Animal assisted therapy at UNT offers dog-aided counseling

by Katherine Grivna of North Texas Daily

Students studying within the College of Education could be taking lessons from a different kind of teacher — a canine.

Cocker spaniels Rusty and Dolly often accompany Cynthia Chandler, a professor and director of the UNT Center for Animal Assisted Therapy, to class.

Rusty and Dolly are therapy dogs that work in the center as part of the department for counseling and higher education.

The animals went through an evaluation process and had to know basic commands such as sit, stay, and down, and had to be able to walk on a leash, as well as be friendly and comfortable with strangers.

Chandler said she likes taking Rusty and Dolly to her classes, even non-therapy classes, because it creates a positive learning atmosphere.

She always asks for permission from students to bring the dogs, as some are fearful or have allergies.

Dr. Chandler established the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy in 2002, making it the first counseling program ever to incorporate animal assisted therapy for training.

“The animals are bring something out in these people and we’re having these incredible breakthroughs,” Chandler said.

Dr. Casey Barrio, assistant professor and counseling program coordinator, said the center is working on research about the impact of pets on people’s overall well-being.

“Pets can have a very significant impact,” she said.

Barrio said the research team is also looking at recommendations from clients about what counselors can do to improve animal assisted therapy.

The relationship between a pet and person can be very meaningful, she said, as a study showed that people value their relationships with their pets as much as their relationships with friends and family.

Students should be aware they can receive animal assisted therapy as one of the services in the counseling center, Barrio said.

She said it is necessary because this kind of therapy is a growing, cutting-edge field and can be applied to both physical and emotional therapy.

Chandler said she offers therapy, animal evaluations, as well as beginner and advanced weekend workshops, and a 15-hour home study program in addition to the course Animal Assisted Therapy.

The class is held once a year during the second session of summer classes. About 20 students take the class, Chandler said.

An advanced weekend workshop will occur Saturday and will be made of working professionals, such as teachers and counselors interested in animal assisted therapy who do not have time to take the whole course.

A beginner workshop will be held sometime in April, Chandler said.

The cost of the workshop is $150, which goes directly to the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy, as it does not receive funding from the university. The center must be self-sustaining.

Funding for the center is provided solely through workshop and home study program fees and grants, Chandler said.

The Honoring Pet Companions Fund allows people to donate money to the center in honor of their pet and their picture is displayed on the donor wall in the counseling program building.

Kelsey Razmus, a psychology sophomore, said she had not heard of the program before but thinks it is beneficial.

“I think that sounds like a good thing,” she said. “It’s only bad if they are allergic.”

Razmus said she loves pets and would consider taking the animal assisted therapy class if she had time in her schedule.

For more information, visit www.coe.unt.edu/aat.