Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves an animal with specific characteristics becoming a fundamental part of a person's treatment. Animal-assisted therapy is designed to improve the physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning of the patient, as well as provide educational and motivational effectiveness for participants. AAT can be provided on an individual or group basis. During AAT, therapists document records and evaluate the participant's progress.
Many kinds of animals are used in therapy, including dogs, cats, elephants, birds, dolphins, rabbits, lizards, llamas, and other small animals. Such animals are often referred to as comfort animals. AAT with horses is known specifically as equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), equine-assisted creative living (EACL), equine-assisted personal development (EAPD) or hippotherapy.
Animal-assisted therapy is associated with improving outcomes in autism spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being.Some of the mental health benefits include:
* Increase verbal interactions among group members.
* Increase attention skills (i.e., paying attention, staying on task).
* Develop leisure/recreation skills.
* Increase self-esteem.
* Reduce anxiety.
* Reduce loneliness.
* Learn to trust.
Animal-Assisted Therapy in Practice
Using animals in the therapy process adds another dimension to what can be done during a therapy session. Animals, particularly dogs and horses, heighten motivation and relaxation and are a great reinforcer. Dogs are an excellent example of the value that an animal adds to therapy.
The benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy lie in its goal-oriented approach, which aims at improvement of a specific individual in social skills, verbal skills, range of motion, attention span, etc. by using animals or pets. AAT is always supervised by a healthcare professional, who decides all the specifics of the therapy, including duration of each visit.
Animal assisted therapy includes the use of certified therapy animals as a part of treatment for many people who are physically, emotionally or socially challenged. Those who are in hospitals specially children and the old people often benefit from AAT. The animals like horses, dogs and cats can make brilliant therapy animals. AAT team comprises of the certified animals and a trained handler, This team visits to a hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities to help lift spirits and facilitate recovery.
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