Building Solutions in Youth: Evaluation of the Human–Animal Resilience Therapy Intervention

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of the human-animal resilience therapy (HART) intervention was examined using a randomized comparison group design with youth ages 10–18 (n = 29). Paired samples t-test analyses revealed statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest scores for anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavior inventories for participants in both the treatment and comparison groups. No significant differences were found for the self-concept or anger inventories. An analysis of variance on gain scores of the treatment and comparison groups revealed no between group differences. The implications of the findings are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Canine-assisted therapy
• creativity in counseling
• human-animal resilience therapy
• solution-focused
• youth

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Kjellstrand Hartwig

Elizabeth Kjellstrand Hartwig is in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology at Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.