Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy
At Toronto Children’s Therapy Centre, we are pleased to offer Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) as part of our occupational therapy services. This approach integrates the calming and motivating presence of our certified therapy dog, Summer, into 1:1 occupational therapy sessions delivered by one of our licensed occupational therapists.
What is Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy?
Animal-Assisted Therapy is a goal-directed occupational therapy approach that includes the involvement of a trained therapy dog to enhance engagement, participation, and overall therapeutic outcomes. The presence of an animal can help children feel safe, supported, and motivated, making it easier to connect, take risks, and practice new skills.
Through interactive, play-based, and movement-based activities with Summer, children work toward goals that are meaningful and functional to them and their families.
Areas of Focus
Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy can support development across several key areas, including:
- Emotional awareness and self-regulation
- Sensory processing and modulation
- Confidence and motivation
- Social participation and connection
- Fine and gross motor coordination
- Routine-building and self-care independence
Each session is tailored to your child’s goals, strengths, and comfort level. Activities may include gentle play, grooming, movement-based challenges, or cooperative tasks with Summer designed to promote engagement and regulation.
Who Might Benefit
This service may be a great fit for children who:
- Experience challenges with regulation, attention, or sensory processing
- Are motivated by animals or respond positively to animal interaction
- Find traditional therapy settings challenging or overstimulating
- Benefit from hands-on, relationship-based, and experiential learning
Getting Started
If you’re interested in learning more about Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy, we invite you to schedule a consultation to determine if this approach is the right fit for your child. During the consultation, an occupational therapist will discuss your child’s needs, goals, and environment, and help you decide whether incorporating our therapy dog, Summer, into sessions would best support their development.
If you think your child may benefit from Animal-Assisted Occupational Therapy, please contact us at 647-526-0737 or email: Alexandra@torontoctc.ca
BIO – Ali Cooper OT Reg. (Ont)
Ali Cooper is a registered Occupational Therapist who began her career as a teacher, with a B.Ed. from McGill University. Her experience working in the education system ignited her passion to better support children, and led her to earn her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto. Ali strives to help children with a wide variety of difficulties, including those that struggle with fine and gross motor, regulation, sensory processing, handwriting, and feeding skills. Ali’s background in teaching provides her with key insight to both the in-school and at-home needs of your child, and she has experience with direct and consultative therapy related to school, play, and self-care. Ali’s specialized training includes certification in Handwriting Without Tears, as well as experience with animal-assisted therapy (AAT), which involves incorporating animals into treatment sessions to motivate and engage clients to meet their goals. She also works with the University of Toronto’s Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy program as a preceptor and facilitator, enabling her to maintain a strictly evidence-based mode of practice.
