- Title
- Mental health practitioners’ perceptions of utilising animal-assisted interventions
- Creator
- Scheepers, Jessica
- Subject
- Animals -- Therapeutic use
- Subject
- Pets -- Therapeutic use Human-animal relationships Psychiatry -- Practice Mental health counseling
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Date
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43512
- Identifier
- vital:36903
- Description
- Clarity in recognising the individuals or circumstances where interaction with animals is possibly beneficial and suitable, is essential for both the individuals and the animals. The present research study attempted to document the intervention factors when local mental health practitioners utilise animal-assisted interventions (AAIs). This study was undertaken to explore and describe the factors mental health practitioners perceive as important when utilising AAIs for clients. In doing so the researcher was able to identify and describe the characteristics of clients considered by mental health practitioners for utilising AAIs, also the psychopathological conditions for which mental health practitioners utilise AAIs and the non-psychopathological applications. Additionally, the researcher identified and described the types and characteristics of the animals that are utilised in AAIs by mental health practitioners. The current study utilised a qualitative research approach employing non-probability purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female mental health practitioners. All participants had implemented AAIs and were able to speak English fluently. Interviews were conducted in English and continued until data saturation was reached. Findings in the current study demonstrate that local mental health practitioners have numerous considerations that pertain to the client including the human attributes that influence the selection of AAI, an appropriate climate (weather during outdoor therapy), and the medical conditions that may influence the implementation of AAIs. The current research also found that there is a broad scope for psychopathological applications of AAIs. Finally, there are several considerations pertaining to the animal that is used for the AAI, including trustworthiness/predictability, relevant attributes, skills/training the animal requires, a suitable environment, and fatigue/therapy exhaustion that may occur during AAIs. Limitations to the current study were identified - including limitations to the methodology employed and only female participants - and recommendations were made for further research.
- Format
- x, 115 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Jessica Scheepers.pdf | 752 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |