Animal Assisted Therapy
Meet Miley!
Miley is a Harlequin Great Dane who will be joining my family and my practice in the Spring of 2009. Harlequin Great Dane’s are among the more exotic of the breed; these well adjusted canines are family, friends, and confidents to families all over the world. Their overpowering presence, yet gentle temperment will melt the hearts of those patients who have difficulty expressing and communicating with others. My biggest wish is that I can obtain a few of these “gentle giants” to assist me on my journey to help making the world a better place one person at a time.
Center for Animal Assisted Therapy (CAAT)
Dr. Cynthia Chandler and therapy dog Rusty founded the CAAT in 2002.
What is AAT?
(adapted from the University of North Texas Animal Assisted Therapy Program)
Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is working in partnership with a pet to offer educational and therapeutic services to persons of all ages.
CAAT Mission Statement
The Center for Animal Assisted Therapy (CAAT) at the University of North Texas (UNT) was established in 2002 to support the field of animal assisted therapy. The CAAT promotes human and animal welfare through the partnership of people and pets. The mission of the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy (CAAT) at the University of North Texas is to train professionals and volunteers to work with their pets to: 1) facilitate the development of students in Kindergarten through 12th grade with pet-assisted educational programs; and 2) enhance the emotional well-being of persons of all ages through positive human-animal interactions. The CAAT has three primary focus areas: 1) training, 2) research and 3) community services. The CAAT is a nonprofit service that is supported by charitable donations. Gifts large and small are most welcome. If you wish to make a charitable donation to the CAAT contact the:
Office of Development, P.O. Box 311250, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203
Phone: (940) 565 2900 or (800) 868 1153, E-mail: giving@unt.edu
To learn more about CAAT activities contact:
Director, Center for Animal Assisted Therapy
Counseling Program, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 310829
Denton, TX 76203-0829, Phone: (940) 565 2910
E-mail: chandler@coe.unt.edu
CAAT Programs and Activities The Center for Animal Assisted Therapy at the University of North Texas is involved in a number of existing and evolving programs and activities, in research and community service.
Community Service
Students trained in AAT techniques work as interns in surrounding community agencies and schools.
Research
The CAAT supports faculty and student research in AAT by sponsoring a variety of projects in collaboration with local and regional community agencies and schools.
Networking and Information Services
We list a number of resources on this website that may be useful to you. And during our training sessions we provide you with bountiful information and resources about animal assisted activities and therapy.
Our faculty and staff at the CAAT are more than willing to come and speak to schools and community groups about animal assisted therapy.CAAT Training Opportunities
Training in AAT
The CAAT sponsors three types of training 1) Introductory Weekend Workshop, 2) Advanced Weekend Workshop, and 3) university course. You do not need to have a pet to take the workshop or course trainings.
Weekend workshops are held at least twice per year in the fall and spring. Persons from a variety of health, mental health, or other human services fields can benefit from this training. The introductory workshop trains persons to work with their pets to provide animal assisted educational and social activities on a voluntary or professional level. The advanced workshop trains persons to work with their pets to provide professional therapeutic and educational services. The introductory workshop is a prerequisite to the advanced workshop. You can download the registration form from the CAAT website or call and request one through the mail.
AAT university course – offered once a year, COUN 5530, Animal Assisted Therapy. This course teaches intervention techniques for working with your pet to provide professional therapeutic or educational services. It provides a more in depth study than the advanced workshop. This course is open to both professionals and students who desire training. Persons from a variety of health, mental health, or other human services fields can benefit from this training. You may enroll in the course as a nondegree seeking student.
CAAT Faculty and Staff The Director of the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy is Dr. Cynthia K. Chandler. She is a professor in the Counseling Program of the College of Education at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas. She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from Texas Tech University. She has earned awards for her work in counseling, biofeedback therapy, supervision, and animal assisted therapy. She is licensed or certified in the following areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, biofeedback therapy, neurotherapy, and animal assisted therapy. She is also a certified supervisor and trainer in each of these fields. She has a number of professional publications and state, national, and international presentations. Dr. Chandler is a certified Pet Partner with her dog Rusty through the national therapy animal organization Delta Society. She developed and teaches the Animal Assisted Therapy Course at UNT. She is the founder of the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy. To contact Dr. Cynthia Chandler, e-mail chandler@coefs.coe.unt.edu, or telephone 940-565-2914, or fax 940-565-2905.
The Student Assistant Staff of the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy are undergraduate and graduate students at the University of North Texas who have an interest in animal assisted therapy, many of who volunteer their time and skills to support this field.
