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Paws for Progress is a comprehensive guide for speech-language pathologists who want to learn how to partner with their own trained therapy dog safely and effectively to enhance their practice and meet client goals. From initial assessment and training options to introducing your therapy dog to your clients, Sharlet Lee Jensen draws on her expertise and experience to get you started on the path to success. The book is packed with valuable advice, practical tips, and therapy dog–related activities and resources.

Paws for Progress covers:

• Business, ethical, safety, and cultural considerations
• How to decide if your dog is suitable as a therapy dog, and how to find professional dog training
• Guidance on preparing for a successful first session
• Information on when and how your therapy dog can participate in sessions
• Engaging, targeted activities to improve communication, literacy, and feeding and swallowing skills

Throughout, Sharlet emphasizes the safety and welfare of all parties. Real-life examples illustrate how building rapport and fostering a safe and enriching environment for both your clients and your therapy dog can lead to better therapy sessions and improved communication and feeding outcomes.

134 pages, softcover

ISBN: 978-1-58041-139-4

About the Author

Sharlet Lee Jensen graduated from the University of Washington with a master’s degree in speech and hearing sciences in 2003. She started her career at a non-profit early intervention center, working extensively with families from a variety of cultures, home languages, and income levels as part of an interdisciplinary team of therapists. She has also worked in schools and a private clinic, as well as working as an independent autism consultant to a small outlying school district. She owns a private practice, specializing in working with children with autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, orofacial myofunctional disorders, articulation disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, and dyslexia. Sharlet is often joined at work by a trained therapy dog as she incorporates animal-assisted interventions into sessions. She is a member of the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals and is a Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist.

Praise for Paws for Progress

“Essential foundational information is clearly provided alongside highly applicable strategies and best practices. The templates provided throughout allow a professional to immediately envision interactions between a therapy animal and clients. Considerations that protect the well-being of therapy animals are also thoughtfully intertwined. I will be recommending this book for years to come!” -Dr. Taylor Chastain Griffin, PhD, AAAIP Executive Director.

“This is the book that I wish existed before I started working with a therapy dog in my speech therapy practice. Whether you have experience with therapy dogs or you are just getting started, you will learn to build a mutually beneficial AAI practice. As an SLP and certified therapy dog handler, I was yelling “YES!” from very first page to the last. This is a must-have resource for SLPs in AAI, by an SLP in AAI.” -Tamara Stroble, MA, CCC-SLP

“Sharlet Jensen has written the go-to manual for speech-language pathologists wishing to engage clients in canine-assisted therapy.?Here you will find the answers to questions you may not have thought to ask, therapy models explained, and creative ideas to include animal related engagement for therapists who don’t yet have a therapy dog but do have clients who love dogs. Readers will especially appreciate her?myriad examples of effective therapy sessions with a canine co-therapist.” -Betty J. Tedford, MS, CCC-SLP