The application of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) continues to demonstrate a multitude

Transcription

1 The application of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) continues to demonstrate a multitude of positive effects and outcomes within the emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and spiritual realms of human wellbeing. The PACE Model TM for AAT provides a framework that can be used to assess rigor, goals and objectives, risk management, and precautions in each AAT session, and is an illustration of the ever-changing, dynamic relationship that happens during AAT sessions. Together, these four components set the pace for AAT sessions and include the following: Practitioner The identified person(s) who plans, leads, and holds responsibility for the AAT sessions. Depending on the overall needs of the identified client, animal, and environment, individuals providing AAI sessions may include more than one person and more than one professional discipline. Animal The identified animal(s) that is assisting in facilitating AAT services. One size does not fit all; therefore, best practices calls for the identified animal to have specific training and temperament suited for the goals and objectives of each AAT session. Occasionally, animals that are not identified and that are not trained will become part of AAT sessions and can be considered ad hoc program animals. Such ad hoc program animals happen when observing the larger milieu of a session, when a session takes place outside, or when working in a setting where multiple other animals reside, like a horse barn or dog training center. Client The identified person(s) who is receiving AAT services and may also be listed as a participant, student, members of a group, family, or individual. Whether individual or group, the client has a tremendous amount of leverage in changing the reciprocal interaction of the P.A.C.E. Model for AAT. All sessions start and end with the client in 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 1

2 mind and it is because of the client s identified and unidentified needs that the session exists in the first place. Environment The identified location where AAT services are held, as well as the greater environmental milieu. Examples of identified locations may be a horse stall, training center, hospital room, chicken coop, or therapy office. The larger milieu of these areas would include the natural world both indoors and outside in which each of these locations exist. The merits of the four PACE components must be considered individually, and yet together as well, as they create a reciprocal and evolving relationship that is unique at each session. Furthermore, each component in the model brings a level of skill and capacity to each AAT session called Quality of Competence (QOC). AAT sessions are strengthened or limited by the QOC and synergy of all four components; it requires both art and science to combine them and create an effective therapeutic experience. The application of the PACE Model TM in all AAT sessions provides practitioners and administrators with a checks and balances tool for effective and efficient oversight of the design, implementation, and evaluation of AAT sessions. Ultimately, using the PACE Model seeks to maintain balance and the integrity of the session for all participants. Second, each of the four components has a relationship to each other which is constantly changing. These relationships are not static in its length, strength, or consistency and are constantly changing and each of the four components also change. The process and results 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 2

3 created by the four components in the P.A.C.E. Model is reciprocal because there is a constant give-and-take throughout an AAT session. Third, each component of the P.A.C.E. Model brings a level of skill or training to each AAT session called Quality of Competence or QOC. The QOC likened to a gauge, like the fuel level in a car, with a plus sign and minus sign, and is not meant to denote good or bad. The greater the competence each component brings to the AAT session, the higher that component is listed on the gauge. Furthermore, a component s QOC can be strengthened or weakened if the relationship it shares with another component is similarly strong or weak. Finally, the P.A.C.E. Model examines the concept of balance between all four components. In this case, balance does not mean equality, rather, it is the assessment of each component s QOC and the endeavor to fit components together that complement each other, not produce a deficit in safety, and provide a level of optimal benefit for all involved in AAT sessions. Using the P.A.C.E. Model for AAI to develop AAI sessions, the practitioner (Sophie) does a P.A.C.E. assessment for each component s QOC, relationship with the other components, and resulting reciprocal relationship when all components come together. the P.A.C.E. Model for AAI gives her ample checks-and-balances to apply 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 3

4 Applying the P.A.C.E. Model for AAI: Case example A practitioner, Sophie, has raised and shown Boer goats for 15 years and currently has a small herd on her hobby farm. She is enrolled in an undergraduate degree in nursing. Her required internship matches her with a 30-bed treatment facility for adolescents with eating disorders. Over her year-long clinical internship, she monitors the health of all in-patient clients involved in weekly fieldtrips to a working farm where they complete farm chores, groom animals, tend the garden and crops, and learn basic animal husbandry. This working farm includes horses, llamas, sheep, goats, geese, and rabbits. The owners of the working farm have trained the llamas and goats to drive, and the rabbits to walk on a harness so they can make monthly visits to a local nursing home facility. Upon receiving her degree and passing the licensure exam to be a registered nurse, Sophie is hired by the eating-disorders center and is given the opportunity to expand the current AAI program for patients in the day-treatment program. Using the P.A.C.E. Model for AAI to develop AAI sessions, the practitioner (Sophie) does a P.A.C.E. assessment for each component s QOC, relationship with the other components, and resulting reciprocal relationship when all components come together. Items she might consider: Practitioner Her QOC working with a new group of patients, skill and confidence working with non-bovidae (goat) species, her relationship with support staff, and her familiarity with the environment of the working farm. Animal Each animal s QOC working with a new group of patients, each animal s training and temperament, each animal s relationship with others on the farm, vaccination and illness records for each animal, and who is each animal s advocate or handler who 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 4

5 will provide the highest level of care and oversight when the animal works in AAI sessions. Client The QOC of a new group of patients to receive AAI services, each group member s physical ability, known allergies, fears, or history of violence or aggression towards animals by any member in this new group. Environment The QOC of the environment at this working farm to host a new group of patients to receive AAI sessions, the daily routine at this farm that would allow the group to arrive when operations are more quiet and predictable, and considering what qualities are inherent to this working farm (i.e., animals sold for breeding or butchering, and if these aspects are counter-indicated for this new group of patients). If Sophie decides to move forward with the AAI services expansion, the P.A.C.E. Model for AAI gives her ample checks-and-balances to apply to her new role. She would score a low QOC because she is new as a registered nurse, new in designing AAI sessions, new to a different patient group at the hospital, and still fairly new in working with animals other than goats at this working farm facility. As she spends more time in each of these areas, receives additional training, and works with different animal species, her QOC will also increase. Therefore, to help her balance her current level of QOC, she could start by co-facilitating with other practitioners who have more QOC in regards to specific animal species or the needs of the outpatient population. To help her balance her QOC with the animals, she could work with just the goats at this new farm facility as she already comes with 15 years of competence working with goats. However, she cannot assume one goat is just like the next and she must still put in the time and effort to work with each goat individually and build her relationship with each goat. To help her balance her QOC with clients, she could opt to continue the current in-patient group at 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 5

6 the farm, and only work with her new outpatient group on hospital grounds until she gains competency in this new group s different needs and expectations. By continuing the AAI program with the current group of patients at the farm, she also continues to build her QOC in the environment of the farm. Session by session, she will start to notice pieces of the larger environmental milieu and in turn, this helps inform her subsequent practice with any new group of clients. P.A.C.E. Model for Animal- Assisted Interactions (AAI) 2014, Tanya K. Bailey, tanya@umn.edu 6