ORCID ID
0009-0005-4496-8181
Date of Award
5-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Counselor Education
Department
Counselor Education
Major Professor
Dr. Christopher Belser
Second Advisor
Dr. Michelle Wade
Third Advisor
Dr. Phyllis Erdman
Abstract
Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is an emerging mental health specialty marked by rapid growth, inconsistent training pathways, and the absence of regulatory oversight. Although professional organizations have published competencies and guidelines, no regulatory body ensures that educational programs or licensed practitioners adhere to these standards, leading to wide variability in practice and potential risks to clients and animals. This constructivist grounded theory study examined the processes shaping how licensed mental health providers understand and implement AAT in outpatient settings across the United States, with attention to the influence of training, supervision, and prior clinical experience.
Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, the study used intensive interviews, elicited documents, and extant materials to explore how 10 licensed clinicians in private practice navigated AAT implementation. Through iterative coding and constant comparison, the analysis generated the AAT Provider Implementation Model, a four-phase framework encompassing Preconditions, Adoption Decision, Implementation Work, and Consolidation & Identity. The core category, Becoming an AAT Provider Through Iterative Integration, reflects the adaptive, ongoing process through which clinicians refine their understanding of AAT while balancing client needs, animal welfare, organizational culture, and ethical responsibilities.
Findings revealed substantial inconsistencies in training quality, supervision availability, and adherence to competencies, echoing concerns about fragmented education pathways. This study offers the first empirically derived framework describing AAT implementation among licensed U.S. mental health providers and provides implications for clinicians, educators, supervisors, policymakers, and implementation scientists seeking to strengthen standards and enhance the safety and credibility of AAT practice.
Recommended Citation
Rachlinski, Rachel, "From Innovation to Interaction: Processes Shaping Animal Assisted Therapy Implementation in Outpatient Settings in the United States0009-0005-4496-8181" (2026). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 3341.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/3341
Rights
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