Animal-Assisted Therapy

Explore the power of healing through pets.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

How Does Animal-Assisted Therapy Work?

Using animals to interact with patients to help them recover from illness or cope with certain medical conditions is known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). AAT is supported by medical professionals and therapists who believe it has numerous advantages, such as promoting social and personal development, elevating one’s self-esteem, enhancing one’s mental health, and enhancing one’s ability to empathize and nurture others.

At Westchester LCSW Counseling Services, PLLC we use canines as part of our AAT program. Therapy dogs allow patients to take a break from their daily routines and experience a sense of security and hope. Having regular interactions with a dog can help them maintain a sense of reality, and improve their overall well-being simply by making them smile.

What Are The Benefits of Using Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)?

Who can benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue in people with a range of health problems:

Children having dental procedures
People receiving cancer treatment
People in long-term care facilities
People with cardiovascular diseases
People with dementia
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
People with anxiety

And it’s not only people with health problems who reap the benefits. Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too.

Pet therapy is also being used in nonmedical settings, such as universities and community programs, to help people deal with anxiety and stress.

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