Goal setting is a fundamental component of occupational therapy practice because it transforms assessment findings into meaningful, measurable and person-centred outcomes. Within assistance animal practice, goal setting provides the link between understanding a person’s occupational challenges and determining how an assistance animal may contribute to improved participation.

An assistance animal should not be viewed as the goal itself.

The goal is not:

“Obtain an assistance animal.”

The goal is:

“Enable meaningful participation in valued occupations through an appropriate and sustainable intervention.”

This distinction is critical because an assistance animal is a means to support occupational outcomes, not an outcome in itself.

Effective goal setting ensures that assistance animal recommendations are:

• person-centred;
• functionally relevant;
• measurable;
• realistic;
• ethically justified;
• connected to meaningful participation.

Within assistance animal practice, occupational therapists use goal setting to clarify:

• what the person wants to achieve;
• what barriers are affecting participation;
• how an assistance animal may contribute;
• how outcomes will be evaluated;
• whether the intervention remains beneficial over time.

The Importance of Occupational Goals in Assistance Animal Practice

Occupational therapy differs from many health professions because it does not define success solely through symptom reduction or impairment change.

A person may continue to experience disability while achieving significant improvements in occupational participation.

For example:

A person with chronic pain may continue to experience pain but may achieve their goal of returning to employment through appropriate supports.

A person with anxiety may continue to experience anxiety but may achieve their goal of independently attending university.

An assistance animal should therefore be considered according to whether it supports meaningful life outcomes.

The occupational therapist must ask:

• What occupation is important to this person?
• What prevents participation?
• What change would make a meaningful difference?
• Could an assistance animal reasonably contribute to this change?

From Occupational Assessment to Goal Development

Goal setting should emerge directly from the occupational assessment process.

The pathway should be:

Occupational profile

↓

Understanding the person’s life, roles, values and priorities.

↓

Functional assessment

↓

Identifying barriers affecting participation.

↓

Occupational goals

↓

Defining desired changes in meaningful activities.

↓

Assistance animal role

↓

Considering whether the animal may contribute to achieving those goals.

↓

Task development

↓

Identifying trained behaviours that support the occupational outcome.

This sequence prevents the common mistake of selecting tasks first and attempting to justify them afterwards.

The Difference Between Goals and Tasks

A critical concept in assistance animal practice is understanding the difference between an occupational goal and an assistance animal task.

A goal describes the meaningful outcome the person wants to achieve.

A task describes what the animal is trained to do to contribute to that outcome.

For example:

Occupational Goal

“Increase independence accessing community environments.”

Functional Barrier

“Disability-related distress and difficulty maintaining regulation in unfamiliar environments.”

Assistance Animal Role

“Provide trained support strategies that assist the person to manage identified barriers.”

Task

“Perform a trained interruption or grounding response when specific cues occur.”

The task is not the goal.

The task exists because it supports the goal.

Developing Person-Centred Goals

Person-centred goal setting requires meaningful involvement of the individual.

The occupational therapist should explore:

• What matters most to you?
• What activities are currently limited?
• What would you like to do differently?
• What would increased participation look like?
• How would you know the assistance animal was helping?

This process recognises that the person is the expert in their own life.

The occupational therapist contributes:

• assessment expertise;
• clinical reasoning;
• knowledge of intervention options;
• understanding of functional outcomes.

The final goals should represent a shared understanding between the person and professional.

Goal Setting and the Occupational Therapy Concept of Meaning

Not all improvements are equally meaningful.

A task may appear clinically valuable but have little relevance to the person’s actual life.

For example:

An assistance animal may be trained to retrieve objects.

However, retrieval may only be meaningful if it enables a valued occupation such as:

• preparing meals;
• completing work tasks;
• managing daily routines;
• participating independently.

Occupational therapists must therefore consider the meaning behind goals rather than focusing only on observable task completion.

Types of Goals Relevant to Assistance Animal Practice

Participation Goals

Participation goals focus on involvement in meaningful life situations.

Examples:

• returning to education;
• maintaining employment;
• increasing community access;
• participating in social activities.

These are often the most meaningful long-term outcomes.

