Evaluating Animal-Assisted Therapy in Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on trauma symptoms for children who have been sexually abused. All of the groups followed the same treatment protocol, with two of them incorporating variations of animal-assisted therapy. A total of 153 children ages 7 to 17 who were in group therapy at a Child Advocacy Center participated in the study. Results indicate that children in the groups that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and sexual concerns. In addition, results show that children who participated in the group with therapeutic stories showed significantly more change than the other groups. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.
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Two studies indicated that the nature of the canine's engagement, temperament or behaviour may be a crucial component of the treatment process.
“In contrast, two studies [40, 41] indicated that this may be a crucial component of the treatment process.”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
There is some evidence to suggest that AAT, and in particular CAP, is an effective intervention for child and adolescent populations with trauma symptoms.
“There is some evidence to suggest that AAT, and in particular CAP, is an effective intervention for child and adolescent populations with neurodevelopmental difficulties [31, 32] and trauma symptoms [33, 41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
Therapeutic stories developed to integrate the presence of the canine and aid transition to group therapy resulted in further significant improvements to trauma symptoms over and above groups with canines but no stories, and over treatment as usual without canines.
“This resulted in further significant improvements to trauma symptoms over and above the groups with canines but no stories, and over treatment as usual (without canines) [41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
Meaningful integration of canines into the therapeutic process has been shown to increase efficacy [41].
“This is important to explore further, as meaningful integration of canines into the therapeutic process has been shown to increase efficacy [41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
Relevant and meaningful canine-presence that is clearly related to the psychotherapeutic content has been found to have a superior effect to incidental presence [41].
“Crucially, relevant and meaningful canine-presence that is clearly related to the psychotherapeutic content has been found to have a superior effect to incidental presence [41] and warrants further research.”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
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“…is a frequently chosen method of intervention for CSA victims because the feedback, support, and being understood from a peer group facing very similar problems can provide a safer environment to explore and resolve the negative feelings resulting from CSA (Dietz et al., 2012; Thun et al., 2002).”
MethodInfluentialJalongo, M. R. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77845-7_2 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Glintborg, C., & Hansen, T. G. B. (2017) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani7050033 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“This was also seen in a study by Reichert [34] dealing with adult abuse survivors and in a study by Dietz, Davis, and Pennings [35] dealing with child sexual abuse.”
ResultMcVeigh, M. J. (2017) · Children Australia · doi:10.1017/cha.2017.27 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
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The Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy for Children With Anxiety
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Animal-Assisted Interventions for Treatment of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders
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Repairing the Trauma Bonds of Sex Trafficking Victim-Survivors with Animal-Assisted Therapy
Woehler, E. S., & Akers, L. (2021) · Journal of Creativity in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/15401383.2021.1921646 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Boynton, H. (2016) · Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) · doi:10.11575/prism/27063 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Menhart, R., Stellermann-Strehlow, K., Helling-Bakki, A., Horvay, R., Dippel, N., & Winter, S. (2025) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107540 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Reeson, M., Polzin, W., Pazderka, H., Agyapong, V. I. O., Greenshaw, A. J., Hnatko, G., Wei, Y., Szymanski, L., & Silverstone, P. H. (2022) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105926 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Drop‐out rates in animal‐assisted psychotherapy – Results of a quantitative meta‐analysis
Seeger, L., Kübler, A., & Hilger, K. (2024) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12492 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“…purely rely on animal-assisted psychotherapy, but to use it as a complement to established therapy methods which is most extensively realized in inpatient settings (Dietz et al., 2012; Nimer & Lundahl, 2007; Reichert, 1998; Seitz et al., 2017; Selby & Smith-Osborne, 2013; Wohlfarth et al., 2013).”
An Exploratory Study of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) in Social Service Agencies
Eaton-Stull, Y. M., Beall, M., Hutchins, D., Marino, S., & Zinn, H. (2019) · Journal of Social Service Research · doi:10.1080/01488376.2019.1658028 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Animal assisted therapy in pediatric mental health conditions: A review
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Developing Literacy Skills in Children Through Interaction with Dogs
Kirnan, J. P., & Ventresco, N. E. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77845-7_8 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Tantrums and Aggressive Behaviors of Children with Autism
Jesionowicz, R. L. (2015) · Scholarship & Creative Works - Digital UNC a service of University Libraries (University of Northern Colorado) · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Effects of a Dog-training Intervention on At-risk Youth
Lahav, S., Sarid, O., & Kantor, H. (2019) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.1080/08927936.2019.1621539 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…research has yet to present an in-depth investigation into the effects of a dog-training group intervention on prosocial behavior in at-risk 53 4 A nt hr oz oö s youth: specifically, the development of empathic abilities (Dietz et al., 2012; Lang et al., 2007; Zasloff, Hart, & Weiss, 2003).”
