Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI): Find a Certified Animal-Assisted Therapist or Equine-Assisted Therapist in Your Area!
Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI), often referred to as animal-assisted therapy, is a structured approach aimed at improving a person's physical, social, or psychological well-being through the presence of one or more animals such as dogs, cats, small mammals, horses, ponies, donkeys, or farm animals.
However, AAI is not yet strictly regulated in France. Therefore, to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention sessions and the well-being of the therapy animals, it is crucial to consult a certified and trained professional.
ServicesPourAnimaux guides you in identifying a qualified practitioner.
1. The 3 Pillars of Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI)
AAI is divided into 3 main categories, each requiring a specific level of qualification:
_ Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT): AAT plays a therapeutic role by reducing symptoms and improving motor or cognitive functions. The practitioner must be a healthcare professional (occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, equine therapist) with training in animal-assisted therapy.
_ Animal-Assisted Education (AAE): AAE plays an educational role by developing reading, socialization, and self-esteem in an educational setting (schools, leisure centers, etc.). The practitioner must be an education professional (teacher, special education teacher) with training in animal-assisted therapy.
_ Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA): Animal-assisted activities are recreational, focusing on general well-being, providing entertainment, and improving quality of life (nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, etc.). The AAA representative must always be trained in the fundamentals of AAI and animal welfare.
2. Guarantees of a certified professional
In a field where qualifications can be ambiguous, certification is your best guarantee of trust. A certified professional ensures:
_ Dual expertise: They possess both expertise in their initial discipline (health, education, social work) and specific training in animal-assisted therapy, recognizing intervention protocols and animal ethics.
_ Animal assessment: The intervention animal, also called a therapy animal (dog, cat, small animal, horse, pony, donkey, etc.), undergoes rigorous temperament and sociability tests. These assessments, often conducted by a veterinary behaviorist, confirm the animal's stability and its ability to manage stressful environments.
_ Respect for animal welfare: The certified animal-assisted therapist or equine therapist understands the animal's calming and stress signals. They ensure sufficient breaks, adapt animal-assisted therapy sessions to the animal's condition, and remove the animal immediately if its well-being is compromised.
3. The Steps to Finding a Certified Animal-Assisted Therapist or Equine-Assisted Therapist
To avoid unqualified or dangerous practices, follow these steps:
_ Define your objective: Are you looking for animal-assisted therapy (AAT) or recreational support through animal-assisted therapy (EAA) or equine-assisted therapy (AAA)?
_ Verify qualifications: Always ask for the practitioner's initial degree (e.g., State-Certified Psychomotor Therapist) and their AAT certification, which must be issued by a recognized training organization.
_ Ask about the welfare of the therapy animal: Inquire about the training and regular assessments of the dog, cat, exotic pet, or horse that will be working with the client.
Our advice: For ethical and effective care, use only a certified, local Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) professional.
Looking for an Animal-Assisted Intervention professional (zootherapist or equine therapist)? Click on the link below:
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