Levinson (1984) defines animal therapy as a single process that introduces a companion animal into the life of a person in order to enhance his/her emotional well-being. Regarding the therapeutic effect of these animals, Levinson reports that these animals can be used for diverse therapeutic purposes. The four most common uses for animal therapy are said to be using the animals as: (1) as a psychotherapeutic adjunct (patient interacts with an animal either during or in between therapeutic sessions),
(2) as the sole therapist (patient interacts only with animals and does not receive human counseling/psychotherapy),
(3) as a catalytic agent for change (animal is introduced into the therapeutic intervention at a moment when a patient is primed for psychotherapeutic change), and
(4) as a means of contact with nature, the unconscious, and the universe (patient uses animal to invoke psychiatric breakthrough and/or spiritual experience).
In terms of the effects of each of these purposes, Levinson notes that:
These uses are all seen as interrelated, and it is understood that in all of them, contact comfort is either present or is easily available. (p. 131)
The purpose of this study is to examine the literature on animal therapy with particular emphasis upon the benefits associated with the use of dogs; commonly the dogs utilized in animal therapy interventions are referred to as "therapy dogs".
12 
)
= 2486
= 10 (250 words per page)
