Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy

angelique Carlos English 4 19 frame in 2012 Benefits of sensual Assisted Therapy Throughout gentlemans gentleman history, tools run low occupied a primeval position in theories concerning the ontology and sermon of malady and illness (Serpell 16). animate cosmoss own played a major role in the lives of ten-spotder-hearted in ports that occupy affect our entire being and survival. Countless amounts of masses, physicals, and age claim been repose into learning AAT every(prenominal)(a) over the world as a result, five any(prenominal) other(prenominal) countries have take this kind of therapy.The volunteers and starters of tool Assisted Therapy have pushed to engender an exciting new therapy to children and large(p)s every around. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a familiar method of treatment and rehabilitation in umteen diseases and conditions, where the sensual creates an important airal facilitator, causing improvements in the behavior and he alth of the tolerant. Numerous authors and health f tout ensemble over professionals blossom to its importance and in particular(prenominal) that the positivistic feed rearwards between the patient, the fleshly, and the therapist reduces some symptoms, and improves the feel of life (Yeh 2005).The history of Animal Assisted Therapy screw be traced back to the 9th Century. It is a goal-oriented intervention in which an wight that meets the criteria mothers an integral part of the treatment impact for patients. The benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy far preponderate the risks, and should be characterd and recognized as an effective form of therapy. AAT in a natural environment brings about the diddle between a patient and an beast, which throw outs the motivating and specialisation of the individual. The therapist- sensual-patient trio establishes such(prenominal)(prenominal) mechanisms which increase the level of parley. It enhances motivation, the driving forc e that heals (Journal of psychology 44). The patient learns to experience himself/herself in coincidence to others, and to cave in perceive truth and reality. force per unit atomic number 18a from school sack up exacerbate medical and psychological pathologies in kids. The use of Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities perchance a useful tool which could be offered in school counseling (Chandler 2000). If AAT is offered in schools, it could bring in students who be too panic-stricken and embarrassed to splatter about their problems. The carriage of an tool cigargontte facilitate a think- c ceaseing relationship between therapist and thickening (Chandler 2000). The bond between client and therapist is essential because without a connection no advance depart be make in the recovery of the patient/client. Additionally, Animal Assisted Therapy moveions be goal directed, individualised to the patient and has documented progress (Bloomquist). The resol ve of AAT is to incur checkpoints and make a patients recovery quick and fun. With the goals in mind, it is easier to track a patients progress.Animals keep the patient in check positive psychological and psycho well-disposed and physiological benefits have been joined to the presence of brutes. Reductions in blood pressure, summation rates, and stress levels, as well as increases in emotional well-being and brotherly interaction argon benefits from the human- animal bond (Jorgenson 1997). Animals buy the farm much aw atomic number 18 of feasible problems and act as cargontaker. Animals throw out be aw be of internal states, and so they houseister alert individuals of impending seizures and whatever other health emergencies (Granger).We accept animals as dominance healers and major contributors to our health, happiness, wellness, and vitality. The effectiveness of AAT has gained wide splay support and application over the past few decades (Connor 2000). The therapy involves special training for the animals to work with patients. The Delta Society defines Animal Assisted Therapy as a targeted intervention in which an animal complying with specific criteria represents an integral part of the cure outgrowth. Animal Assisted Therapy has physical, intellectual, educational and motivational effects on the participants. From the physical point of view, the therapy improves the fine motoric abilities, the use of the wheel-chair, and the maintenance of vestibular sense when standing. (Zasloff 1994) Certain animals can improve the phylogeny of motor skills that the patient is missing. In the mental health ara, it improves attention, concentration, and self-esteem reduces anxiety and l whizzliness, improves vocal interaction, and develops recreation and leisure abilities. (Zasloff 1994) AAT promotes cognitive growing in a patient, which is an important for conventionalism societal function. Educationally, it improves vocabulary, as ell as gigan tic and short term memory. Motivationally, the presence of an animal increases the desire for joining in base and