Knowra Animal-assisted therapy Animal-assisted therapy Animal-assisted therapy is the planned incorporation of animals into goal-directed treatment to support a person’s physical, emotional, cognitive, or social health.
Animal-assisted intervention : An umbrella term for structured activities involving animals to support human health, education, or well-being. It places therapy within a broader family that also includes education and informal support.
Equine-assisted therapy : A therapeutic intervention that incorporates horses into activities planned around human health or well-being. It applies animal-assisted methods through structured activities with horses.
Animal-assisted activity : A planned animal-involving activity that offers recreation, motivation, or social support without individualized clinical treatment goals. It may resemble therapy but does not necessarily involve a treatment plan or clinical evaluation.
Evidence-based practice : Clinical decision-making that integrates research evidence, professional expertise, and the preferences and circumstances of the person receiving care. It guides whether animal-assisted approaches fit a person’s goals and the available evidence.
Human–animal interaction : The reciprocal relationships and interactions between people and other animals. Therapeutic activities build on interactions whose effects depend on both human and animal responses.
Canine-assisted therapy : A therapeutic intervention that incorporates dogs into goal-directed care or rehabilitation. Dogs are commonly incorporated into sessions to support engagement, communication, or functional practice.
Animal-assisted education : A structured educational activity involving an animal to support learning objectives. Its primary goals are educational rather than clinical treatment goals.
Randomized controlled trial : A study that assigns participants randomly to interventions or comparison groups to estimate causal effects. Randomized comparisons can test benefits beyond attention, novelty, or usual care.
Therapeutic alliance : The collaborative working relationship between a client and a therapist, including agreement on goals and tasks. An animal may help clients engage with the therapist and participate in treatment goals.
Occupational therapy : A health profession that supports participation in meaningful daily activities through assessment and intervention. An animal can provide a motivating context for practicing movement, routines, or social participation.
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