Animal-Assisted Therapy
Posted on: August 20, 2011
Animal-assisted therapy (or AAT) involves the use of a therapy animal to provide motivation or support for an individual who is undergoing a specific therapeutic regime.http://www.dukehealth.org/services/oncology_recreation_therapy/programs/pets_at_duke/benefitshttp://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_assisted_guidelines.asp AAT has successfully assisted patients in hospital, physical therapy, occupational therapy and social rehabilitation settings.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10051979/ Animal-assisted therapy is goal oriented and tailored to each specific patient based upon their prescribed medical requirements.http://www.therapet.com/
Research has shown that symptoms of certain illnesses, injuries and physical and mental diseases can be significantly reduced after the introduction of AAT.http://www.uclahealth.org/workfiles/documents/volunteering/PACArticle.pdfhttp://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/012610p8.shtml Patients with conditions such as post traumatic stress disorders, anxiety related disorders and depression among many others are finding, with the help of a specially trained animal and handler team working closely with their doctors and therapists, that their overall prognosis brightens.http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/animal-assisted-therapy?page=2
Process
Specially trained animal and handler teams work in close connection with patient's doctors and therapists to accomplish specific, targeted and measurable treatment goals. AAT teams are volunteers with experience in hospital and clinic settings.http://www.americanhumane.org/human-animal-bond/programs/animal-assisted-therapy/
Organizations like the Delta Society and Therapy Dogs International register pet therapy teams after thoroughly evaluating the animal and handler's skills and aptitude for AAT settings. Not every pet is suited to be involved in AAT. Animals involved in AAT must not only tolerate, but enjoy, the multitude of sights sounds and smells in hospital and clinical environments. Animals are tested for reactions to loud sounds, clumsy hugging, random food or objects on the floor and interest in interacting with all kinds of people. The best suited animals are versatile, calmly face distractions, refuse dropped food or objects and are not distressed by rough or clumsy handling.http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/animal-assisted-therapy?page=3
Equipment Needed
To accomplish AAT, an animal therapy team requires proper safety equipment like a leash and collar or harness and proper identification, which provides information about the handler and animal and proof that they have been registered by a reputable animal therapy organization.http://www.deltasociety.org/Document.Doc?id=10
Animal-Assisted Therapy: Caleb's Story
A chronicle of a young boy's recovery from critical injury. Caleb was in a head on auto crash and suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as broken bones. His recovery, initially, was very uncertain. His progress was minute. When Colonel, the AAT dog was introduced to his therapy sessions, Caleb's recovery was significantly impacted. He became more responsive, engaged and motivated to move and work during his therapy sessions. His awareness and alertness was enhanced by the presence of the animal, as recounted by an observer. Caleb's environment is transformed by the presence of Colonel, the specially trained volunteer therapy dog and handler.
Animal Assisted Therapy: Children with Autism
This video is a compilation of clips from a series done of a young autistic child named Zachary. During his ongoing speech and occupational therapy, documented here, his progress was shown to be significantly enhanced by the introduction of a registered therapy dog Henry. Zachary's typical responses and inability to socially connect began to melt away with Henry. Even though this child had a family dog at home and siblings, he was often, as autistic children are, unwilling and unable to play with and interact with them. During his therapy sessions with Henry, Zachary began to make eye contact, to play ball with the dog, to even reach out physically towards the dog, all important new behaviors. Zachary also was motivated to do some physical skills that he had been unable or unwilling to do before the dog was involved, like cutting with scissors.