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Canine Connection Therapy: Finding Purpose and Healing Through the Training of Service Dogs
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“Other treatments have been tried, but have been generally found to be less effective and/or to have only limited amounts of published evidence supporting efficacy, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), animal-assisted therapy, art-therapy, and play therapy [7,26-31].”
BackgroundDeep Ecological ‘Insectification’: Integrating Small Friends with Social Work
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Canine-Assisted Interviews Bolster Informativeness for Negative Autobiographical Memories
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Exploring the implementation of child life services with facility dogs.
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“Having an animal that is trained to detect emotional disturbances in the environment is helpful in assessing a patient and family for possible interventions (Dietz et al., 2012; Krause-Parello et al., 2018).”
State of the Science: Group Therapy Interventions for Sexually Abused Children
Miffitt, L. A. (2013) · Archives of Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2013.09.004 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Dietz et al. (2012) found that all three group therapy treatment groups made preintervention to post-intervention improvements on PTSD symptoms, with the group combining storytelling therapy with animal assisted therapy showing the most improvements.”
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“In the second study (S2), the authors provided references from the literature indicating the importance of group members receiving guidance from therapists while supporting one another as they share and process their experiences in order to provide participants a safe environment (19).”
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Machado, D. C. M., Coll, E. A. J., & Gutiérrez-Carvajal, O. I. (2020) · Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología · doi:10.33881/2027-1786.rip.12308 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
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“Additionally, specifically to young people who have experienced sexual abuse, their participation has contributed to a reduction in short-term symptoms of depression and trauma (Dietz et al., 2012; Kemp et al., 2014).”
BackgroundInfluentialGeneral Commentary: Rethinking the role of animals in human well-being
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“This premise has been applied in a wide variety of conditions including pervasive developmental and psychiatric disorders, victims of sexual abuse, dementia, fibromyalgia, and stroke (Dietz et al., 2012; Muñoz Lasa et al., 2013).”
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“…in a group treatment for children who had experienced sexual abuse, the reduction of posttrau-matic-stress symptoms, depression, and anxiety symptoms was greater when children heard therapeutic stories about the dogs that were present than when the dogs were present without stories [14].”
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“Other treatment modalities that have been found to be effective, but in a more limited range of studies, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), animal-assisted therapy, art-therapy, and play therapy [6,19-22].”
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“Other treatment modalities that have been found to be effective, but in a more limited range of studies, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), animal-assisted therapy, art-therapy, and play therapy [7,30-34].”
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The role of connection in the efficacy of animal-assisted therapies: A scoping review
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“This facilitator holds responsibility for guiding a client through a therapeutic process with set goals and individualised outcomes (Dietz et al., 2012; Zenithson et al., 2014).”
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Animal-assisted therapy for pediatric patients
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Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen
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How does a diagnosis of PTSD add to resource utilization in Florida emergency rooms?
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“…& Francis Group, LLC al., 2011), and the impact of the traumatization may continue into an individual’s adult years,(Hillberg et al., 2011) affecting a victim’s environment, personal boundaries (e.g., increased risk-taking behavior), family relationships, and world perception (Dietz et al., 2012).”
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“There is growing research in the field examining the efficacy of play therapy and animal-assisted therapy, among others [11; 23; 47; 58].”
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Weber, C., Bazzi, O., Purper‐Ouakil, D., Fongaro, E., & Kerbage, H. (2025) · L Encéphale · doi:10.1016/j.encep.2025.02.006 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dietz, T. J., Davis, D., & Pennings, J.
- Affiliations
- Texas Christian University (US)
- Alliance for Children
- Elite Research
- Corresponding author
- Dietz, Tracy J.
- ORCID
- Pennings, Jacquelyn
- Venue
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 665-683
- ISSN
- 1053-8712 (ISSN-L)
- 1547-0679
- OpenAlex
- W2015915867
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 5.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- animal-assisted therapy, therapy dogs, child sexual abuse, group therapy, trauma symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, anxiety, depression, anger, sexual concerns, therapeutic stories, child advocacy centers, children
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Animals, Human-Animal Bond, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child Behavior, Dogs, Female, Humans, Male, Psychotherapy, Group, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, United States, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Animal Assisted Therapy
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