Years ago, a colleague came up with the novel idea of bringing my dog to school to work with students with emotional issues. Since then this one dog has touched many people and has prompted other programs to add a therapy dog to their staff. My book explores my personal experiences working with a therapy dog in three different school settings over a 7-year period. The therapy dog program involves using dog and handler teams that have been certified through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Animal assisted therapy is a nontraditional method for working with regular and special education students in a variety of programs. This research project involved the work of many individuals. I have been blessed to work with many outstanding people throughout my career who have been willing to think outside of the box and support such a nontraditional idea. This book is a must read for educators, therapists, and animal lovers and sends a message about the climate of our schools and connecting with our youth.

A book of guidance and advice about how to become a Therapy Dog team. It contains the tips and tricks the author has learned in a decade of Therapy Dog work. If you're ready to become a Therapy Dog team but are hesitant to dive into the unknown and just want someone to be there to guide you along the way, this book is for you. If you've always been a little curious what Therapy Dog work was all about and why people do it, this book is for you. If you're a trainer, veterinarian, groomer, or other dog professional who has people asking them about Therapy Dog work but you've had no idea how to help them find answers, this book is for you.

What if you could significantly improve your physical and mental health by taking a simple step thats easy, rewarding, and fun? Dr. Milena Penkowa says you can do that and more by owning a dog and yet people continue to invest time and money in costly treatments before even considering a furry friend. Dogs can stave off diseases and certain cancers, erase pain, and ease anxiety, depression, allergies, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Over the long term, they can also reduce the burden of dementia, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinsons disease, schizophrenia and autism. This guidebook explains the scientifically proven benefits of dogs, and youll learn how dogs: change the human brain so it reacts and thinks differently; improve the immune system to make you more resilient than dog deprived individuals; boost and invigorate the human spirit and secure happiness; promote a life of longevity and healthiness. Stop looking for fancy remedies to physical and mental problems, and start looking for a dog wagging its tail. Tap into a natural method to survive and thrive by learning about the fascinating connections between Dogs & Human Health.

This series explores disability in a comprehensive, honest, and age-appropriate way. This book explores service dogs and how they assist their handlers. Engaging inquiry-based sidebars encourage students to LOOK, THINK, MAKE A GUESS, ASK QUESTIONS, and CREATE. Books are authored by writers with disabilities and the series has been developed in partnership with Easterseals who is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. Books include table of contents, glossary, index, author biography, and sidebars.

A revolutionary way to raise and train your dog, with “a wealth of practical tips, tricks, and fun games that will enrich the lives of many dogs and their human companions” (Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian and animal behaviorist). Zak George is a new type of dog trainer. A dynamic YouTube star and Animal Planet personality with a fresh approach, Zak helps you tailor dog training to your pet’s unique traits and energy level—leading to quicker results and a much happier pup. For the first time, Zak has distilled the information from his hundreds of videos and experience with thousands of dogs into this comprehensive dog and puppy training guide that includes: • Choosing the right pup for you • Housetraining and basic training • Handling biting, leash pulling, jumping up, barking, aggression, chewing, and other behavioral issues • Health care essentials like finding a vet and selecting the right food • Cool tricks, traveling tips, and activities to enjoy with your dog • Topics with corresponding videos on Zak’s YouTube channel so you can see his advice in action Packed with everything you need to know to raise and care for your dog, this book will help you communicate and bond with one another in a way that makes training easier, more rewarding, and—most of all—fun!

Dive into the profound impact of therapy dogs on student well-being and inclusivity with 'Implementing Therapy Dog Teams in Partnership with Schools'. This comprehensive guide offers practical strategies for integrating certified therapy dog teams into educational settings, enhancing the learning experience for students. Grounded in research and real-life case studies, this book goes beyond theory, providing actionable advice on how therapy dogs can creatively improve mental health, academic performance, peer relationships, and social skills. Their presence in schools fosters a positive atmosphere, boosting mood, confidence, and self-esteem while promoting self-regulation and reducing absenteeism. Addressing the increasing emotional health challenges among youth, this resource offers clear guidance on selecting, implementing, and evaluating therapy dog programs. It's structured for easy navigation, making it an essential tool for educators, dog handlers, and volunteers dedicated to creating supportive learning environments. Discover how therapy dogs, like Mac, can transform school communities, fostering connections and enriching the educational journey for every student.

