Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Canine-assisted psychotherapy is a type of animal-assisted treatment involving the systematic incorporation of a dog into psychotherapy. It has been applied with children and adolescents to treat trauma, depression and anxiety, showing promising results. However, there is a gap in the literature in how it has been applied and how its outcomes may be associated with children’s engagement with the therapy dog. This study draws on data collected for a larger research project involving a community collaboration between Brock University and a local mental health clinic. The purpose of this study was to explore the application of this program for children with mental health challenges, focusing on elucidating possible connections between children’s engagement with a therapy dog and changes in their mental health and emotional states. This is an exploratory multiple case-study using quantitative and qualitative data from multiple informants, and a sample of four clinical cases (2 girls and 2 boys) of children aged 7-9 years. Sessions ranged from 8 to 10 and were individually delivered from August of 2025 to February of 2026 by a single therapist and her therapy dog. Data collection focused on the quality of children’s engagement with the therapy dog and changes in children’s mental health, consisting of: video-based observations, therapist’s notes, children’s sticker and drawing activities, and mental health scales (anxiety and depression) completed by children and their caregivers before and after the treatment was finished. The analyses involved merging qualitative and quantitative data for each case to elucidate possible connections between children’s engagement with a therapy dog and changes in their mental health and emotional states. Three cases were highly engaged with the therapy dog and experienced positive changes in mental health and emotional states from before to after receiving the treatment. The fourth child was not highly engaged with the therapy dog and did not experience positive changes in mental health and emotional states. However, in all cases, children experienced the therapy dog as a source of comfort, affection and distraction while they shared emotionally challenging experiences in their lives. The findings inform future research and the design of mental health interventions using canine-assisted psychotherapy for children and youth.
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214248701