Implementing a Dog in College Counseling: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT

This explanatory mixed methods study examined the evolutionary process of a college counselor partnering with a dog to practice animal-assisted therapy in counseling. Qualitative data were collected from the counselor while existing quantitative data on depression and anxiety symptoms were collected from clients who engaged with the counselor-therapy dog team before and after the dog came to the college counseling center. Best practices and implications for college counselors considering animal-assisted therapy in counseling are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Animal-assisted therapy
• college counseling
• college students
• mixed methods
• phenomenology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.