Animal Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals into treatment plans for mental and physical health in a way that is safe for both the animals and humans involved. Dogs, cats, horses and birds are most commonly used to complement the effects of more traditional therapies.
Research has discovered that interacting with animals has a number of positive mental, emotional, and physiological benefits, including:
- Reduced psychological symptoms of stress, like racing thoughts or mood swings
- Reduced heart rate and blood pressure
- Reduced anxiety levels
- Reduced feelings of isolation
- Fewer disruptive behaviours exhibited in treatment sessions
- Improved perceived quality of life
- Reduced likelihood of developing secondary mental health conditions
It could be argued that interacting with animals therapeutically is an exercise in mindfulness, which is a common tool in many forms of psychotherapy. Animals can generate a sense of comfort and safety while distracting from distressing thoughts, emotions, or behaviours. There’s also evidence to suggest that building a bond with animals can help people develop communication, emotion regulation, and social skills while improving their sense of self-esteem and trust.
The interrelated mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy mean that it can be incorporated into treatment plans for a wide variety of issues experienced across the lifespan, including:
- Mood disorders like depression
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- Addictive disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Stress
- Anger
- Physical recovery, from some surgical procedures for example
In collaboration with PsychMed, WARRI investigates the clinical benefits of using cats for Animal Assisted Therapy.
References:
Ein, N., Li, L., & Vickers, K. (2018). The effect of pet therapy on the physiological and subjective stress response: A meta-analysis. Stress and Health. doi:10.1002/smi.2812
Crump, C., & Derting, T. L. (2015). Effects of Pet Therapy on the Psychological and Physiological Stress Levels of First-Year Female Undergraduates. North American Journal of Psychology, 17(3), 575-590.
Fine, A. H. (2015). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions (4th ed.). London, UK: Elsevier.