...Effect of Animal Assisted Therapy in Therapeutic Environments Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been a form of therapy used since the late sixteenth century. A considerable amount of research has been invested in the study and analysis of AAT because it has yielded significant health benefits. AAT is primarily used along with traditional therapies to treat the deficits that are common to many physical and emotional disabilities. Some include physical delays of Cerebral Palsy (CP), cognitive and language delays in those with Language Learning Disabilities (LLD), and emotional instability in those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While currently many forms of traditional therapies are available, the effectiveness of using animals in therapy...
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...1) Introduction to Topic: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has grown in population in the past five years. More and more hospitals and medical facilities are utilizing therapy dogs while working with geriatrics to quell issues such as depression, loneliness, and inactivity. The physiological benefits of AAT include increase of communication and improved social interaction as well as a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure. In long term care facilities for older folks, these benefits are wildly useful to both the staff and the residents. Therapy animals improve the quality of life for residents by increasing social interaction- not only with the animal handler, but also with surrounding folks that are interested in petting the dog. In addition,...
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...American Mind reports that 21 percent of therapists involved in the American Psychological Association use animals to assist in their psychotherapy treatments (Lilienfeld). Animals can assist in therapy for many purposes in a variety of settings to help those “who are ill, suffering, or in need” (“Therapy Animal”). The benefits of animal-assisted therapy are unquestionable. Animals are such lovable and compassionate companions that they make excellent therapists whether they’re trained as therapy animals or not. As “George Eliot wrote, ‘Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions and they pass no criticism’” (Lilienfeld). People often aren’t informed of the benefits animals can provide, but the research, facts,...
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...Animal Assisted Therapy: One Solution to Violence in Canada’s Prisons Does animal assisted therapy decrease the amount of violence in Canadian prisons? Yes, indeed it does lower violence levels in Canadian prisons. Through the use of animal-assisted therapy in prisons, violence levels decrease due to changes in prisoner behaviors and attitudes (Black et al., 2011) (Furst, 2006) (Walsh, 2009), an improved prison environment (Britton & Button, 2005) (Jasperson, 2010), and the ability for prisoners to give back to their community (Britton & Button, 2005) (Furst, 2006). Over the past two decades, animal assisted therapy (AAT) through prison-based animal programs has improved the behavior and attitudes of prisoners (Furst, 2006). Rather than...
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...would like to advocate for is the integration of animal-assisted therapy into more counseling settings. This type of therapy can be used effectively in a variety of settings, including private practice, prisons, nursing homes, detention centers, hospitals, schools, etc. It is particularly effective with at-risk children and adolescents, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations (Franchy, 2011). When animals are used in therapy, it makes it easier for counselors to build positive therapeutic alliances with their clients. Many children and adolescents prefer to communicate in non-verbal ways; therefore, when a counselor brings an animal, such as a dog, into the counseling session, it becomes much easier for a child or adolescent to open up and express their thoughts and feelings by “project[ing] their own feelings onto the dog” (Shallcross, 2011, A Comfortable Relationship section, para. 5). The child or adolescent is more likely to establish a relationship with the dog, which then transfers to a relationship with the counselor. The animal helps clients feel more comfortable with the counselor, which in turn, facilitates more trust, warmth, and acceptance. Animal-assisted therapy “facilitates breakthroughs with clients” (Shallcross, 2011, para. 1). It enables many different types of clients to open up more freely and express themselves in ways they would not have otherwise. There are endless benefits to using animals in therapy work, but more research needs to be done in order...
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...cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression (Dryden-Edwards, et. al., 2010). Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a relatively new field of study, although the human-animal bond has existed for thousands of years. AAT is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Animals can also be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants (American Humane Association, 2010). Animals are tools for therapy because they can make people feel safe and loved when they have been deprived of social interaction or hurt by other people. They do not communicate with words, and so patients afraid of approaching people can comfortably approach an animal. For the elderly, the companionship of owning a pet can be valuable, especially if they do not have any family or friends nearby to visit. The pet loves them i[n an unconditional way that supports their idea of identity; they can, in effect, make someone feel young and worthwhile again. They also provide an opportunity for fun and relaxation. Animals or pets play lots of roles like comforting the elderly and working with Alzheimer’s patients, helping them to access emotions and memories. In this study, the researchers used the tool created by Aaron T....
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...Why are therapy horses the best? Therapy horses help people with all types of autism and other disabilities. Like stated in the article from, “Everyday Health” there is something called hippo-therapy which utilizes the movement of horses for physical, occupational, or speech therapy, and this has been used to treat motor and sensory issues associated with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Even though horses have been used for physical therapy since the fifth century, the hippo-therapy wasn’t established until the 1960s. But, there are many more ways therapy horses are the best this is through a system called equine-assisted psychotherapy. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a type of experiential psychotherapy that uses them to help...
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...Animal Therapy in the United States Military Marti Powell University Composition and Communication II/COM156 November 25, 2013 Tamra Excell Thesis: The United States Military has different animal therapy programs designed to help Wounded Warriors and active deployed soldiers, and has been doing so since the year 1919. I. Animal-Assisted Therapy A. Definition 1. Differences 2. The Heart B. In the Beginning 1. Thru the years 2. Documentation II. Deployment A. War Zone 1. SFC Boe and Budge 2. Trauma and Reassignment B. Lessons 1. Policy 2. Health III. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center A. Programs 1. Dog Tags 2. Warrior Transition B. Nonprofit 1. Qualifications 2. Benefits Abstract Information for this research paper was obtained by reading articles written for the U.S. Army Medical Department Journal, April-June, 2012. These articles were written about the use of canines by the military for Animal-assisted Therapy in the military. All articles are written...
