Dr fluffy : friend, foe or something more? : implications for animal-assisted therapy in the counselling setting

Abstract

This study intended to explore and discover the lived experience of adults in relation to animals’ impact on their wellbeing. A total of eight semi-structured interviews (including a pilot study) were conducted. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was adopted as a methodological design, while thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Attachment was identified as the global theme as participants’ personal attachment with their companion animals was commonly mentioned throughout the interviews. Moreover, a total of four superordinate themes emerged from data analysis, namely, safe haven, the animal as a family member, separation anxiety and animals as a potential facilitative factor in the counselling setting. This study’s findings suggest that therapy animals can be helpful co-therapists in the counselling setting as they offer unconditional love, are non-judgemental, create a safe environment and aid the counsellor to build trust and good rapport with the client. Additionally, findings reflect participants’ bond with their companion animals. Thus, this study suggests that within a counselling setting, the therapy animal could aid the client in working through attachment issues. Moreover, findings imply that therapy animals make therapeutic touch more accessible as clients can pat them without any ethical issues and risks normally associated with therapist-client touch. Finally, this study demonstrated potential risks involved with including therapy animals within the counselling setting.