Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)

Abstract

Trauma related symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have long been recognized for their connection to military and veteran populations and has become a significant barrier to the provision of mental healthcare. This original contribution to practice explores the significance of Canine Assisted Therapy as a novel approach to treating trauma in veteran and military populations. An extensive literature review examines the current research and discussion on trauma-informed care. It begins with a discussion on evidence-based practices for the treatment of PTSD, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This is followed by a comprehensive review of Canine Assisted Therapy and its specific uses in trauma-focused mental health care. General conclusions indicate Canine Assisted Therapy is likely an effective adjunctive approach to more traditional models of trauma-focused psychotherapy. However, further research must be conducted to further define the mechanisms of action and validate this as a standardized and manualized Canine Assisted treatment protocol.

Faculty Mentor

Theresa Botts, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Melinda Moore, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Jerry Palmer, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

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