitioners (such as yourself), their practices, the challenges they face, and their needs.

As you will note, I have used the terms animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) in the survey; however, the survey seeks any practitioners who use animals (regardless of species) in their therapeutic work with clients, regardless of the term they use to identify themselves with. This study does NOT target volunteer-based pet visitation or animal-assisted activities programs.

The survey is available at the links below. The first few pages of the survey outline what is involved in more detail and may answer any questions you may have. Should you have any other questions or concerns prior to participating, please do not hesitate to contact me.

English Version

Version française

Education Opportunities

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