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...Equine Assisted Psychotherapy The Benefits of Horses in Non-Traditional Therapy In the last few decades Animal-Assisted Therapy, or (AAT) has become more widely accepted and practiced as a tool in psychiatric medicine, as there are many positive effects on humans. One of the most beneficial subdivisions of Animal-Assisted Therapy is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy or (EAP) where patients are paired up with licensed therapists and equine specialists to conduct individual therapy sessions using the horse. Patients who use Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy learn about themselves, and process behaviors, feelings and patterns. Many EAP programs chose to pair patients with horses who always display similar personalities to help create a better mutual...
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...man's best friend. Although most people may believe this phrase refers to the physical and emotional relationship between an individual and their pet, it truly has a much deeper meaning. Very few people know the true impact that dogs, and animals in general, have on individuals who suffer from mental disorders. Especially those who suffer from an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These amazing individuals benefit greatly from the presence of a canine, sparking numerous research efforts to determine whether or not animal assisted therapy is a viable option for treating the condition. With that being said, animal-assisted therapy helps with the social aspect of a child with autism, allowing him/her...
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...Equine Assisted Therapy By: Ashley M. Lorenc An ancient Greek sage once said, "The outside of a horse is the best thing for the inside of man." Hippocrates echoed that sentiment when he spoke of "ride rhythm" (Bliss). I have found there is an unspoken magic that horses posses when it comes to healing human beings. This experience is something that could never be taught or reached in a “talk” therapy session. The primary objective of Equine Assisted Therapy at Helping Hands Therapeutic Riding Center is rehabilitation, but it is also there to provide mental, physical, and social stimulation. The children love coming out to ride. It is amazing seeing an unresponsive child get on a horse and 45 minutes later have a totally different personality. Some of the children are more challenging to work with than others. Their attention spans can be short so keeping them focused and entertained can be difficult. One patient we had was a girl about age 12. While on the horse she would talk in song, in a soft tone. She loved being on the horse. When the therapist would tell her left and right she would start to respond and move the reigns. Every child has their own personalities and their own needs. Each child is matched with a horse depending on those needs. This takes great patience for all the participants. Safety is essential. That is why I am there. I volunteer to walk next to the horse, to control the horse, and to monitor the rider through the lesson. The therapist...
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...Future plans My future plans with my Pet Therapy Capstone project is to continue to go and contribute even if it is just as a volunteer to one of these facilities, so that the continuation of pet therapy does not stop there. Obviously the pet will be there visiting in the facility and interact with patients/residents on a positive noted, but also improve nurse-to-patient interaction and communication. To help address the issue of separation identified in some of the residents presented with the dog, making their time schedule in which they interact with the dog either longer or during the time that other activities going on as well could be beneficial. By doing this, then not all the attention is directly with or on the dog, making the...
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...Equine Therapy November 2014 Equine assisted therapy is a means to promote personal, physical, emotional, and mental growth in a child that is otherwise therapy resistant. In an Autistic child who is non-verbal, has poor social skills, and is inflexible with routines and schedules, Equine assisted therapy is a big step towards personal growth. When a child participates in Equine therapy they learn a sense of responsibility by learning how to properly care for and clean up after the horses. They develop a sense of belonging, of feeling like they finally fit in somewhere because they are constantly surrounded by the same people, who don't make fun of them, and are in a way just like them. Gradually and continuously participating in this type of therapy gives a child a humongous self-esteem boost because once they are able to conquer the ability to control an animal that is ten times their size, in their mind they are able to conquer and overcome anything that's thrown in front of them. It has been proven that when a child who is autistic or has disabilities engages in Equine assisted therapy, their communication, overall physical and behavioral skills increase dramatically. For example, for a child who has physical disabilities, riding a horse tremendously improves balance, coordination, sensory motor skills and posture. "Being on the horse has improved her sense of balance tremendously. At one time she had to think about sitting up, and if she relaxed she would begin to...
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...Burmese breeds. Two different breeds of cats that make great pets are the Burmese and the Ragdoll. Burmese cats are good family cats; they are great with children and dogs as well as other animals. Burmese are a talkative breed and...
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...Topic: Pet Therapy and The Elderly I. Introduction: Humans were not destined to live in isolation, but to establish meaningful relationships and companionships with others. Thesis: Pet therapy has made a substantial and positive impact on the affected elderly since it has improved social stimulation behaviors, provides emotional and physiological stability and alleviates the symptoms of depression. II. Body 1.) Pet therapy improves social stimulation behaviors.(Condit, 2010) A.) Animals can be labeled as alternatives to children who have grown and have moved in with their families or spouses who have passed away. (Beck &Meyers, 1996) * Provide opportunities to increase human-to-human social interaction * Interactions with pets enables them to live alone without being lonely B.) The elderly would be able to bond with the pet since it produces a “stress-reducing effect”. (Beck &Meyers, 1996) * Opportunities for fun and relaxation with the pet * Being able to talk to the pets to vent out their feelings or expressions C.) Studies show that those who experience bonding with their pets facilitate communication and interaction. (Condit, 2010) * Aids in the elderly achieving a positive attitude while conversing with people * Animals including dogs, cats, birds encourage social and verbal interaction 2.) Pet therapy provides emotional and physiological stability.(Condit, 2010) A.) Studies state that pet therapy enhances emotional...
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