PTSD and the Support of AAT
When you experience a traumatic event, the reminders may not go away. Post-traumatic stress disorder impacts the physical and emotional well-being of thousands of people, but how do you free yourself from the symptoms?
Professional therapy solutions, including talk and animal-assisted therapy, can have monumental benefits. Learn about the connection between PTSD and the support of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in this helpful guide. Our experts at Unleashed Counseling share the advantages of working with trained therapy animals alongside traditional mental health solutions.
Understanding PTSD and How It Manifests
Post-traumatic stress disorder may affect anyone after they witness or experience a traumatic event, such as abuse, war, or a natural disaster. The disorder makes it incredibly difficult to lead a healthy, fulfilling life since symptoms include:
Frequent, uncontrollable flashbacks of the triggering event
Severe anxiety or depression
Insomnia
Feelings of anger or guilt
Loss of enjoyment in certain activities
PTSD symptom management is often extremely challenging to navigate on one’s own. Seeking mental health support like talk therapy helps you make sense of your trauma response and how to control it.
Have You Considered Working With an Animal for Emotional Healing?
If you are seeking ways to overcome trauma in your life, traditional talk therapy provides an outlet to develop healthy coping strategies. Mental health professionals may also recommend involving a trained therapy animal. Canine therapy, in particular, helps keep patients calm and prevents them from experiencing intrusive thoughts.
When it comes to PTSD and the support of AAT, working with an animal in tandem with traditional therapeutic approaches can have a significant impact on stress management and overcoming triggers.
The Pillars of Therapy: Anxiety, Conflict Resolution, and Uncovering Memories To Work Through
Traditional talk therapy allows you to explore the source of your anxiety and learn effective coping strategies, such as:
Journaling
Meditation
Breathing and relaxation exercises
Professionals encourage all PTSD patients to speak with a licensed therapist regarding support and guidance. This process encourages patients to address difficult memories, which could heighten their anxiety.
Animal-assisted therapy serves as a worthwhile add-on treatment to reduce the anxious emotions that talk therapy brings up.
How Can an Emotional Support Animal Help You?
While talk therapy has monumental benefits, it’s nice to have an extra source of comfort. That’s where four-legged friends come in. Our trained therapy dogs and bunnies can enhance your well-being by providing unconditional love and companionship and offering ongoing support without any judgment.
The calming presence of a dog or bunny may even motivate someone to attend therapy sessions regularly. Animal-assisted therapy is shown to help patients build trust in others while lowering their stress levels.
When it comes to PTSD and the support of AAT, Unleashed Counseling has your solution. Our compassionate therapists can help you overcome your triggers while our trained animals provide extra comfort in a safe space.
Are you ready to take the first step in your journey to recovery? Enroll in therapy practices today to begin reaping the benefits by scheduling an intake appointment online with Unleashed Counseling.