In 1792, British philanthropist and quaker William Tuke incorporated birds and animals in the treatment plan for people with mental health needs in his asylum, The York Retreat. The broad category of animal-assisted interventions includes animal-assisted therapy (AAT), animal-assisted education (AAE), and animal-assisted activities (AAA). However, in most cases, people mistake animal-assisted activities (AAA) for animal-assisted therapy (AAT) or pet therapy. Animal-assisted therapy can boost physical activity by encouraging movement through walking, grooming or playing with animals. These interactions also enhance motivation by helping patients engage more actively in rehabilitation or exercise-based treatments.
Conditions
The calming presence of animals can ease emotional distress and create a sense of connection during treatment or recovery. People who are allergic to animal dander Animal Therapy Benefits may have reactions during pet therapy. Also, while animals in pet therapy programs are typically screened for behavior and health, it’s still possible that human injury or infectious disease can occur when unsuitable animals are used. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, there are a number of effective therapies that can help people manage their symptoms and live productive, fulfilling lives.
Real-Life Impact of Therapy Animals
- Studies have shown animal-assisted psychotherapy also has a positive impact on aging individuals and the elderly.
- Below, we will explore these benefits in more depth to emphasise why this approach is such a valuable addition to therapeutic programs.
- The calming presence of animals can ease emotional distress and create a sense of connection during treatment or recovery.
- AAT, by definition, involves the active participation of a mental health professional.
- A total of 16 papers published between 2015 and 2023 were selected for analysis.
The unspoken communication between child and animal can foster verbal and nonverbal communication skills in the child. All of these attributes help children maintain secure and mutually respectful relationships during difficult times throughout their lives. Clients with a fear of animals may require gradual exposure or alternative therapeutic methods. Olivine is a Texas-based psychologist with over a decade of experience serving clients in the clinical setting and private practice.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Programs like the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test are common, and groups like Pet Partners certify both animal and handler. Before an animal and its handler can participate in pet therapy, the team has to fulfill certain requirements. This therapy is conducted by health professionals and is documented and evaluated for effectiveness. The general plan for training a therapy animal is socialization, basic obedience, and specialized training to handle any scenario that may be thrown your way. These will include checking immunization records and performing physical exams to ensure that the animal is generally healthy and free of disease. They will also have to undergo temperament testing to make sure that they behave properly with both the handler and other people.
How is pet therapy administered?
Notably, the 5 studies specifically targeted middle-aged and older patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia. These outcomes were measured using a variety of scales and assessment tools 5,20,21,23,33. In a study conducted by Brown et al 27, the focus was on examining the impact of mood states and feelings among patients and staff in inpatient psychiatric units.
If you’re interested in trying animal-assisted therapy, having a conversation with a doctor or mental health specialist is a good place to start. Research from 2016 has also linked animal-assisted therapy to improved blood flow in people experiencing heart failure. “A therapy animal, on the other hand, is used for specific tasks like education (or) stress relief,” she explains. Or, it may take a more active role, like when a therapy client interacts with the animal by grooming it or walking with it.
- The 6 trials that specifically addressed stress and anxiety used AAT interventions involving dog therapy.
- Some types of animals are used more often because they’re compatibile with services provided.
- First, “supportive mediation” involves AATs providing emotional and psychological support to individuals.
- Patients in the intervention group reported a significant decrease in depression and anxiety levels, as measured by the PHQ-4, compared to the control group.
Pet therapy refers to the use of animals as aides in the treatment of mental and physical disorders. It usually involves a guided interaction between a patient and a trained “therapy animal”. Animal-assisted therapy provides emotional comfort and companionship, helping individuals feel less isolated and more supported.
This feeling could lead to possessiveness or actually decrease a person’s satisfaction with therapy. Some people going through rehabilitation for a drug use disorder may also respond well and have a greater sense of well-being when working with an animal. The handler must generally pass an instructional course on how to interact with people and perform the types of therapies that they may provide. Animal therapy partially uses this bond in a directed way to achieve the goals of the therapy. This unique bond can help the child develop traits like patience, respect, empathy, acceptance, confidence, assertiveness, and responsibility.
The overall assessment of animal-assisted therapy shows promise as an effective intervention in promoting well-being among diverse populations. Further research and the establishment of standardized outcome assessment measures and comprehensive policies are essential for advancing the field and maximizing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. Eligibility depends on the care setting and the condition of the person to receive the therapy.
However, select insurers are beginning to include pet therapy as a complementary healthcare option. In addition, any animal, no matter how well trained, can be unpredictable if it becomes scared or distressed. While you cannot ever completely eliminate the risk of an animal harming or biting a patient, in reality, the training they receive paired with the skill of therapy animal handlers renders this risk rather small. To combat this, hospitals and institutions have strict protocols to ensure their patients are not put at undue risk due to the presence of therapy animals. While pet therapy may offer various potential benefits, more rigorous research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness and limitations.
The description of selected studies for qualitative analysis is presented in Tables1 2. Studies reported on patients’ experiences with animal-assisted interventions such as dog therapy or animal visits. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and extract meaningful insights from the type of disorder. Participants described the animals as a source of comfort, providing emotional support and reducing stress and anxiety. The interactions with the animals were reported to have a soothing effect and helped individuals cope with their challenges and emotional difficulties. Animal therapy is the use of an animal to provide comfort, emotional support, and therapeutic care to people with a variety of health challenges in different situations.
In Europe, the European Society for Animal Assisted Therapy (ESAAT) plays a substantial role as an influential organization operating across various disciplines and professions within the field. ESAAT’s primary mission is to accredit education and training programs in the domain of animal-assisted interventions 39. While the Western world has made significant advancements in AAT, Eastern countries such as India, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Sri Lanka are still in the early stages of exploring and implementing such practices.
A number of organizations train handlers and connect them to healthcare providers. Before getting approval for therapy use, both the animal and the handler will have to go through various certifications with these groups and organizations. The exact type of animal therapy can vary greatly depending on what condition the person has, the type of animal, and what kind of therapy they provide. The quiet and affectionate nature of cats makes them highly effective in settings like hospice care or even within individual therapy sessions.
“We go into various healthcare settings from hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, shelters, even the airport,” Morrison says of her visiting therapy dog. Animal-assisted therapy is using an animal as part of goal-oriented therapy sessions. If you’ve ever felt comforted by your family pet, you’ve had a glimpse into the benefits of animal-assisted therapy.
