Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (AAT)

In the field of therapy, there are numerous of therapy available out there for different type of individuals and situations as well. There is one type of therapy that usually contains people and animal, it is animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that brings animals and individuals with physical and/or emotional needs together to perform the therapy. Animal-assisted therapy tend to be focused on individuals either children or elderly for them to be able to connect with the animal thus feeling comfortable talking with the therapist. Pet therapy works for all ages, whether sick or not (Lanchnit, 2011). Although, this paper, most of the focus is on animal-assisted therapy towards children using dogs.

Service dogs have positive effects on healthy children, but do they have positive effects on children who have autism? Studies show, that healthy children who have dogs do in fact serve as a “social catalyst” (Viaua, R., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Fecteau, S., Champagne, N., Walker, C., & Lupien, S, 2010), and reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is directly related to fat, protein, carbohydrate metabolism, maintaining blood glucose, immune responses, anti-inflammatory reactions, blood pressure, heart and blood vessel tone and contraction, and central nervous system activation. Cortisol tests are conducted to find problems of the pituitary gland or adrenal glands, such as making too much or too little hormones. In the study conducted, forty-two children with Autism Syndrome Disorder were given a service dog

Animal assisted therapy includes all psychological theories and incorporates animals, such as dogs or horses, into a therapeutic treatment plan. It is used to enhance and complement traditional therapy methods, but it is not done by itself. Animal assisted therapy has been effectively used in individuals with autism, medical conditions, and trauma survivors. It may also be implemented for people with psychological disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and addiction. Depending on the type of therapy and the type of animal involved, you may keep the therapy animal at home and with you throughout the day for emotional support, or you might learn to ride and care for a therapy horse that is kept at an equestrian facility. Afterwards, you

The practice of using animals as therapy tools is becoming ever more popular and common place in the mental health field. Animal assisted therapy (AAT) was formally defined by the Delta Society as “a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process” (Kruger, Trachtenberg, & Serpell, 2004). The hope is that the specially trained animal will help facilitate conversation, and subsequently healing, between the therapist and the client. AAT is focused on improving the humans physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning. Animal assisted therapy is not to be confused with service animals: service animals fall under the category of animal-assisted activities

The research proposal suggests that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can be beneficial to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Altschuler, 2018). expresses the information from the media is often much more detailed and less filtered than those of medical reports as they use these media stories as their resources for compiling the research proposal. The author expresses their concern for the cost and timeliness of a full-out research study and so they decided to conduct a research proposal to support their ideologies of the importance of AAT with PTSD treatment. Altschuler (2018) suggests that animals can be used to dramatically improve PTSD symptoms, potential benefit from AAT with multiple different animals, and that AAT

AAT utilizes trained and certified animals to improve an individual’s well-being in all aspects emotional, physical and social (Sellers, 2004). It is relatively a new treatment and was initially implemented by Boris Levinson in his psychotherapy practice (Perkins et al., 2008). AAT, with its tactile comfort and companionship as well as a mode of social interaction, encourages a positive attitude and eases the negative effect of living in a retirement facility (Perkins et al., 2008). Unlike interventions with humans which tends to be judgmental and biased, animals tend to be more friendly and non-judgmental thus, facilitating more sociable behaviors than even more than the well-intentioned staff members (LaFrance et al., 2007).

AAT has also been used for children with antisocial disorders. It can aid them in moving further socially by having communication, verbal and nonverbal, between the animal and the child. In one study, a boy named Charles with autism and mild-grade intellectual disability was introduced to a dog and played with her for twenty minutes three times per week. Fourteen of the twenty three sessions were with Lu Lu, the 9-year-old golden retriever, and a counselor and the others were leading up to and after the AAT. In the study, they observed that, when with Lu Lu, Charles was more social and less negative than before and after the animal-assisted sessions (Fung). Proof of animals’ aid in therapy is clearly shown in this study through the increase of socialism in Charles while with Lu Lu.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a form of therapy which promotes social interaction, as well as improvements in human social, emotional, physical and/or cognitive functioning, creates an environment where the client can disclose and experience empathy, trust, sensitivity, and comfort (Coetzee, Beukes, & Lynch, 2013; Pet Partners, 2012). Pet/animal assisted therapy has been traced back to the 18th century, with records indicating that in 1919 pets accompanied psychiatric patients in a Washington D.C hospital (Chu, Liu, Sun, & Lin, 2009). When therapy sessions are accompanied by the presence of an animal, the client enters a non-threatening, safe and trusting environment where self-disclosure of personal emotions and experiences becomes easier for the client (Reviewed by Coetzee, Beukes, & Lynch, 2013).