Occupational Performance Goals

These focus on the person’s ability to complete specific occupations.

Examples:

• completing morning routines;
• attending appointments;
• managing household activities.

Independence Goals

Independence does not mean doing everything alone.

In occupational therapy, independence means having the ability and support required to participate according to personal goals.

An assistance animal may support independence by:

• reducing barriers;
• increasing confidence;
• providing trained assistance;
• enabling greater choice.

Quality of Life Goals

Some assistance animal outcomes may relate to:

• wellbeing;
• confidence;
• social participation;
• sense of autonomy;
• life satisfaction.

These outcomes should still be connected to meaningful participation rather than relying solely on emotional attachment.

SMART Goals and Assistance Animal Practice

Many occupational therapists use SMART goal principles to support clarity.

Goals should ideally be:

Specific

Clearly describe the desired occupational outcome.

Not:

“Improve independence.”

Instead:

“Increase ability to independently attend university classes.”

Measurable

Identify how progress will be evaluated.

Measurement may include:

• frequency of participation;
• level of assistance required;
• confidence ratings;
• occupational performance measures.

Achievable

Goals should be realistic considering:

• disability;
• environment;
• available supports;
• animal capability.

Relevant

Goals should connect to meaningful occupations.

Time-Based

Goals should include an appropriate review period.

Avoiding Unrealistic Assistance Animal Goals

Occupational therapists must support realistic expectations.

An assistance animal cannot:

• eliminate disability;
• guarantee emotional regulation;
• replace treatment;
• remove all barriers;
• solve environmental inaccessibility.

Goals should describe achievable changes in participation.

For example:

Unrealistic:

“The assistance dog will prevent anxiety episodes.”

More appropriate:

“The assistance dog will provide trained support strategies that assist the person to implement their established regulation plan and participate in community activities.”

Goal Setting and Healthy Interdependence

Assistance animal partnerships involve interdependence.

The goal is not complete independence from all supports.

Healthy partnerships recognise that:

• the person supports the animal;
• the animal supports the person;
• both have needs;
• both contribute to the relationship.

Goals should therefore consider:

• the person’s participation;
• the animal’s welfare;
• sustainable partnership expectations.

Considering the Animal Within Goal Development

Although occupational therapists focus primarily on human occupation, assistance animal goals must also consider animal welfare.

A goal that requires excessive workload, unsafe tasks or unrealistic expectations is not appropriate.

For example:

A person may identify a desire for an animal that provides constant support throughout every moment of distress.

The occupational therapist must consider:

• Is this realistic?
• Is this appropriate for the animal?
• Are additional human supports required?
• Could this create unhealthy dependence?

Ethical goal setting balances human needs with animal wellbeing.

Reviewing and Adapting Goals Over Time

Occupational goals are not static.

People’s circumstances change due to:

• changes in disability;
• life transitions;
• ageing;
• environmental changes;
• health changes;
• changing priorities.

Assistance animal goals should therefore be reviewed regularly.

A task that was meaningful at one stage may become:

• unnecessary;
• ineffective;
• inappropriate;
• difficult for the animal.

Ongoing review ensures the partnership remains beneficial.

Key Practice Principles

1. The Goal Is Participation, Not the Animal

An assistance animal is an intervention used to support meaningful occupational outcomes.

2. Goals Must Come Before Tasks

Tasks should be developed because they address an identified occupational need.

3. Goals Should Reflect the Person’s Priorities

The most clinically appropriate goal is not always the most meaningful goal.

4. Focus on Functional Outcomes

Recommendations should describe what changes in the person’s life are expected, not simply what the animal will do.

5. Avoid Promising Outcomes Beyond the Evidence

Assistance animals can provide meaningful support, but they do not remove disability or replace other interventions.

6. Consider the Sustainability of the Partnership

Goals must be achievable for both the person and the animal.

7. Review Goals Over Time

Assistance animal partnerships evolve, and goals should adapt to changing circumstances.

Effective goal setting ensures assistance animal practice remains grounded in occupational therapy principles. By connecting functional needs with meaningful participation outcomes, occupational therapists can support recommendations that are ethical, evidence-informed and sustainable for both the person and the animal.