What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
Are you stuck in life? Maybe suffering from depression or anxiety? Searching for a therapist who not only understands where you are but helps you open up?
Have you thought of animal-assisted therapy?
Roughly 60 years ago, American psychologist Dr. Boris Levinson coined the terms “animal-assisted therapy“ and “pet therapy.” He did so after seeing the positive impact his dog Jingles had on a young patient and exploring their connection further.
Dr. Levinson went on to write a groundbreaking article called “The dog as a ‘co-therapist’,” which he presented at an American Psychological Association conference. Although some in the medical world ridiculed his initial thoughts on the human-animal bond, animal-assisted therapy quickly increased in popularity.
So, what is animal-assisted therapy, how does it work, and what are its potential benefits? Find out below.
Defining Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy, or AAT, is a special type of therapy in which a licensed therapist works with therapeutic animals to treat patients.
Though Dr. Levinson created the term animal-assisted therapy, research suggests early forms of AAT may date back to the 19th century, when medical professionals in Belgium reportedly assigned patients with disabilities to look after farm animals as part of their treatment plans. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, also notably utilized AAT in the 1800s while treating patients.
AAT has come a long way since then. Now AAT is commonly utilized to offer emotional support to those undergoing treatment for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
How Animal-Assisted Therapy Works
Now that you know the answer to the question, “What is animal-assisted therapy?” let’s discuss how it works. It’s widely thought to be an effective add-on to traditional talk therapy but it is so much more than that.
Patients meet with licensed therapists and trained therapy animals during sessions. Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs are just a few animals that can play key roles during AAT sessions.
These sessions involve patients talking with licensed therapists like usual. However, they also enable patients to interact with animals and enjoy certain benefits.
The Potential Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy
Studies have shown that animal-assisted therapy might benefit patients physically and mentally. AAT sessions may, for example, offer anxiety and stress reduction.
Other potential benefits of AAT include:
Better regulation of emotions
Fewer depression symptoms
Lower blood pressure
Enhanced self-esteem
Improved socialization skills
AAT might also work wonders for those grieving the loss of a loved one or dealing with other large, looming life changes.
Interested in Trying Animal-Assisted Therapy? Give Us a Call
At Unleashed Counseling, we offer our patients various mental health services. From traditional talk therapy to walk and talk therapy, you can count on us to deliver the services you need to improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
By participating in AAT sessions, you can also rely on us to help you discover the answer to the question, “What is animal-assisted therapy?” for yourself. Our talented team employs dogs, rabbits, and other trained therapy animals to provide top-notch mental health care.
Contact us at (484) 933-4370 to schedule an appointment and see how beneficial animal-assisted therapy can be to our patients.