Animal Assisted Therapy is the use of companion animals to help people with special needs.  AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning (thinking and intellectual skills).  AAT is provided in a variety of settings and may be group or individual in nature.  An example of AAT would be obedience training with a head injured individual and his dog to assist with memory, daily living skills, routines.  This type of AAT is also used to help the individual in identifying emotions & feelings through the use of dog training.  This service is used by physiotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, senior residences at risk teen programs etc.