The Practice of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy

An Innovative Modality for Facilitating Mental Wellness

Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
326 Pages
Reviewed on 02/25/2014
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Author Biography

Lynn J. Piper, Ph.D., LCP has a private practice in Springfield, Virginia. She specializes as an Animal-Assisted and Trauma Therapist. She also volunteers with Law Enforcement Agencies related to critical incidents. Since becoming a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, she has presented at several conferences and has written articles on topics related to Trauma, Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP), and AAP & Trauma. Here she is pictured with Zoey, her newest therapy dog in training.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Practice of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Innovative Modality for Facilitating Mental Wellness by Lynn J. Piper, Ph.D. is a book with an educational and informative theme of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy. The book guides mental health professionals in practicing Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP). The book is useful for seasoned practitioners and also novices and it assists ably in providing mental wellness to clients. The book extensively covers all the areas related to AAP, making it helpful to the therapist in helping clients with mental illnesses. The book also tells readers what types of dogs can be used as therapy dogs and what training has to be given to these dogs to make them suitable for providing therapy.

The book opens another window to readers by bringing in therapy dogs in healing someone with mental illnesses. AAP really works in places where the patient is a recluse and is wary of making friends with humans. Therapy dogs are assigned to do various tricks while being with the patient. The client reflection towards the end of the book tells readers about the success ratio of AAP. The safety aspect while dealing with therapy dogs is guaranteed.

This book exposes readers to a new method of helping improve mental health. It offers many options to patients who are introverts and find themselves uneasy about opening up to humans and strangers. Where normal therapy does not work, AAP can be the ideal substitute. An excellent book that will open your mind to new vistas.