Animal Therapy Purpose, Benefits, and Types


what is animal assisted therapy

Furthermore, AAT and AAA are implemented in different settings like hospitals, nursing homes and schools [4], [5]. The employment of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) resulted increasingly popular, especially among pediatric patients. Chur-Hansen et al. conducted a critical review regarding AAI for children inpatients. Precisely, the authors concluded that the evidences regarding AAI are scant, and more standardized studies (in particular RCTs) about this topic are required [9]. Another recent review considered only the available RCTs regarding AAT, retrieving overall eleven studies (published from 1990 to 2012).

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The reason these questions are difficult to answer with blanket recommendations is because no single AAI is identical, and each intervention will depend on the capacity of that particular animal engaging in that specific scenario. The stress an AAI may place on an animal is dependent on a number of factors, including the handler, the participant, the environment, and the interaction itself [128]. Future research should investigate the effect these factors have on animal welfare. Nevertheless, https://sober-home.org/the-neurobiology-of-substance-use-misuse-and/ Fine argued that perhaps the most significant misunderstanding of HAI has been the misrepresentation and possible exaggeration of AAI’s impact on the humans served [2]. The overemphasis on outcomes that is more anecdotal than evidence-based may have slanted some peoples’ perceptions. Fine argued that the leadership in the field must help educate stakeholders about the value of these interactions and provide a realistic presentation that does not exaggerate the impact of these interactions.

what is animal assisted therapy

Animal-assisted therapy promoting mental well-being in young and old

Five out of seven mentioned effect sizes and fewer than half of studies explicitly stated a hypothesis or characteristics of the animals incorporated into the intervention (Figure 2). All qualitative studies stated aims, eligibility, ethical approval, coherent explanations of findings, clear methodology, limitations, clear themes, incorporated more than one researcher into coding and considered negative/discrepant results. Half of qualitative studies discussed achieving saturation and the triangulation of data.

Animal Therapy Explained: 4 Best Courses & Certifications

Though this review was focused on studies that reported outcomes of military family members (other than or in addition to veterans), findings are also relevant to practitioners of interventions aimed at individual family members. This is unsurprising given that family systems are complex and what happens to one family member (positive or negative) ripples through the rest of the family (52). Military families—a service member or veteran of the armed forces and their immediate family members—may be at risk for a multitude of concerns both inter- and intra-personally.

  1. The unspoken communication between child and animal can foster verbal and nonverbal communication skills in the child.
  2. The presence of an animal can create spontaneous communication in situations where a child might otherwise choose not to communicate.
  3. However, specific questions regarding their use, such as the ideal duration and frequency of interventions, have yet to be answered with scientific evidence.
  4. While a wide variety of literature has explored the impact of AAI for veterans [see recent reviews; (8–10)], much of the literature that has included measures of family-wide impacts has done so solely from the perspective of the veteran.
  5. As always, collaborate with your mental health professional to select an animal-assisted modality that will provide the most benefit and lead to positive emotional progress.

What are the benefits of pet therapy?

Some requirements may include training certification, registration, insurance, or vaccination. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an alternative or complementary type of therapy that includes the use of animals in a treatment. The goal of this animal-assisted intervention is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Studies have documented some positive effects of the therapy on subjective self-rating scales and on objective physiological measures such as blood pressure and hormone levels. Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions. Of course, when thinking of animal welfare, we must remember how we speak about our therapy animals (Compitus, 2020).

what is animal assisted therapy

You and your therapist may discuss your animal while you are working with it, or you might set aside another time to talk about your experiences. If you are in a hospital, school, nursing home, rehabilitation center, or another type of community center, you might not have a relationship with a psychotherapist, but a volunteer with a trained therapy pet might visit you. The book includes examples of animal-assisted interventions using different types of animals for different scenarios. Any counselor who wants to grow their knowledge and ultimately incorporate AAT into their practice will find this book valuable.

It is often used for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder, but can also be used for physical conditions and the emotional component of physical disease. Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal assisted therapy, refers to various services using animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions. Despite these gaps, preliminary evidence suggests that AAIs may be effective for military families. Outcomes from the current review were primarily positive, and challenges highlight opportunities to refine or improve the interventions themselves.

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. Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person’s condition when they are in need.

Anyone considering animal therapy should discuss the process and how they may benefit from it with a doctor or mental health specialist. The positive interactions with an animal may lead to benefits in the mind and body, such as reduced stress and an overall more balanced mental and emotional state. The size and location of the facility as well as the patient population are important factors to consider.

Animal-assisted therapy is rooted in the bond that can develop between people and animals. Animals can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation and toward one that provides pleasure. Animals can help combat loneliness and boost social support, both through interactions with the animal and interactions that involve other people. Animals can lead people to get more physical activity than they would otherwise.

The potential risk of infections was outlined investigating the prevalence of infective agents in animals used for pet-visitation [17], [44]. These studies outlined the potential risk related not only to typical zoonosis, but also to common human infections as MRSA [17], [44]. However, reviews and guidelines suggested that the implementation of all security precautions could effectively minimize risks [16], [37], [38], [39], [40]. Therefore, the identification of patients receiving AAI should be carefully conducted. Some studies described in detail the sanitary protocols adopted for the animals involved, including regular veterinary visits, vaccination documentation and assessments of controllability and temperament [11], [23], [26], [35], [36]. On the contrary, other works did not explicitly refer to any of these procedures.

Overall, findings support the notion that AAIs may be well-suited as a complementary family-focused intervention for military families, but more research is needed. Rehabilitation centers may partner with therapy animals and their handlers to help patients achieve faster rehab and get home more quickly. The presence of therapy animals motivates patients to work harder in their rehab activities, whether that is counseling-related or physical therapy. You can also find animal-assisted therapy in therapists’ offices and psychology treatment centers. Many therapists will bring in animals to help their patients or clients feel more comfortable and working with an animal can make patients open up more about their emotional needs.

Moreover, some papers lacked details of randomization [26], [33] or considered only parents or patients opinions [7], [8], [36]. Hospitals are particularly at risk settings, thus introducing https://sober-home.org/ animals has to be carefully considered. Various studies explored these risks outlining infections, allergies and animal accidents as major issues [16], [37], [38], [39], [40].

However, not all animal-assisted interactions are formal psychotherapy models; although there may be a psychologically therapeutic benefit, it is not necessarily always the primary goal. Since AAIs are so variable and dependent on the individuals and circumstances, controlled prospective trials are scarce. Research utilizing innovative methods of animal welfare assessment and cognition should continue to inform the best practice standards to ensure the welfare of these animals. In addition, practice should elicit pertinent research questions by consistently reporting adverse outcomes and events from AAI.

Each family is unique, and the specifics of military culture and service may vary. However, overall, military families experience unique stressors and opportunities for growth compared to non-military families. It is critical to recognize that military families experience both negative and positive effects resulting from training, deployment and reintegration, and therefore need targeted supports to bolster their wellbeing (14). It is well known that throughout their military involvement, veteran and family members’ experiences are directly impacted by social support and positive family relationships (2, 31). Family-focused interventions may be particularly effective given that they emphasize family relationships and social support strategies such as effective communication, awareness, understanding, and psychoeducation (32).

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  • William Collins

    I’m a passionate gamer and expert gaming content writer with years of experience in the industry. I have been playing video games since I was a kid, and my love for gaming has only grown stronger over time. My expertise extends to a wide range of genres and platforms, from classic console games to the latest VR experiences. I’m always up-to-date on the latest industry news and trends and deeply understand what makes a great game.

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