The Therapeutic Effects Upon Dog Owners Who Interact with Their Dogs in a Mindful Way

Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2011 The Therapeutic Effects Upon Dog Owners Who Interact With Their Dogs in a Mindful Way Amy Jackson-Grossblat Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Animal-Assisted Therapy Commons, and the Animal Studies Commons Recommended Citation Jackson-Grossblat, Amy, "The Therapeutic Effects Upon Dog Owners Who Interact With Their Dogs in a Mindful Way" (2011). Dissertations. 466. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/466 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS UPON DOG OWNERS WHO INTERACT WITH THEIR DOGS IN A MINDFUL WAY by Amy Jackson-Grossblat Chair: Dennis Waite ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS UPON DOG OWNERS WHO INTERACT WITH THEIR DOGS IN A MINDFULWAY Name of researcher: Amy Jackson-Grossblat Name and degree of faculty chair: Dennis Waite, Ph.D. Date completed: April 2011 Problem For many in contemporary culture, the pursuit of possession has become an attempt to achieve happiness. However, this path may not always be congruent with psychological well-being. In addition, this path may lead us further away from relationships within the natural world. Humanistic and existential psychologists have suggested that a mindful connection to ourselves, to other-than-human beings, and to the natural world would enable more meaningful lives. If dogs are considered an extension of nature and those interactions between dog and owner that promote mindfulness are examined, there is the potential to obtain a better understanding of how individuals are affected by these interactions in terms of self-growth. Specifically, how do these interactions influence relationships with themselves and others? Purpose The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of three individuals who have worked with their dogs in a mindful manner and to understand how these experiences influenced their relationships with themselves, others, and the natural world and to determine the benefits of these experiences on self-growth and increased happiness from an existential perspective. Methodology A qualitative single-case study was chosen for this research. I chose to examine three individuals‘ experiences of mindful interactions with their dogs. Participants were selected based on recommendation from Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., who has worked with these individuals and their dogs, promoting a mindful interaction and who observed general benefits to psychological well-being in these three individuals. The data for the study consisted of open-ended interviews and field texts of observations and researcher notes. Results and Conclusions Six major themes emerged from the data: Context; Intervening Conditions; Interventions; Differences in Relationships With Others; Changes in Self-Awareness; and Spiritual Growth. Working with an interim text of fictional journals as alternative data representation verified the emerged themes. A cross-case analysis was performed within a three-dimensional space inquiry to deepen the understanding of experience and qualify self-growth for the individuals who participated. These interactions and processes of working with dogs in a natural way appeared to promote mindfulness, heightened awareness, and reportedly improved relationships to other-than-human beings. A process emerged that started with a shift of focus from dog interventions to the individuals‘ actions and awareness of self. Once there was increased self-awareness, the individual had the opportunity to practice with their dog and make improvements within that relationship. The heightened self-awareness from the relationship with the dog appeared to transfer to other human relationships. As the individual experienced greater satisfaction within themselves and connecting to others, a deeper sense of connection and meaning reportedly developed for that individual. This study supports the opinion that therapeutic benefit can be obtained through re- establishing a sense of self as part-of-nature utilizing the dog as an extension of nature. The results of this study have the potential to significantly assist humanistic and existential psychotherapists as well as counselors and other clinicians by providing their clients a direct and practical means of developing new life meanings, to address the problems of life and confront existential issues, all with the accessible modality of the family dog. Andrews University School of Education THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS UPON DOG OWNERS WHO INTERACT WITH THEIR DOGS IN A MINDFUL WAY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Amy Jackson-Grossblat April 2011 © Copyright by Amy Jackson-Grossblat 2011 All Rights Reserved THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS UPON DOG OWNERS WHO INTERACT WITH THEIR DOGS IN A MINDFUL WAY A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Amy Jackson-Grossblat APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ________________________________ _____________________________ Chair: Dennis Waite Dean, School of Education James R. Jeffrey ________________________________ Member: Nancy Carbonell ________________________________ Member: Shirley Freed ________________________________ _____________________________ External: Kathy Koudele Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ................................................. 1 Background of the Problem ...................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................ 4 Purpose of the Study ........................................... 5 Research Questions ............................................ 6 Research Design .............................................. 6 Conceptual Framework ......................................... 7 Importance of the Study ........................................ 10 Definition of Terms ........................................... 11 Delimitations ................................................ 13 Limitations .................................................. 13 Summary ................................................... 14 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .................................. 15 Introduction ................................................. 15 Humanistic and Existential Philosophies ........................... 16 General Overview of Humanistic and Existential Psychology ..... 16 Fromm‘s Alienation of Self ................................ 18 Philosophical Kinship With the Great Masters ................. 21 Process of Being, Self-Transformation, and the Therapeutic Realm .............................................. 22 Buddhist Philosophy and Mindfulness ....................... 26 Specific Approaches to Meditation and Mindfulness ............ 28 Ecopsychology ............................................... 34 Basic Tenants Within Ecopsychology ........................ 34 The Experience of Consciousness, Unconscious, and the Ecological Self ....................................... 37 Ecopsychology and the Concept of Mindfulness ................ 42 Perceptual Practices in Mindfulness ......................... 44 Cohen‘s and Chard‘s Work: Mindfully Experiencing Nature ...... 45 Applied Ecopsychology: Wilderness Therapy .................. 47 Review of Other Programs Oriented to Exposure to Nature ....... 49 The Nature of Dogs ........................................... 56 The Connection of Nature Through Animals .................. 57 The Historical Progression of Our Relationship With Dogs ....... 60 iii Adopting an Animal-Centered Perspective .................... 63 Animal Selves Connecting With Human Selves ................ 65 Understanding Dog Psychology ............................. 66 Pack Leadership ......................................... 68 Human-Animal Bond ..................................... 72 Therapeutic Benefits of Forming Relationships With Animals ..... 73 Self as Active Agent of Healing Working With Dogs ............ 80 The Challenge of a Paradigm Shift .......................... 81 Summary ................................................... 84 III. METHODOLOGY .............................................. 86 Introduction ................................................. 86 Research Questions ........................................... 86 Purposive Sample ............................................ 87 Research Design ............................................. 89 Self as Researcher ............................................ 91 Data Collection .............................................. 93 Interviews .............................................. 93 Researcher Notes ........................................ 95 Data Analysis ................................................ 95 Coding the Data and Emergence of Themes ..................

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