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What is Animal Therapy

Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) or Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) is an alternative or complementary treatment type that involves animal intervention.
A wide variety of animals provide opportunities to improve a person’s quality of life.  Such treatment types are meant to improve the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functions through human to animal interaction.

Some of the benefits of animal therapy include:

  • Improved fine motor skills

  • Improved balance

  • Increased focus

  • Increased self-esteem and ability to care for oneself

  • Reduced anxiety grief and isolation

  • Reduced blood pressure, depression, and risk of heart attack or stroke

How it Works

Considering the Healing Power of Human to Animal Interaction

Therapy animals serve in many different environments to provide countless benefits.  Whether it is to provide a sense of calm, comfort and safety, or the ability to divert attention away from stressful situations, animal therapy practices bring about improved emotional well-being and self-esteem.   At its core, the human-animal bond releases an automatic relaxation response to elevate mood.

When It’s Used

Animal therapy practices can be a useful interaction for individuals or groups. Positive outcomes and overall improved emotional well-being are seen in autism, medical conditions, or behavioral issues. Animal-Assisted Therapy can be helpful for those battling illnesses like depression, schizophrenia,  addiction, anger management, social interactions and many more.

How it Works
Animal Therapy Benefits

Benefitting from Animal Therapy

Improving mental and physical conditions outcomes.
We provided a number of examples where animal therapy practices aid in the process of treatment to the following afflictions.

For Mental Health:

  • Low to high levels of anxiety

  • Irritability

  • Hyperactivity

  • ADHD symptoms

  • AggressionAgression

  • Depression

  • Loneliness

  • Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

  • Socialization difficulties

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

For Physical Health:

  • High blood pressure

  • Hypochondriac medication

  • Chronic Pain

  • Autistic symptoms

  • Motor Skill challenges

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