The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Animal-Assisted Therapy in the Treatment of Substance Dependence
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the therapeutic alliance with an adult, residential, substance abuse population in group therapy. We used randomized samples and controlled conditions to establish the effects of chosen variables that influence outcome. A total of 231 people took part in the study (control group [without therapy dog]: n = 96; experimental group [with therapy dog]: n = 135) in which there were 26 group sessions. The results of the study indicate that, overall, the therapeutic alliance is enhanced with the addition of a therapy dog: the AAT group had a more positive opinion of the therapeutic alliance, as measured using the Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ-II), than the control group (ANOVA: F(1,229) = 25.44, p < 0.001). Clients seeking treatment for a dual diagnosis, clients with state social service involvement, and clients seeking treatment for alcohol addiction had similar opinions of the therapeutic alliance, whether in the experimental group or the control group. Males, females, pet owners, court ordered clients, and clients seeking treatment for polysubstance, cannabis, and methamphetamine dependence all were more positive about the therapeutic alliance if they were in the experimental group than if they were in the control. This study demonstrates that addiction professionals could increase treatment success by adding this complementary, evidence-based practice.
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“Significant improvements have been seen with therapeutic alliance [37] engagement [39], interpersonal socialisation or trust [38], acute anxious arousal (distress) [34, 39], and functioning [31].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“Adults hospitalised for substance dependence demonstrated increased therapeutic alliance [37] and interpersonal socialisation [38].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“AAIs have been repeatedly shown to be an effective tool to assist with engagement and rapport building [9, 37, 51, 52].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“This is in line with existing literature that suggests that the inclusion of a canine into psychotherapy improves therapeutic alliance, trust and willingness to disclose [37, 55].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [37]
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Beetz, A., Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Julius, H., & Kotrschal, K. (2012) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234 · Cited by 904
“…different dogs or neutral stimuli in public, reactions of strangers Adults, strangers 1800 More social acknowledgment from strangers in company of dog Wesley et al. (2009) AAT group, control group Adults with substance abuse 135/96 Better therapeutic alliance with therapist Wilson (1991)…”
Psychosocial interventions for cannabis use disorder
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Salivary cortisol and behavior in therapy dogs during animal-assisted interventions: A pilot study
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Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wesley, M. C., Minatrea, N. B., & Watson, J. C.
- Affiliations
- Lindsey Wilson College (US)
- Western Kentucky University (US)
- Mississippi State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wesley, Martin C.
- ORCID
- Watson, Joshua C.
- Venue
- Anthrozoös
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-06
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 137-148
- ISSN
- 0892-7936 (ISSN-L)
- 1753-0377
- OpenAlex
- W2002605039
- Cited by
- 111
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 2.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anthrozoös (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- animal-assisted therapy, therapy dogs, substance dependence, therapeutic relationship, group therapy, residential addiction treatment, Helping Alliance Questionnaire, dual diagnosis, alcoholism, cannabis use disorder, methamphetamine dependence, complementary therapy
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