AAT Client Assessment & Care Planning 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client's care plan specifies AAT for reducing social isolation. Which type of AAT activity BEST supports this goal?
- Individual sessions focused on animal grooming alone
- Group AAT sessions that use the animal as a social bridge for peer interaction (Correct answer)
- Observing the animal without direct interaction
- Virtual AAT via video call
Correct answer: Group AAT sessions that use the animal as a social bridge for peer interaction
Group AAT leverages the animal as a social catalyst, facilitating peer interaction and directly addressing social isolation.
Question 2: During assessment, a client rates their comfort with animals as 3 out of 10. What is the MOST appropriate initial care plan approach?
- Full animal contact sessions starting in week one
- A gradual desensitization hierarchy, beginning with low-intensity animal exposure (Correct answer)
- Mandatory participation regardless of comfort level
- Refer to a different therapist immediately
Correct answer: A gradual desensitization hierarchy, beginning with low-intensity animal exposure
Low comfort with animals requires a graded exposure approach, starting with minimal contact and advancing only as comfort increases.
Question 3: Which ethical principle is MOST relevant when a client expresses ambivalence about AAT during care planning?
- Beneficence — proceed because AAT is clinically beneficial
- Autonomy — respect the client's right to accept or decline the intervention (Correct answer)
- Justice — ensure the client receives evidence-based care
- Fidelity — maintain the therapeutic relationship by encouraging participation
Correct answer: Autonomy — respect the client's right to accept or decline the intervention
Autonomy requires that clients have the right to make informed decisions about their own treatment, including declining AAT.
Question 4: A care plan for a client with substance use disorder incorporates AAT. What unique consideration should be included?
- Avoid AAT as it may be distracting from recovery work
- Address how the responsibility of caring for the animal may mirror and reinforce recovery skills (Correct answer)
- Only use AAT once the client has achieved full sobriety
- Limit sessions to observation only to prevent emotional dependency
Correct answer: Address how the responsibility of caring for the animal may mirror and reinforce recovery skills
Caring for an animal parallels recovery skills such as responsibility, consistency, and emotional regulation, making it therapeutically meaningful.
Question 5: Which of the following is the MOST important reason to conduct a physical environment assessment before implementing an AAT care plan?
- To determine the facility's aesthetic appeal
- To identify hazards that may compromise the safety of the client, animal, or staff (Correct answer)
- To assess whether the room is large enough for group sessions
- To ensure the facility is willing to allow animals on-site
Correct answer: To identify hazards that may compromise the safety of the client, animal, or staff
Environmental assessment identifies safety hazards such as escape routes, allergens, or fall risks that must be mitigated before AAT begins.
Question 6: A therapist is transitioning a client out of AAT as goals have been met. What should the termination phase of the care plan include?
- Immediate cessation of all animal contact to prevent dependency
- A gradual tapering of sessions, acknowledgment of progress, and relapse prevention planning (Correct answer)
- Transfer to a different therapy animal to ease transition
- No special planning is needed if goals are met
Correct answer: A gradual tapering of sessions, acknowledgment of progress, and relapse prevention planning
Planned termination includes tapering sessions, celebrating gains, and preparing the client for maintaining progress after treatment ends.
Question 7: Which of the following situations MOST warrants an immediate update to a client's AAT care plan?
- The client changes their preferred name
- The client develops a new medical diagnosis that affects their response to animals (Correct answer)
- A new therapy animal joins the program
- The client misses a single session
Correct answer: The client develops a new medical diagnosis that affects their response to animals
A new medical diagnosis may introduce new contraindications, safety concerns, or altered therapeutic needs that necessitate immediate care plan revision.
AAT Client Assessment & Care Planning 5
A client's care plan specifies AAT for reducing social isolation.
Which type of AAT activity BEST supports this goal?