Animal-assisted therapy

Animal-Assisted Therapy Animals play a key role in many peoples’ lives. Many researchers have shown that animals are positive influences on our health. Having always had a dog in my house throughout my life, I have grown to love all animals, as do many other people. As human, we need social support and interaction for our own personal health. Animals help provide that by showing humans love and affection. Allen R. McConnell Ph.D. from Psychology Today writes, “Lonely people are often advised to get a dog or a cat to quell their social isolation, but is it really the case that pets can fulfill one's social needs, serving to improve owners' happiness, well-being, and even their physical health? A new study suggests the answer is a resounding yes!” In Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy, Aubrey H. Fine explains the foundation, the different practices used in animal-assisted therapy, how the human-animal bond is strong, and has been talked about more because of mainstream media. Doctors even use them for therapy treatments in a number of patients with a range of illnesses. In this paper, I will explain exactly what pet therapy is, what it is used to treat, and how it is beneficial.…

The Elderly and Animal Assisted Therapy Humans have a very long and varied history with animals. They have been used to provide food, disposal of waste, protection and companionship for over 15,000 years (Ernst). It is not a recent development that animals have been used in therapy, yet their use will continue to grow. The benefits animal assisted therapy is especially apparent in its uses in treating the elderly; the use of animals through animal assisted therapy (AAT) in nursing homes and…

Animal-assisted Therapy Animal Assisted Therapy, or AAT as referred to by professionals, is a type of therapy involving actions between people and trained animals as a form of treatment. This treatment consists of the relationship that people establish with animals and how animals strengthen an individual's life, either emotionally, mentally, socially, physically, and other ideas to improve one self. Dr. Sigmund Freud, believed in the benefits of animal therapy. It is imperative that patients…

may suffer from any type of condition or disorder. Animal assisted therapy was introduced as a way to help people cope and learn to deal with emotional, physical or mental problems. I would have like to have the opportunity to work with an animal assisted therapist when I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Some people that I know were able to relax and not stress as much about all that came from having diabetes by being close to the therapy dogs at the hospital. I believe that the use of…

idea for AAT, in which animals can help people physically, socially and psychologically. Animal Assisted Therapy is the use of animals to positively impact and improve a patient’s thinking, emotional and social well being. AAT is used for any age group from infancy to elderly and can be as simple as owning an everyday pet. Many people do not realize that owning a pet is the easiest way of AAT. A pet can have the same impacts as a trained AAT animal. They both help to improve a person’s well…

In many hospitals animals can often be found on certain days making visits to sick patients. These visits by animals are referred to as animal assisted therapy (AAT). This therapy is believed to have therapeutic benefits to patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Some of the believed benefits of AAT are lowering blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing overall happiness. Animal assisted therapy has been used for decades, as Nimer and Lundahl (2007) state “in the 19th century Florence…

“Animal Assisted Therapy is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of Animal Assisted Therapy is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.” Animal Assisted Therapy is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical application of human-animal interactions”. Throughout time mainstream medicine has constructed numerous alternative methods as societies and…

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy? “Animal-Assisted Therapy, also known as AAT, has been shown to help children who have experienced abuse or neglect, patients undergoing chemotherapy or other difficult medical treatments, and veterans and their families who are struggling to cope with the effects of wartime military service. With new research and a continued commitment to professionalism, AAT will continue to grow in mainstream healthcare acceptance and practice – one more tool to…

Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Supplemental Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder Patients Ivey McCartney The University of Georgia Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Supplemental Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder Patients While some people may enjoy the crisp air and shorter days that accompany the fall and winter months, there are many who develop an annual occurrence of depression during these months. This disorder is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. The disruption of…

Animals are such cool creatures, they are goofy and great listeners all at once. Which is why animal-assisted therapy is an excellent practice for patients. It very early, going back as far as the 1790’s. Although animal-assisted therapy may not work for every patient, it is a reliable practice because it has been around for a really long time and has proven to work by helping patients become more social, helping the overall physical health, and boosting the mental state. Animal-assisted…