As health care professions increasingly recognize the importance of the human-animal bond, opportunities arise for multidisciplinary research into the topic of how companion animals may affect human health. This book describes one such study, which phenomenologically investigates the role that companion animals may play in human psychological treatment. Though geared towards the psychology/psychiatric community, this book proves a very interesting read for anyone who desires a deeper insight into the inexorable link between humans and animals. This book does much to detail the sometimes inexplicable interspecies connections we, as veterinarians, witness every day in our practice environment.
In the introductory chapter, the author (a registered nurse and counsellor) describes, on a very personal level, her motivation for becoming interested in the topic of companion animals used as adjunctive therapy to psychological treatment (also called animal-assisted therapy, or AAT). The author then explores the origins and history of the burgeoning field of AAT (which has been documented in institutions as far back as 1944 and includes Sigmund Freud’s personal work with animals in the therapeutic setting), and provides an overview of the modest amount of research which has been conducted in this field up until this point.
In the next few sections of the book, the author’s main study is described, with considerations given to protocol, third-party referee, dependability of results, and ethical concerns. The author identifies 4 major themes which emerged over the course of the study. Each theme is described in detail and illustrated by numerous excerpts from interviewed study participants (psychologists), providing compelling insight into the benefits of AAT on the patients involved. The results of the study are then discussed in the context of psychological theory, namely Object Relations Theory and Winnicott’s Concepts. Implications of study findings are then discussed, with emphasis on opportunities and topics for future research in the field.
Although this study was neither randomized nor controlled, the credibility of the research was established using such methods as consensual validation (a non-biased third-party judge), and the book nonetheless qualifies and elaborates on the therapeutic nature of the human-animal bond in a more concrete and specific manner than is routinely encountered. The human- animal bond is, at best, a nebulous topic to study, but the author’s attempt to solidify and support her theories is a noble and successful one. This book is recommended as a very enjoyable read to any of us who are fascinated by the effects that animals can have on the lives of people.