Term Paper - Seema Misra

Topic For Research Paper : Animal Assisted Therapy

Aim: AAT is a new complimentary therapy. This paper provides a brief description of animal assisted therapy. A contextual understanding of this emerging therapy is aimed at by looking at:

· History of this therapy in India

· Applicability

· Ethical issues surrounding the use of animals in therapy

· The nature of the relationship between the therapy animal, the Mental Health Professional and the Client

· Brief description of the Organizations/ NGO’s that use this therapy

· How is AAT practiced in India different from that in America where it originated

Methodology: Books, and articles written on the topic. Information from some websites and discussion forums. Interviews with people who are involved in this.

So far I have interviewed Ms. Rohini Fernandis who started Animal Angels Foundation in Mumbai and Mrs. Pushpa Bopiah who runs Healing Horses in Bangalore.