WHO: Therapy dogs and their handlers from the U.S. and Canada, including volunteers with the Toronto-area organization Therapeutic Paws of Canada.
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Mary Lou Randour, PhD, Humane Society of the U.S.
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Aubrey Fine, PhD, California State Polytechnic University
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Camille DeBell, PhD, Regis University
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Holly Hargreaves, MA, Marymount University
WHAT: More than a dozen dogs and their handlers will be bringing a four-legged perspective to therapy at two sessions aimed at showing how animal-assisted therapy works.
1st Session: The dogs will demonstrate how they are trained to encourage children to read, comfort cancer patients and provide companionship to elderly nursing home residents.
2nd Session: The dogs and their handlers will be on hand for a discussion as well as a question and answer session on the benefits of being an animal therapy volunteer.
WHERE: American Psychological Association’s 117th Annual Convention
1st Session: Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building Meeting Level 200, Meeting Room 205C
2nd Session: St. Andrews Convention Centre 150 King St. West, Toronto 27th Floor, Suite 1
WHEN: 1st Session: Saturday, Aug. 8, 9:00 – 9:50 AM
2nd Session: Saturday, Aug. 8, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.