Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are increasingly used as a complementary therapy in clinical practice. Initial research evidence suggests that animals can be an excellent adjunctive option for youth with significant challenges and those who may have low engagement in traditional therapy. AAIs delivered within a positive youth development framework are conceptualized as mutually influential relationships between humans, non-human-animals, and the broader environment to support human health and wellness. During childhood and adolescence, AAIs support major developmental processes. For example, AAIs may help youth to have reduced aggression and depression; increased attention; and strengthened social skills, self-regulation, and motivation. To understand how these interventions work in clinically-complex populations, it is important to understand the perspective of clinicians who have a broad view on each client’s mental health and the processes involved in youth outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 23 clinicians at a special education school that utilizes a range of AAIs including individual and group animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with farm animals, dogs, horses, and wildlife. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to analyze the interviews. Five overarching themes were identified that described positive impacts and challenges experienced by students during AAT. These included youth opportunities for contribution, sense of safety, support for self-regulation, increased engagement, and facilitation of youth relationships with clinicians and others. Clinician perspectives will inform development and implementation of future therapeutic interventions that incorporate animals as an adjunct to evidence-based psychotherapy and inform quantitative measurement approaches.

中文翻译：

---

动物辅助干预作为青少年治疗的辅助手段：临床医生的观点

动物辅助干预 (AAI) 越来越多地用作临床实践中的补充疗法。初步研究证据表明，对于面临重大挑战的年轻人和传统治疗参与度较低的年轻人，动物可能是一个很好的辅助选择。在积极的青年发展框架内提供的 AAI 被概念化为人类、非人类动物和更广泛的环境之间相互影响的关系，以支持人类健康和福祉。在童年和青春期，AAI 支持主要的发展过程。例如，AAI 可以帮助青少年减少攻击性和抑郁症；增加关注度；并加强社交技能、自我调节和动力。为了了解这些干预措施如何在临床复杂的人群中发挥作用，了解临床医生的观点很重要，他们对每个客户的心理健康和青年成果涉及的过程有广泛的看法。对一所特殊教育学校的 23 名临床医生进行了半结构化访谈，该学校使用了一系列 AAI，包括对农场动物、狗、马和野生动物的个人和团体动物辅助治疗 (AAT)。使用定性现象学方法来分析访谈。确定了五个总体主题，描述了学生在 AAT 期间所经历的积极影响和挑战。其中包括青年做出贡献的机会、安全感、支持自我调节、增加参与度以及促进青年与临床医生和其他人的关系。