top of page

Animal Assisted Play Therapy™

girl grooming pony.jpg

Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ (AAPT) represents a bringing together of two unique disciplines – animal assisted therapy (AAT) and play therapy. In AAPT, each approach enhances the other. The inherent playfulness of both children and animals fosters enjoyment and connection, which appears to provide a boost to the therapeutic relationship.

​

The benefits of AAPT, over AAT and play therapy as separate disciplines, are that practitioners are trained in both play therapy and animal assisted therapy. It goes beyond an animal assisted therapist incorporating a bit of play, or a play therapist bringing an animal along. Interventions are planned and goal oriented, and animal assisted play therapists are both trained and ethically obliged to ensure that their animals enjoy and benefit from their roles.​

Initially developed for therapeutic intervention with children / young people, groups and families, AAPT can include training of animals, story-telling, games and imaginative play. Session activities are developed in relation to a range of therapeutic goals, including:

  • self-efficacy

  • attachment / relationship

  • empathy

  • self-regulation

  • specific problem resolution, such as for

    • attentional / behavioural challenges

    • anxiety

    • conduct disorders

    • autism spectrum disorder

    • harm to animals

    • social isolation / ostracism

zoe and pip.jpg

In collaboration with Natalie Monaghan (Equine Assist Services), Flourish is thrilled to launch the region’s first AAPT service. Natalie is trained in Equine Facilitated Learning and has a lifetime of experience with horses. She has supported children with additional needs in working towards goals that are well aligned with those of AAPT. Bec is trained in several modalities of play therapy, and has completed Level 1 training in AAPT.

​​

In offering this service with their horses, Natalie (taking the role of equine facilitator) and Bec (as the play therapist and social worker) will generally take a directive approach to AAPT, by the development of planned activities to target therapeutic goals, while integrating both clients and animals’ spontaneous experiences into the fabric of the session.

bottom of page