The Use Of Animal Assisted Therapy For Treating Patients With Many Different Disabilities

This story helped widen my views of Occupational Therapy. It gave me the insight that using specific tools or incentives are a good way to encourage a more difficult patient. I really enjoyed getting the feel of what a Occupational clinic is like. It was neat to know that it is common to have therapeutic pets in Occupational

The doctors and technicians have taught me so much about working in an animal hospital and I have been given so many opportunities that I would have never gotten before. Over the years I have been continuously trained and now I assist the doctors in surgeries, administer medicine and vaccinations and fluids, and provide post-surgical care to the animals. In the years that I have worked there I have logged over 1,000 clinical hours, which is way over the required amount to be admitted into many veterinary schools. I have been able to see first-hand how great of an impact this field of study makes on an animal’s life and well-being. These experiences have opened my eyes on the importance of helping these creatures because they were not given a voice of their own.

In this article, the author will broaden the prospective of others on the issue of service animals, and also encourage the understanding of what these animals are for.

Animal Assisted Therapy also known as animal-assisted therapy has been formally introduced to the world in the last ten years or so. Although animals have always been a place of comfort for a lot of people, scientists just began to realize the impact animals have on society. The world has begun to experiment with what animals can do to benefit human health. The most common type of animal-assisted therapy is equine-assisted therapy. Equines are horses. Equine-assisted therapy 's impact on minors who have mental health issues have led to a successful new type of therapy that includes multiple benefits. Equine-assisted therapy has worked well in is treating adolescents and children how to communicate and connect with others. Two big issues that animal-assisted therapy has been known to help is Autism and kids with attachment and social problems.

In a recent study conducted by Rebecca Johnson, Ph.D., RN, of the University of Missouri-Columbia Center for the Study of Animal Wellness showed that when humans pet a dog, within minutes there is a huge amount of beneficial hormones known to be associated with health and feelings of well-being.(Becker par. 2) These hormones are called beta endorphin, prolactin, dopamine, oxytocin, and beta phenylethylamine (Becker par. 2). The hormones that are released from the interaction between the animal and the human allow the patients to feel more blissful and trusting. Along with being emotionally benefited from working with animals in assisted therapy; people can benefit physically. For example, people who have physical

Animals have slowly been showing up more and more in common spaces, from a cat boarding a plane to dogs being allowed more freely in areas generally thought of as pet free. Therapy dogs have begun roaming the halls of schools, and puppies have been popping up in the local therapist's office. This animal friendly phenomena has been growing over the years and it is greatly due to the rise in mental health awareness and increase of new treatment methods such as Animal Assisted Therapy - also known as Animal Assisted Intervention. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) seems to be helping broaden the scope of possibilities in treatment options for the sick and the overall acceptance of animals.

In depth discussion and details of the research conducted that elaborates on the effectiveness of service animals- how do they help?

Animal-based therapy provides many benefits for individuals with a disability. When assisting individuals with disabilities it is important to consider all options that will help them achieve the most success in life. Deciding which therapies to use is often difficult and should be decided on by the individual, their doctors, therapist, and family. Any drawbacks will need to be weighed against the advantages to ensure the course of treatment will be effective and appropriate for the individual. Revisions may need to be considered for the patient along the treatment path. Of the many types of therapies available, it is important to look at the benefits of animal assisted therapy. Individuals with disabilities who are routinely engaged in companion animal therapy develop a greater range of social skills than those who are not involved in any form of therapeutic animal-based therapy.

There is a great need for them in facilities like courtrooms and colleges. Animal-assisted therapy is a common therapeutic method to help alleviate stress and anxiety for those who are going through strenuous situations. In her dissertation, “Therapy Dogs in the Courtroom as Advocates for Child Witnesses: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Judges' Opinions, Experiences, and Rulings” Paula Bradley analyzes the implementation of therapy dogs in the courtroom to accommodate the child witnesses taking the stand. Five judges were interviewed and were asked for their opinions on having therapy dogs as witness’ advocates in the courtroom. The consensus reached among all five judges was to make sure the children were comfortable and agreed to give animal assisted therapy a try. Judges hope that utilizing therapy dogs in the courtroom will allow the children to relax and hopefully get to the truth faster. Likewise, implementing therapy dogs on college campuses is highly beneficial to students during final exam time. For example, the “De-Stress Study Fest” at the University of Florida’s Plaza of the Americas provides animal assisted therapy to students needing a positive distraction from the stress around final exam season. The University of Florida isn’t the only college partaking. Word is spreading concerning the benefits of therapy dogs on college campuses. In their journal article, “Evaluating

It comes to question as to whether or not animal-assisted therapy provides the correct treatment that it focuses on. When talking about animal-assisted therapy, poeple are using the presence of animals as a way to heal for therapeutic reasons. Targeting no specific patient, this practice is used throughout various age for various diseases and emotional, physical and intellectual disabilities. Animal-Assisted Therapy works to provide happiness throughout the rough times for any patient. Although a few individuals detest animal-assisted therapy because they believe that it utilizes inappropriate proprietorship as opposed to friendly companionship which follows a curative result. It is studied that animal-assisted therapy is an ethical therapeutic practice since it treats various disperses that may never be managed.

Many animals are used for therapy in various different settings. Horse riding was first used in the fifth centaury for the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. Also to help patients or individuals adjust, horses for example, are used outdoors & dogs may be used indoors. The Delta Society defines Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) as “a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.”

Survivors of sexual abuse may reach a point in their lives where they find they need assistance from a professional in order to overcome the trauma of their experiences. Assisted animal therapy has been shown to make the task of having to recount painful and traumatic experiences much less daunting. Having an animal present in therapy sessions greatly increases the survivor’s ability to heal in a less threatening manner. An animal provides sympathy and comfort that are physically expressed without overstepping the therapist’s professional boundaries.

(Introduction) What makes dogs such good companions and comforters? Is it their unconditional love? Their non-judgmental attitude? Their amazing loyalty? Or could it be a mix of all of these? Dogs have been used for therapists for a very long time. As one reporter states, “The use of pets in medical settings actually dates back more than 150 years” (Reporter, 2012). So why are dogs good for therapy? And what benefits do they bring? And what do they actually do? One reporter who works for a therapy dog agency seems to sum it all up: “Science is finally confirming what people have known intuitively for years: therapy dogs help people physically, emotionally, and socially” (Becker, 2016). The real question is: Can therapy dogs actually bring benefits and improvements into peoples’ lives that would not otherwise have been there? The answer: yes. Why? Therapy dogs change and improve peoples’ lives because they offer support to struggling patients, they do not judge people who are feeling low about themselves, they help people see the joy in life, they release hormones that improve our bodies. In other words, “It’s something us dog people have always known: dogs improve our lives, and sometimes even save them” (Geir, 2015).

Animal-assisted therapy involves interaction between patients and a trained animal, along with its human handler or owner, with the aim of facilitating patient 's progress toward therapeutic goals

Throughout human history, “animals have occupied a central position in theories concerning the ontology and treatment of sickness and disease” (Serpell 16). Animals have played a major role in the lives of humans in ways that have affected our entire being and survival. Countless amounts of people, animals, and time have been put into bringing AAT all over the world; as a result, five other countries have adopted this form of therapy. The volunteers and workers of Animal Assisted Therapy have pushed to bring an exciting new therapy to children and adults all around.