Integrating Therapy Animals into Social Work Practice: Ethics, Evidence, and Pathways to Get Started with Taylor Chastain Griffin, Ph.D.

Taylor Chastain Griffin, Ph.D., is dedicated to advancing the field of animal-assisted interventions (AAI), currently serving as the National Director of AAI Advancement for Pet Partners and the Executive Director of the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP). Her work focuses on supporting research, strengthening professional standards, and helping the therapy animal field continue to grow in meaningful and responsible ways.

Taylor earned her doctorate in research psychology in 2018, with a focus on the human-animal bond in the context of shared traumatic experiences. Her career has consistently centered on understanding and strengthening relationships between humans and animals, shaped by both her academic training and years of hands-on experience with therapy animal teams.

In addition to her organizational roles, Taylor has an extensive background as a dog trainer, offering group classes and private training ranging from foundational obedience to reactive dog rehabilitation. Her approach emphasizes communication, trust, and long-term success for both dogs and their people. She has also fostered dozens of dogs, further deepening her understanding of canine behavior and adaptability.

A speaker and published author, Taylor is committed to advancing ethical, evidence-informed practices within the field. She lives in Georgia with her husband, children, and a lively household of animals—and hasn’t lived with fewer than seven dogs at any point in the past decade.

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