AAT Ethical Principles in AAT 3

Question 1

An AAT handler is asked to work with a population they have no training with (e.g., clients with severe PTSD). The ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Decline and refer to a practitioner with appropriate expertise

Answer

Practicing beyond one's competence violates ethical standards; referral protects client welfare.

Question 2

Which document typically governs ethical standards for credentialed AAT practitioners in the US?

Accepted Answer

The Pet Partners Standards of Practice and Ethics

Answer

Pet Partners provides the primary standards of practice and ethics specifically for registered therapy animal teams in the US.

Question 3

A client discloses past abuse during an AAT session. The practitioner should:

Accepted Answer

Document the disclosure and follow mandatory reporting laws if applicable

Answer

Mandated reporting laws supersede confidentiality when abuse disclosures trigger reporting obligations.

Question 4

Veracity as an ethical principle in AAT requires practitioners to:

Accepted Answer

Be truthful with clients about the limitations and evidence base of AAT

Answer

Veracity obligates practitioners to be honest about what AAT can and cannot achieve, including sharing evidence-based limitations.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the ethical concept of 'non-maleficence' in the context of AAT?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients or animals

Answer

Non-maleficence means 'do no harm,' requiring practitioners to avoid interventions that risk harm to clients or therapy animals.

(AAT) Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Practice Test