(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).

The purpose of this essay is to investigate the benefits of obtaining a lasting relationship with a dog. Through research examined from multiple different sources the important positive influences a dog can provide include an increase in mental health, social health, and physical health. By acquiring a relationship with a dog a person can seek out meaningful companionship that they are not obtaining from being in a human relationship (Kurdek, 2009). One reason a person may turn to a dog for company is due to a recent loss of a loved one (Kurdek, 2009). In a study by Kurdek (2009) it was shown that dogs could help people in an elderly care facility by providing them with social interactions. The social interactions created helped the elderly with mental and social health, but the interactions with the dog also improved their physical health. In a study by Martin, Wood, Christian, and Trapp (2015) it was shown that owning a dog creates the obligation to walk the dog daily. With the increase in physical activity Martin et al. observed an increase in mental and social health of the subjects results from their study.

Animal Assisted Therapy is an area of Human Relations. Human Relations deals with counseling and Therapy. The use of animals help people relax and deal with the issues, problems and stresses in their lives. People see the unconditional love of the animal as acceptance as they are broken and hurt. Therapists have chosen Animal Assisted Therapy because they want to help people. The use of animals create a safe transition to conversation. People find the common love of an animal and feel more comfortable to talk. The use of Animal Assisted Therapy reportedly dates back to the 1940’s when an army corporal brought his Yorkshire Terrier to a hospital to cheer wounded soldiers. There was such a positive response that the dog continued to comfort others for twelve more years (“Animal Assisted Therapy.” - Dr. Weil 's Wellness Therapies. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.). Animal Assisted Therapy is proven to help not only physical but mental problems, whether it be in children, middle aged men and women, elders, or even veterans and their families.

The last objective the members will obtain is canine companionship. Stern, Donahue, Allison, Hatch, Lancaster, Benson, and Peterson (2013) announce how associating with an animal companion can reduce loneliness, anxiety, depression, and can improve an individual who is suffering from medical problems overall health (Stern, Donahue, Allison, Hatch, Lancaster, Benson, & Peterson, 2013). Finally, this companionship will help the member establish trustful relationships.

Animals of all kinds have been known for their positive impact on humans. Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) was first incorporated into the mental health institutions in the late eighteenth century to help increase socializations among the patients. As of today, a number of AAT programs have mainly targeted populations of patients with PTSD or those who have experienced trauma. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is classified as an anxiety disorder characterized by the common symptoms avoidance, intrusion, alterations in mood and cognition, and alterations in arousal and reactivity (O’Haire, M.E,. Guerin, N.A., & Kirkham, A.C., 2015). The presence of an animal is thought to encourage a safe and open environment, elicit positive emotion and warmth, increase socializations, and increase the release of oxytocin, which aids in the relaxation process. Perhaps that’s why PTSD or trauma patients respond so well when AAT is included in treatment. AAT is not a therapy used alone, but rather coupled with other treatment to enhance the therapy process. (Dietz, T. J., Davis., & Pennings, J. 2012).

Some of the ways pets positively affect humans mentally and emotionally is by giving unconditional companionship to their owners. We’ve all heard people say that no one is ever happier to you see when you come home than your pet… This can make people feel desired, appreciated and overall like they are needed. Pets have also been found to reduce stress, anxiety and overall make a person feel calmer. A short-term study in a laboratory setting with college students found that petting a friendly dog lowered not only their blood pressure and heart rate but also their anxiety level (Schellenber). In addition, people who own pets are less likely of falling into depression in comparison to people without pets. For those that do fall into depression a pet can play a huge part in helping a person get out of that state of mind. Pets can “bring pleasure and help

Some of the benefits of AAT in general are, improved cognitive functions, social interaction, self-esteem, perseverance, and coping skills. Research has shown that incorporating dogs into therapy may be effective in reducing both depression and physiological symptoms of anxiety such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels (Signal, Taylor, Prentice,