Student education
Student education
Feature multiple visits to clients . The advice includes finding out whether there are local and / or service guidelines on managing community visits where pets are present . It also includes methods for engaging safely with pets ( particularly dogs ) where they cannot be excluded from the intervention environment .
Students are encouraged to consider the following related to community visits while on practice placements :
• While owners may consider their pets to be docile and friendly , the stress of strangers in the home , particularly if introducing equipment , or handling the client as part of therapeutic interventions , could elicit unexpected behaviours from pets ( particularly dogs ).
• In addition to this , a pet trying to ‘ protect ’ their owner or gain attention , could be a tripping hazard for the client or others in the immediate environment .
• Risk assessment is therefore necessary prior to a visit and as part of this , information needs to be gathered on whether there are pets in the environment .
• We also need to consider that the visiting therapist may be fearful of animals , have allergies triggered by animal contact or may have other personal / cultural reasons for not wishing to be in the presence of animals .
• If pets are going to be present and the occupational therapist feels this will be an issue , it is worth initially discussing whether pets can be secured away from the assessment area during the visit . If this is not feasible , it may be necessary to discuss with colleagues an alternative approach to the visit where possible .
Year two : assistance / therapy animals
In the second year of the BSc programme , the module includes a workshop on assistance / therapy animals . In this workshop , students can meet a variety of therapy / assistance animals with service users and animal owners and handlers .
Since 2015 , this has included mental health assistance dogs ( Veterans with Dogs ), autism assistance dogs ( Autism Life Dogs ), guide dogs ( privately owned guide dog and guide dog puppy walkers ), a therapy cat ( owned by a graduate of the programme ), therapy chickens ( owned by a student and subsequent graduate of the programme ) and guinea pigs ( with a service user from a local mental health unit ).
Presentations have been given by myself and other OTs on equine-based therapies specific to the profession . These have included an introduction to the Equine Facilitated OT-UK special interest group , co-founded in 2015 by myself and Rhona Harkness , The Centred OT Practice .
The purpose of the second-year workshop is to identify where occupational therapy may have a role with assistance / therapy animal organisations , following my own experience of volunteering with various assistance dog charities and my work in equine-based therapies and Riding for the Disabled .
In addition , the workshop provides opportunity for students to consider where animals may contribute to a therapeutic environment as part of occupational therapy interventions .
During the workshop we also consider the welfare of animals in a therapeutic context and emphasise the need for this awareness , for the sake of the animals and for the success of the human-animal connection .
Risk assessment
Detailed risk assessments are completed for both workshops and students are encouraged to identify any concerns about attending , where animals are present . It is therefore not compulsory for students to be present at the workshops . They can however engage via MS Teams if they do not attend in person .
Students are also encouraged to investigate animal assistance / therapy organisations in advance of the workshops , and to begin considering where their occupational therapy skills may be utilised .
Outcomes
Since the introduction of the companion / therapy animal workshops in the first and second years of the BSc Occupational Therapy programme , I have been asked to advise therapists in practice on introducing animals to their therapeutic programmes .
Graduates of the BSc programme have also introduced animals to their therapeutic interventions , and some have become involved with assistance / therapy animal organisations .
Meredith P , Strong J , Condon L , Lindstrom D and Hill J ( 2022 ) Understanding the occupational role of dog ownership through the lens of attachment theory : A survey study . British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 86 ( 3 ): 1-10 . doi : 10.1177 / 03080226221133036 .
Slatter J , Lloyd C and King R : ( 2012 ) Homelessness and companion animals : More than just a pet ? British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 75 ( 8 ): 377-383 . doi : 10.4276 / 030802212X13433105374350 .
Words MAGGIE BRACHER , Retired Occupational Therapy Lecturer , University of Southampton . With thanks to Jules Brittan , Dog Trainer / Behaviourist
July 2023 OTnews 55