What is canine assisted intervention and why is it effective?
Canine assisted intervention (CAI) is a subtype of animal assisted intervention (AAI). The animals involved in AAI may be referred to as trained therapy support animals. AAI has a rich history in the United States of America, but the practice is relatively new to Canada. Considered innovative and an effective aid to therapy or interventions, AAI has received significant research attention and scientific support from institutes such as the Center for Interaction of Animals and Society.
The broad objective of CAI is to improve intervention outcomes. Incorporating canines into intervention has been demonstrated to improve communication, reduce stress and anxiety, increase adherence to therapeutic programs, and promote prosocial social behaviour and learning, among others. The benefits of CAI are particularly pronounced in youths. While the aim of CAI is improvement in therapy and intervention outcomes, the methods and practices by which this is achieved are varied. CAI can take the form of simply having the presence of, and passive interaction with, a trained therapy support animal during conventional therapy. CAI can also be a dynamic relationship with the trained therapy support animal, whereby the client is actively engaging and working with the trained therapy canine with or without the context of conventional therapy. The flexibility of CAI is one of the many characteristics that makes it a useful aid to therapy.
CAI provides a viable alternative to conventional therapies and interventions. Its unique characteristics lend it to successes where program adherence and rapport are concerns and supports a variety of outcomes from self-esteen to skillbuilding through an unconditional, non-evaluative bond.
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Canine assisted intervention (CAI) is a subtype of animal assisted intervention (AAI). The animals involved in AAI may be referred to as trained therapy support animals. AAI has a rich history in the United States of America, but the practice is relatively new to Canada. Considered innovative and an effective aid to therapy or interventions, AAI has received significant research attention and scientific support from institutes such as the Center for Interaction of Animals and Society.
The broad objective of CAI is to improve intervention outcomes. Incorporating canines into intervention has been demonstrated to improve communication, reduce stress and anxiety, increase adherence to therapeutic programs, and promote prosocial social behaviour and learning, among others. The benefits of CAI are particularly pronounced in youths. While the aim of CAI is improvement in therapy and intervention outcomes, the methods and practices by which this is achieved are varied. CAI can take the form of simply having the presence of, and passive interaction with, a trained therapy support animal during conventional therapy. CAI can also be a dynamic relationship with the trained therapy support animal, whereby the client is actively engaging and working with the trained therapy canine with or without the context of conventional therapy. The flexibility of CAI is one of the many characteristics that makes it a useful aid to therapy.
CAI provides a viable alternative to conventional therapies and interventions. Its unique characteristics lend it to successes where program adherence and rapport are concerns and supports a variety of outcomes from self-esteen to skillbuilding through an unconditional, non-evaluative bond.
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