I.A.A.A.P.
The Israeli Association of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy
Who are you I.A.A.A.P?
A non-profit foundation, was established in 2007 to serve as the professional association for animal-assisted psychotherapists in Israel. The members of the IAAAP are responsible for evaluating the psychological needs of the client, providing psychotherapy according to these needs, counseling parents and others who are in contact with the child, providing supervision and conducting research. Animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP) is appropriate for clients of all ages (children, adolescents, adults) who suffer from emotional, behavioral and/or psychiatric problems.
Israel is among the leaders in the world in the area of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy, both in terms of its academic training and its prevalence in clinical settings. Israeli academicians and clinicians are also making significant contributions to the area though their publication of both theory and research in highly respected journals.
The IAAAP (The Israeli Association of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy) is a professional association that demands high standards for acceptance for membership:
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B.A. or B.S. in a field related to therapy or life sciences, prerequisite courses in psychology
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Post-graduates studies in an AAP training program which includes 1100 hours of academic study in areas related to AAP (psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, ethics, the human-animal bond, animal sciences, studies in the theory and practice of AAP), group and individual supervision
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400 hours of field work, including at least 250 direct therapy hours in governmentally recognized institutions
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Continuing individual clinical supervision.
GOALS OF THE IAAAP
1) The advancement of the academic and professional development of the members of the IAAAP through continuing education and conferences, the advancement of the conducting and publishing of research in areas related to AAP, the advancement of professional discourse concerning professional issues and ethics, setting high and clearly-defined ethical and professional standards for the practice of AAP.
2) Creating a sense of community between members of the IAAAP, as well as encouraging the professional advancement of the members, and providing support and services to the members.
3) Development of clinical supervision specific to the area of AAP
4) Advancement of the recognition, by relevant governmental bodies, of AAP as an effective field of psychotherapy
5) Establishment of Masters level programs
6) Further contact with Animal-Assisted Psychotherapists, programs and associations around the world.
You are encouraged to read the following brief description of the current status of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy in Israel today. We would be interested in hearing from academicians, clinicians and professional organizations from around the world in order to stimulate mutual growth and to contribute to the development of the field. Only such cooperation can lead to the development of the field and to its recognition around the world as the truly effective therapy approach that it is, often reaching the client in ways that no other therapy approach is able to do.
We may be reached in the following ways:
* Email: aapisrael@gmail.com
*Tel. +972-50-773-1561
THE BIRTH OF ANIMAL-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (AAP) AS KNOWN TODAY
The presence of animals as a serious therapy tool was first brought to the attention of the world of psychotherapy by Boris Levinson in a series of articles in the 1960's, culminating in his book PET-ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY. Levinson's main goal was to use the animal as a motivator for children who were otherwise resistant to therapy. The animal's presence is a tool that has spread in use with a number of populations, e.g. children, adolescents, the elderly, prison inmates, psychiatric patients, those suffering from autism or from chronic and terminal illnesses. Therapy may take place in a traditional therapy setting or in any environment in which animals are present, such as a petting zoo, stable, or farm.
As in many approaches to psychotherapy, the goal of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy is to reach the client in order to understand him/her, lead to emotional expression and insight, bring about change, and improve the client's quality of life. Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy, however, has unique qualities that prove to be a catalyst within the therapy process and aid in the obtaining of various goals of therapy.
AAP AND HOW IT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TYPES OF
ANIMAL-ASSISTED SERVICES
Animal-Assisted Treatment (AATx) is a general term for any type of treatment in which the presence of an animal is used to reach the treatment goals. AATx has been used in mental health, psychotherapy, counseling, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, nursing, speech therapy, physical therapy, and social work, among others. Our association focuses AAP, for we are involved in the use of the presence of animals in the psychotherapy setting.
Animal-Assisted Treatment (AATx) is differentiated from Animal-Assisted Support Programs (AASP) and Animal-Assisted Education (AAE). AATx is practiced by professionals, who have been academically trained in treatment-oriented fields, with specific individualized treatment goals in mind for the client. AAE is practiced by educators with educational goals, including psychoeducation. AASP is practiced by volunteers or briefly trained layman, or by professionals with general therapeutic, educational or recreational goals in mind. AASP and AAE may have a therapeutic effect on the participant, but should not be confused with psychotherapy, in which the therapist explores the client's inner world with the influence of the presence of an animal as a therapy tool. Such a therapist is not simply an animal-handler, and is not an assistant to other therapists. AAP is not an adjunct to another therapy, but rather a therapy mode in and of itself.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ANIMAL-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy is based on emotional connection and relationships – between therapist and client, between therapist and animal, between client and animal, between animal and animal. The client is at the same time both an active participant in and an observer of the interactions between others (therapist, animals) in the therapy setting. This allows the client to experience behaviorally, cognitively and emotionally the connection and relationship with others and work through the issues brought up through these interactions. Interaction with the animal is only part of the therapy process in AAP. The main component is the accompaniment and guidance of the client by the therapist, with mediation by the therapist between the client and the animal, between the client and his/her own inner processes, leading to reflection, awareness and insight. In short, through Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy, the therapist works with the client on emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral issues in order to bring about change and healthy emotional development.
ACADEMIC TRAINING IN THE FIELD OF AAP IN ISRAEL
Here in Israel we have worked hard to establish a number of high-quality certificate programs, each established in a recognized academic institutions, in the field of AAP. Through their studies, graduates have a special understanding of the human-animal connection and the potential roles that animals fulfill within the therapy setting that provide unique opportunities for the therapy process not found in other types of psychotherapy.
Post-graduate academic programs in the area that are recognized by the Association include up to 1500 hours of coursework, 400 hours of field work, and both individual and group supervision. Acceptance into these programs is dependent upon prerequisite college major and coursework.
The study in the field of psychology includes courses in the areas of psychology, psychopathology, psychotherapy, psycho-diagnostics, psychiatry, neurobiology, special-needs populations, and more. These courses are given in the form of lectures, discussions and experiential group learning. Courses in the field of animals include veterinary science, animal behavior, biology, zoology, practical zoo science. The connection between the two general areas is taught in courses in the area of the human-animal connection and in the area of theory, implications and applications of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy, and professional ethics.
Each student has a field placement in a therapy setting. This setting may be a traditional clinical setting or any environment in which animals are present, such as a petting zoo. There is a strong emphasis on clinical supervision, each student receiving both individual and group supervision each week on his/her experience related to the field placement.
THE STATUS OF AAP IN ISRAEL AT THE PRESENT
Animal-assisted psychotherapists are today practicing psychotherapy, as equal members of psychotherapy teams (including clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, art therapists) in clinics and institutions throughout the country: mental health clinics, hospitals (psychiatric and general), schools, group homes, emergency shelters, special-needs clinic, and more.
At this point, there is no official recognition for the field by official government offices, however there is a grass-roots recognition in the field, especially in educational institutions and welfare institutions. We hope that the establishment of IAAAP (The Israeli Association of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy) will be a significant step along the way towards parliamentary recognition, together with other paramedical professions in the field of mental health.
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