Animal-Assisted Therapy and Counseling Support for Women With Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) interventions have been shown to assist in coping and improve patient responses to symptoms. Specifically, the presence of an animal has been found to lower anxiety and motivate participation in therapy. We aimed to explore the acceptability of and experience of AAT during individual breast cancer counseling sessions. Methods. Patients undertaking counseling with a therapy dog present were invited to participate in the study. Patients were individually interviewed and asked to reflect on their experiences of AAT. Data generation and analysis were concurrent. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using a process of constant comparison. Results. Our sample included 8 female participants, 39 to 61 years old, at an average of 3 years post-breast cancer diagnosis. The majority of patients reported a positive experience with AAT. Themes that emerged around their counseling experience included benefits in the process of initiating counseling and benefits for greater engagement and personal disclosure. Conclusions. Incorporating AAT into the delivery of counseling for breast cancer patients appears to be feasible and acceptable at a patient level. From a clinical perspective, AAT promoted increased communication with health professionals. This is of clinical importance as a means to improve participation and engagement in therapy-important elements in therapeutic outcomes. However, further evaluation of the impact of AAT on specific patient outcomes and psychological morbidity is required.

Canine co‐therapy: The potential of dogs to improve the acceptability of trauma‐focused therapies for children

“…In contrast to medication, prior experiences with dogs as pets had little effect on the acceptability of TF‐CBT, with and without the addition of CAT. While this supports suggestions of prior research that there is a generalised tendency towards acceptance of AAT (e.g., White et al, ), it also contradicts others studies which suggested that a client's attitude towards CAT might hinge on their perceptions of, and prior experiences with, dogs (Black et al, ; Yap et al, ). These worries are not necessarily groundless; many individuals dislike interacting with dogs (Lefkowitz et al, ; Muris, Van Zwol, Huijding, & Mayer, ).…”

“…Studies of the acceptability of AAT amongst lay or consumer populations are even rarer representing a significant gap in the literature. What studies do exist have mostly utilised qualitative methods, examining the opinions of individuals following participation in an intervention program (e.g., Stoffel & Braun, ; White et al, ). Whilst the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, generalisability remains a concern.…”

Ontological security and connectivity provided by pets: a study in the self-management of the everyday lives of people diagnosed with a long-term mental health condition

“…This may in part be due to a gap in evidence or in evidence failing to inform or reach practitioners and policy makers responsible for care planning arrangements. Whilst the benefits of formalised AAT for conditions such as dementia [18, 19], cancer [20, 21] and childhood developmental disorders [22, 23] are gaining recognition, there is currently a lack of evidence exploring the contribution of pets in the broader context of support networks and the role they may play in recovery-orientated activities and the management of mental health.…”

Tuesdays with Worry: appreciating nature with a dog at the end of life

“…Related, people who have experienced a 'close brush with death,' such as a terminal diagnosis of cancer, report high levels of appreciation for being in nature to reorient and find some semblance of peace in their life (Martin & Kleiber, 2005). Those who receive benefit from exposure to natural environments, and are also comforted by the company of dogs, may find the synthesis of therapeutic natural landscapes with a dog to be of significant value to their state of being, regardless of their health prognosis (White et al, 2015).…”

“…Dogs have been called 'social lubricants' (Moody, Maps, & O'Rourke, 2002) for their uncanny ability to help people with serious illnesses and trauma find brief moments of catharsis (Browder, 2009), create meaningful relationships when there are none (Fox & Gee, 2017) and connect with healthcare providers (White et al, 2015). In this paper, the therapeutic qualities of human-dog interactions in natural environments will be demonstrated by focusing on one woman's terminal cancer diagnosis while in end-of-life care (Engleman, 2013).…”