Table 4. Intervention characteristics.

No.	1st Author	Intervention Description	Nature of human-animal interaction	Theoretical underpinnings	Format	Setting	Dose
1	Hamama, L.	• I = Goal-focused canine-related activities such as building trust, training, talking to or walking the canines • C = psychosocial topics such as trust and confidence building exercises • Brief program outline & session examples provided	Structured and semi-structured interactions	To increase trust and socialisation via the presence of animals, and to facilitate role changes via canine-related activities.	Group	Secondary School setting • I = classroom & local park • C = classroom	3 hours once per week for 12 weeks. Total hours = 36
2	Hanselman, J. L.	• I = Anger management group incorporating creative and projective activities, a Scared Straight night, and discussions while canines were present • Detailed intervention goals provided. • No program/session outlines provided	Spontaneous	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Attachment Theory; To lower client arousal and anger via the presence of animals	Group	Not described	10 sessions over 12 weeks
3	Hartwig, E.	• HART model intervention with (I) or without(C) canines. Integrates creative and expressive techniques into therapy. Standardised intervention to be applied by multiple therapists. • Example activities provided.	Structured interactions	Solution Focused Therapy; Play therapy; To improve engagement and motivation via the presence of an animal	Individual	Community counselling service (small indoor counselling rooms)	50-minute sessions weekly for 10 sessions. Total hours = 8.3 (Plus caregiver consults)
4	Lange, A. M.	• I = Anger management group incorporating pre-determined goal-focussed activities with the canine, and information about the care and keeping of an animal • No program/session outlines provided	Structured and spontaneous interactions	That the presence of an animal may provide benefits to the participants based on previous research	Group	Not described	Not described
5	Lubbe, C.	• I = individual counselling with a canine, therapeutic goals identified • No program/session outlines provided.	Structured, semi-structured and spontaneous interactions	That the presence of the animal may assist with engagement and rapport as previous therapy had not been successful	Individual	Counselling service indoors	Not described
6	Stefanini, 2015	• I = Hospital TAU plus structured goal-focussed sessions incorporating a canine, engaging in a range of activities such as play, physical contact, grooming, cleaning, basic obedience, walking and agility • C = Hospital TAU • Brief example session activities provided.	Structured and semi-structured	To build the evidence base that AAT may assist with the treatment of psychiatric illness.	Individual & group	Psychiatric Hospital activity room (indoors) and garden (outdoors)	45-minute sessions weekly for 3 months. Total hours = 9
7	Stefanini, 2016	• I = Hospital TAU plus structured goal-focussed sessions incorporating a canine, engaging in a range of activities such as play, physical contact, grooming, cleaning, basic obedience, walking and agility • C = Hospital TAU • Brief example session activities provided.	Structured and semi-structured	To incorporate an animal in TAU to enhance trust, improve therapeutic alliance & therapeutic process	Familiarisation & matching; 5 individual and 5 group sessions	Psychiatric Hospital activity room (indoors) and garden (outdoors)	45-minute sessions weekly for 3 months. Total hours = 9

I = intervention group or experimental group, C = control or comparison group; TAU = Treatment as Usual