Evaluating Animal-Assisted Therapy in Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract

This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on trauma symptoms for children who have been sexually abused. All of the groups followed the same treatment protocol, with two of them incorporating variations of animal-assisted therapy. A total of 153 children ages 7 to 17 who were in group therapy at a Child Advocacy Center participated in the study. Results indicate that children in the groups that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and sexual concerns. In addition, results show that children who participated in the group with therapeutic stories showed significantly more change than the other groups. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• trauma
• children
• PTSD
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• treatment outcomes

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. They would also like to thank the registered handlers and their therapy dogs with Therapy Dogs Incorporated, Therapy Dogs International, and Paws to Go as well as social work interns who assisted with the project.

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