Find the right strategies and tools to support students who experience trauma Studies show that 46-75% of children experience trauma, often resulting in challenging behavior, depression, and anxiety as well as long-term physical and mental health issues. Today’s educators, counselors, and clinicians need the right strategies to help. Written by experts with years of experience working with children and teens exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Trauma-Informed Practices for the Classroom and Beyond describes the most effective tools available and walks you through how to implement them with compassion and fidelity. Inside, you’ll find Detailed and easy-to-implement interventions that alleviate the effects of trauma, including mindfulness, journaling, restorative justice, and more Trauma-informed practices to use with all students, regardless of their age or the duration or frequency of their trauma exposure Ways educators can prepare their classrooms and schools to support students who experience ACEs This how-to guide and its companion website with discussion points, recommended videos, and additional resources equips you with evidence-based techniques and instructions to support children and teens with ACEs and enhances your practice to better serve the students who need our help most.

School Counselling in a Chinese Context discusses research in school counselling in the Chinese context of Hong Kong schools and various educational settings, and provides a contextualized understanding of counselling issues. This book highlights key contextual conditions for counselling in Hong Kong – a Chinese society. The sub themes addressed in the book include school practices and teacher perspectives on guidance, counselling, behaviour support and school discipline; whole-school guidance program for identity construction; school counselling for ethnic minority students; contextual influence of the use of play therapy; school counselling for students with minority sexual orientation; Chinese cultural influence on counselling, etc. The book also develops new theoretical orientations to understanding various issues of counselling as arisen in the Chinese society of Hong Kong and helps school practitioners to develop culturally responsive approaches to school counselling for personal growth, spiritual and emotional education. The themes addressed in the book include: School practices and teacher perspectives on guidance, counselling, behavior support and school discipline School counselling for ethnic minority students Contextual and cultural influence of the use of play therapy School counselling for students with minority sexual orientation Chinese culture influence on parental participation in counselling School Counselling in a Chinese Context will be of interest to postgraduates and researchers in the field of Counselling, school psychology, child development and Chinese studies.

This diverse, global, and interdisciplinary volume explores the existing research, practice, and ethical issues pertinent to the field of human-animal interactions (HAIs), interventions, and anthrozoology, focusing on the perceived physical and mental health benefits to humans and the challenges derived from these relationships. The book begins by exploring the basic theoretical principles of anthrozoology and HAI, such as the evolution and history of the field, the importance of language, the economic costs and current perspectives to physical and mental wellbeing, the origins of domestication of animals, anthropomorphism, and how animals fit into human societies. Chapters then move onto practice, covering topics such as how animals help childhood and adulthood development, pet ownership, disability, the roles of pets for people with psychiatric disorders, the links between animal and domestic abuse, and then more widely into the therapeutic roles of animals, animal-assisted therapies, interactions outside the home, working animals, animals in popular culture, and animals in research, for leisure, and food. Including chapters on a wide range of animals, from domesticated pets to wildlife, this collection examines the benefits yet also reveals the complexity, and often dark side, of human-animal relations. Interweaving accessible commentaries with revealing chapters throughout the text, this collection would be of great interest to students and practitioners in the fields of mental health, psychology, veterinary medicine, zoology, biology, social work, history, and sociology.

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy, Sixth Edition continues to be the leading textbook and reference in this field for clinical practitioners. The book provides the evidence basis for the effectiveness of this treatment, as well as guidelines for how to perform it from the selection of treatment animal to application with patients. This new edition is fully updated and contains 15 new chapters on culture, research, standards, of practice, and more. Organized into four sections, the book explores the conceptualization of the animal-human bond, best practices for AAI professionals, considerations related to animal selection/ training/ welfare, and utilizing AAI in special populations. The book may serve as a study guide for the Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification Exam. - Summarizes current research on AAT - Guides readers how to work with a therapy animal safely and effectively - Covers AAT with special populations and for specific disorders - Supports study for the Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification exam - Contains 15 new chapters on culture, research, standards of practice, and more