Self-Efficacy among Counselors Trained in Animal-Assisted Play Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the participant’s level of self-reported counseling self-efficacy when conducting an animal assisted play therapy (AAPT) session. The results indicated that participants had a moderate to high level of self-reported counseling self-efficacy on both the Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT) questions and the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES). The participants’ years of clinical experience had a statistically significant effect on three CASES subscales: insight, exploration and session management. The participants’ responses on the AAPT measure, CASES, as well as four of the CASES subscales were also statistically significant when the in-person training component of the Playful Pooch training program had been completed. Participants with play therapy credential produced scores were statistically significant on the CASES exploration and session management subscales.