Mamabolo, Koketso Nelly2025-08-202025-08-202024https://hdl.handle.net/10566/20772Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has gained much interest in healthcare settings internationally. AAT involves collaborating with animals to improve mental and physical health. Studies have shown that AAT can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and promote social support. However, implementing this complementary healing modality – and assessing its effectiveness – within health and social services is still lacking. The literature on AAT is minimal in the African context, but it is a growing area of interest. This study aims to understand the experiences of AAT professionals' (certified psychologists, psychiatrists, registered counsellors, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, as well as professionals working in social services, education, and animal health and training), in terms of how animals are incorporated into the therapeutic setting and the benefits and challenges of practicing within AAT. A qualitative exploratory design was utilised to enable professional practitioners to describe their experience of integrating therapy animals into practice. Nine professional practitioners from across South Africa were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Information was obtained via semi-structured interviews which were facilitated through online platforms such as Zoom or Google Meets. Prochaska’s (1984) systems theory, six focused model and the triangular model of relational dynamics of AAT were employed to explore the triadic nature of the relationship between the therapist-animalclient. Data was analysed thematically using the method developed by Braun and Clarke (2012).enAnimal-Assisted TherapyIn PracticeExperiencesPractitionersSouth AfricaThesis