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Facility dogs and child life: synthesizing psychosocial therapies

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dc.contributorParker, Julie
dc.contributorCasper, Deborah
dc.contributor.advisorBurns-Nader, Sherwood
dc.contributor.authorGoldstein, Emily Beth
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-07T14:36:58Z
dc.date.available2021-07-07T14:36:58Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractAnimal-assisted therapy (AAT) is used to promote coping in stressful situations by allowing a recipient to experience a therapeutic interaction with a trained therapy animal, usually a dog. One type of therapy dog, known as facility dogs, are specifically trained to accompany their handler, often a psychosocial trained professional, and help them complete their job duties. Many children’s hospitals around the United States have facility dog programs in which a trained AAT dog goes to work daily with a psychosocial healthcare worker, such as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). The purpose of this case study was to gain insight into how child life specialists who are facility dog handlers prioritize and assess patients, the benefits and difficulties of their job, and the appreciation they receive. Participants were four CCLSs, two of which were a primary handler and two who were secondary handlers. Participants were asked to record information on a checklist after each interaction for 10 total workdays and completed a semi-structured interview. Findings indicated that participants primarily saw patients between the ages of three to eleven, and the most common intervention provided was general anxiety and coping support. In the interviews, the participants mentioned that it is the dog’s specific training, therapeutic value, and ability to bond with patients that allows these interactions to be so successful and impactful. This study provides a foundation for child life programs around the country who want to incorporate this therapeutic modality into their services offered.en_US
dc.format.extent70 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0003806
dc.identifier.otherGoldstein_alatus_0004M_14465
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/7885
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectHealth sciences
dc.titleFacility dogs and child life: synthesizing psychosocial therapiesen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Human Development and Family Studies
etdms.degree.disciplineHuman Development and Family Studies
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.S.

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