Schlote, Sarah M.2009-07-162009-07-1620092009-07-16http://hdl.handle.net/1828/1457Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and equine-assisted therapy/learning (EAT/L) are innovative techniques in counselling, psychotherapy, mental health, coaching, and other personal growth interventions. Although this field has experienced tremendous growth in the United States, very little is known about its Canadian equivalent. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the current state of AAT and EAT/L in Canada, by conducting a national, bilingual (English and French) survey of helping professionals who involve animals in their practices. A total of 131 questionnaires were retained for analysis. The results of this study suggest that the field is very diverse, with a multitude of confusing terms and expressions, varying levels of education and training, and disagreement on how different practices are defined, resulting in a fragmented, confusing and inconsistent appearance. Recommendations for the evolution of the field and suggestions for future research are provided.enAvailable to the World Wide Webanimal-assisted therapypet-facilitated therapyanimal-assisted activitiesEquine-assisted psychotherapyequine-facilitated psychotherapyequine-assisted learningequine-facilitated learningequine-faciliated experiential learningequine-guided educationequine-facilitated counsellingequine-facilitated counselingequine-assisted coachingCanadasurveyethicsstandards of practicehelping professionscounsellingcounselingpsychotherapycoachingpsychologysocial workeducationexperiential learningnature-assisted therapytherapeutic farmshealingalternative approaches to healingtherapy animalstherapy dogshorsesdogscatsfarm animalsequinenatural horsemanshipanimal-assistedequine-assistedequine-facilitatedequine-guidedbilingualUVic Subject Index::Humanities and Social Sciences::PsychologyUVic Subject Index::Humanities and Social Sciences::EducationThesis