Using Pets to Help Children

Eric Goebelbecker on June 15, 2011

Last week, for the Animal Cafe podcast, I interviewed IAABC Certified Member Dr. Risë Van Fleet.

I spoke to Risë about pet play therapy and how dogs (and other pets too!) can be used to help children work through various problems and communicate better with adults. For example, how can you use targeting a child that is afraid of the dark?

Here is the podcast interview:

Dr. Van Fleet has a very active Facebook group that you can join, as well as the Playful Pooch fan page where you can find news and articles about pet play therapy. Kirrie has some notes on her own over here on Facebook!

Risë also provided me with this video, showing some work with children, and how training figures into some of the therapy:

Risë VanFleet, Ph.D., RPT-S is a licensed psychologist and registered play therapist-supervisor with 35 years of clinical and leadership experience in a variety of settings. She is the president of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc. in Boiling Springs, PA. She is the clinical consultant for the Beech Street Program. Dr. VanFleet is the founder of the International Collaborative on Play Therapy and a Past President/Board Chair of the Association for Play Therapy. She has authored several books on filial/family therapy, numerous chapters on play therapy, and is featured on 4 DVD workshops. Risë has trained thousands worldwide, and she has received 2 prestigious national awards for her work.