Session outlines

Canine assisted occupational therapy

Usual care

Initial parent information session (1)

· Goal setting session with the parent and therapy dog present. Completion of the COPM.

· Child strengths and interests identified through discussion with the parents.

· Discussion of home practice expectations.

· Goal setting session with the parent. Completion of COPM.

· Child strengths and interests identified through discussion with the parents.

· Discussion of home practice expectations.

Initial session with the child (2)

· Therapist to introduce themselves to the child.

· Introduce child to therapy dog providing child with photo of the dog with dog’s likes written on the back.

· Child to draw a picture of self and interests for the therapy dog allowing occupational therapist to make behavioural observations including following instructions and attention.

· Goal/s will be discussed with child in developmentally appropriate manner.

· Clinical observations are to be made within the initial sessions regarding the child’s identified goal/s.

· Session will conclude with giving the dog his/her “reward treat” and discussing home practice to show the therapy dog next session.

· Therapist to introduce themselves to the child.

· Child to draw a picture of self and interests for the therapist allowing for behavioural observations including following instructions and attention.

· Goal/s will be discussed with child in developmentally appropriate manner.

· Clinical observations are to be made within the initial sessions regarding the child’s identified goal/s.

· Session will conclude with the client choosing a sticker and discussing home practice to show the occupational therapist next session.

Intervention sessions (3-8)

· Entering each session: Discussion of previous week home practice.

· Beginning intervention: The child will be presented with activity visuals planned for the session. Child and therapy dog (if requested) will be involved in choosing activities for session.

· Intervention activities: Interventions performed throughout the session will be “whole tasks” with a meaningful end goal directed towards the child’s overall goal/s. The “just right challenge” will be provided within all tasks through thorough task analysis completed by the occupational therapist. In addition to visual supports, other evidence-based behaviour management strategies, such as positive reinforcement of the child’s attempts and desired choices will be used throughout the session. Positive reinforcement will include both active and passive involvement of therapy dog. The therapy dog will be actively involved in a minimum of one-therapy activities (including but not limited to: dog pretend play, e.g. puppy tea party; development of social stories involving the dog; self-care skill development, e.g. dressing using dress ups with the dog, board games with the dog as another player). The therapy dog will be passively involved in all other activities (including but not limited to: showing the therapy dog work completed by the child; talking about the therapy dog’s emotions; dog themed fine motor tasks, e.g. dog drawing/colouring).

· Ending the session: Sessions will conclude with giving the dog his/her “reward treat” and discussing home practice.

· Entering each session: Discussion of previous week home practice.

· Beginning intervention: The child will be presented with activity visuals planned for the session. The child will be asked to order the activities that they will be completing.

· Intervention activities: Interventions performed throughout the session will be “whole tasks” with a meaningful end goal directed towards the child’s overall goal/s. The “just right challenge” will be provided within all tasks through thorough task analysis completed by the occupational therapist. In addition to the use of visuals, other behavioural management strategies such as positive reinforcement of the child’s attempts and desired choices will be used. The child’s interests will be actively involved in a minimum of one task, e.g. play based activities involving child’s interest, fine motor tasks involving child’s interest such as drawing/colouring tasks.

· Ending the session: Sessions will conclude with the child choosing a sticker and discussing home practice.

Follow-up session (9)

· Session will be completed as initial session without the child present.

· COPM will again be completed by the parent.

· Session will be completed as initial session without the child present.

· COPM will again be completed by the parent.

Home program

One to two functional tasks tailored to child’s goal is provided at the end of sessions 2-7.

One to two functional tasks tailored to child’s goal is provided at the end of sessions 2-7.