An auto-ethnography of a therapy dog’s role in establishing a therapeutic bond

Abstract

The purpose of this analytical auto-ethnography was to analyse and describe my lived experiences as an educational psychologist of the role my therapy dog played in establishing a bond between me and children in play therapy. The study adopted a qualitative research design philosophically rooted in hermeneutic phenomenology. Data were generated from my observations, recollections, introspections, and reflections on play therapy.

The study revealed that a therapy dog can assist a play therapist by creating an environment where child clients feel comfortable and unconditionally accepted. Such a dog can also act as an “ice breaker” by promoting conversation and communication between the therapist and child clients, creating a climate of trust and safety. A dog’s naturally playful nature facilitates playfulness in therapy. My observations in the current study led me to conclude that a therapy dog can fulfil the functions of an attachment figure when a play therapist works through the dog to achieve proximity maintenance and provide a safe haven and a secure base.

Based on my findings, I was able to create a conceptual framework that links theory with how I work with my therapy dog to foster bonds with child clients. The conceptual framework has five theoretical constructs, namely play and playfulness, creating a holding environment, affect mirroring, mentalising and reflective functioning, and nonverbal communication and body experience. These constructs are operationalised through strategies and techniques that demonstrate to scholars and professionals how to establish bonds with child clients during animal-assisted play therapy.