Therapy Modalities & Treatment Protocols Flashcards

A therapist is designing an AAT protocol for a client with major depressive disorder. Which treatment goal is MOST appropriate to address through animal interaction?

Answer: Increasing behavioral activation and social engagement using the animal as a motivational bridge

AAT supports behavioral activation by providing motivation for engagement and routine, which is a core evidence-based strategy for treating depression.

During a trauma-focused AAT session, a client suddenly freezes and dissociates when the therapy dog approaches. The clinician's IMMEDIATE priority is to:

Answer: Gently redirect the animal away and use grounding techniques to help the client return to the present moment

Client safety and stabilization take precedence; redirecting the animal and applying grounding techniques addresses the acute dissociative episode.

The concept of 'biophilia' is relevant to AAT because it suggests that:

Answer: Humans have an instinctive affinity for other living beings, which can be harnessed therapeutically

Biophilia, the innate human tendency to seek connection with other life forms, provides a theoretical basis for why animal interactions can promote psychological well-being.

When conducting AAT with elderly clients in a long-term care facility, which modality consideration is MOST important?

Answer: Assessing for allergies, fall risk, immunocompromise, and individual preferences before animal contact

Geriatric populations require careful screening for medical contraindications such as allergies, weakened immune systems, and fall risk before implementing AAT.

A social learning theory framework in AAT suggests that clients can benefit by:

Answer: Observing the handler model calm, assertive interactions with the animal and then practicing these behaviors themselves

Social learning theory posits that clients learn new behaviors by observing and then rehearsing modeled interactions, which the handler-animal relationship can effectively demonstrate.

In an AAT protocol using a cat for a client with anxiety, the therapist asks the client to notice and describe the cat's breathing rhythm. This technique primarily targets:

Answer: Mindfulness and present-moment awareness as an anxiety reduction strategy

Focusing attention on the animal's breathing rhythm is a mindfulness-based technique that anchors the client in the present moment, reducing anxious rumination.

Which ethical guideline is MOST relevant when a therapist's own therapy animal becomes ill and the therapist considers using a substitute animal mid-treatment?

Answer: The therapist must clinically assess how the change may impact the client and address it transparently in the treatment process

Ethical practice requires the therapist to assess the clinical impact of the animal change and process it openly with the client, as the therapeutic relationship involves the specific animal.