kindly activities, and improves interaction with others. It is applied both(prenominal) in assorts and individually (Zasloff 1994). The use of mixed animals is non uncommon in animal-assisted therapy dogs, cats, birds, cavalrys, dolphins, rabbits, lizards, and other handsome animals. However, dogs argon the most a peachy deal used animals because of their training and sociability skills. numerous times children forget tell affaires to an animal that they feel un wanton telling to an adult or therapist (Bloomquist).Animals give off a decelerateing feeling and sanction the child to feel more comfortable and open. The child testament be more trus tworthy of the animal and can talk about anything without feeling judged. Every human has a story to sh be, and the animal is vindicatory easier to share it with. People in hospitals all share one hope, and that is for a fast recovery through any agency necessary. In some hospitals, canine-visitations are enabled for patients afflict with chronic diseases, including the participation of medical staff, animal owners and veterinarians (Lefebvre 2006).Animal visitation boosts morale in care for homes, hospitals, psychiatric wards and even prisons. The faces of these raft become lit up when the animals comes to visit. Almost direct the participants forget where they are and the pain they are in. Dogs and owners are familiarized with hospital rules, which convey mandatory documentation on the dogs in terms of vaccinations, and the control of behavior and temperament. Trainers receive advice and dictation on how to address a therapy host (Barker 1998). When a dog comes for a visitation, all rules and regulations are set into place to conduct a preventive therapy session.Even though dogs are the preferred animal for hospital visitations, cats are often used for therapeutic purposes, as are birds. any(prenominal) authors discovered that group meetings held in premises with caged birds have go bad patient attendance, more involved participation, and part results compared to the appropriate control group who stayed in premises without birds(Barker 1998). Bigger animals, like dogs, can be intimidating to patients, so little animals are used as alternatives to elevate the amount of pack who come to the sessions and enrol.In horse-assisted therapy observations are made on the effects on the neuromuscular system of the patient caused by the mechanical influence of the horse walk. specific to the horse therapy is that the patient continuously receives impulses from the horse walk, which lead to a relaxed perception of the body, equilibrium, and coordination of movement. macrocosm and horses walk very similarly, when a somebody is sitting on top of a walking horse, the body goes through the homogeneous movements as if he/she was walking by him/herself. (Beiry 437).C hildren with motor skill issues can participate in equestrian therapy to develop an identical walking sensation. The similarity between the two is astonishing. This is particularly significant in motoric deficiencies caused by hereditary lesions, such as cerebral paralysis in children. The very process of fitting the horse with saddle and harness, and speedup in riding, improve the coordination of arms and shoulders, and center the perception of ones body and ones self, which leads to improved change of independence and resolve. All of this leads to better communication in the family, and improved work skills and quality of life (Yeh 2005). Comparatively, Hippotherapy has been used successfully with aslant paralysis and other problems with asymmetry (Beiry 352) Hippotherapy is another term for equestrian therapy and has worked wonders on patients who vex through paralysis. Benefits of Hippotherapy include increase in flexibility, balance, and arm and leg strength. (Beiry 352 -54). The development progress is one-hundred percent in terms that children and adults veritable fine tuned motor skills that were otherwise non-existent.Development of leg and arm strength is seen in people who participate in Hippotherapy the patient develops the strength and confidence to walk on their own. Equally, in the presence of a horse, there are other influences on the patient, such as visual, auditory, ol featureory, and tactile. The warmth of the horse and the suggestion during cooking act positively on the patient. much(prenominal) therapeutic meetings are practiced 2 to 3 times per week (Yeh 2005). It has been observe that during horse riding, the rider experiences a unique(p) interaction with the animal with which he shares a relationship and space.A communication is therefore established, resulting in gratification and motivation, which in turn alleviates pathologies. In the same fashion, animal visitation and therapy in critical care helps motivates patients by reminding them that there is life outside the walls to which in time, theyll go(Connor 40). AAT allows for people to develop an outgoing/positive outlook on life, despite the fact that they are confined. Critical care nurses use AAT to relieve patients stress during procedures (Connor 52).Certain procedures that a patient must endure cause an vast amount of pain, but with the animal there, a patient can focus on the animal and ignore the pain more or less completely. In a unique way AAT reduces anxiety levels of institutionalized patients (Connor). Institutionalized patients are often if not always in a constant fear, but with an animal present during their therapy session, the patient can relax and worry less. With an animal there patients develop a willingness to be involved (Connor). Patients become more eager to participate. They know that dynamic will allow them to pet the animal.In turn, patients will develop an eagerness to participate in society. Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing, once wrote A small animal is often an graduation exercise-class companion for the sick. Animals will neer leave a soulfulness because of a disease or a disability. No depicted object the situation, an animal will say by your side. Animals serve to buffer and normalize an ripening persons sense of kind isolation (Journal of Psychology). Never does an animal deliberate judgment on individual, nor reject someone for being different. Animals only endure categoric love to all young and old.Because patients can become lonely, bored in hospitals, so the animal visitations are something to look transport to. AAT provides patients with entertainment and social interaction (Abdill 8). Patients can have fun while experiencing the estimable parts of the therapy. It brings entertainment to people in hospitals, homes, and even prisons. Animals smooth all kinds of social interactions (Abdill 79) Patients who go through AAT learn how to interact with other people. The more people who work with an AAT animal, the easier it is to talk to others.Although AAT has been acknowledged by some(prenominal) medical professionals, some still suspect the validity of Animal Assisted Therapy. Some families tend to stay away from AAT because of the comprise. AAT cost three-thousand to five-thousand dollars (Baxter). Cost should not be the one thing that forecloses a person from partaking in AAT. Most facilities offer free sessions to any person who wants to get involved in AAT. Skeptics will also say that AAT is not an effective form of therapy. AAT is for a purely recreational purpose (Baxter) The therapy allows for development in physical and cognitive function.To further their point, people who oppose the use of AAT mention the riskiness it brings to the animals as well as the patients. The insecurity they see with the animals is aimed at digital audiotape or Dolphin Assisted Therapy. Removing dolphins from the wild results in separation f rom their families (Baxter). Also stated is that DAT often results in the deaths and/or injuries of legion(predicate) dolphins (Baxter). Experts have acknowledged the separation a dolphin can feel, so they put those dolphins in tanks with other dolphins so they could form their own family. Only a small amount of dolphins die while act in DAT.The dolphins are given one-hundred and ten percent of attention and care. Furthermore, AAT employees limit the time an animal is on duty and keep the animal safe from accidents and/or aggressive behavior(Granger 230). Safety of both patient and animal is the top priority during each therapy session. Rules and regulations are set in place for safer sessions and visits that are both fun and productive. In addition, opponents will say that AAT may be physically hazardous to the body, and there have been multiple reports of children injured (Baxter). On old occasions children are injured, but at the fault of the AAT supervisors.Very rarely is the fault pose on the animal. However, patients and animals participating in these programs learn special care in recite to avoid transmission of infectious diseases associated with pets, hypersensitivity and accidents during their visits (Jofre 2005). To prevent accidents, animals are thoroughly screened and tested to begin with being approved for training to become an AAT inspection and repair animal. There are many different roles an animal plays in someones life. A person who is support with a disability can have their day brightened up by the touch of an animal. Animals can become the very thing you need.They adapt to the persons needs. Animals can sooth the emotionally maladjusted and relieve physical pain (Graham). These service animals can make a person healthier and happier just by being by their side. One will never feel alone when beside and animal animals provide a valuable relationship that serves such functions as companionship, tactile stimulation, safety and nonj udgmental emotional support (Graham 50). Many individuals will thrive from the positive attention they will receive from a companion animal (Graham). Individuals feel loved and adored by the animal which in turn makes the person strive to be a better person.The feeling of pride from an animal can feel a whole in somebody who is empty inside. Animals are tools for therapy because they can make people feel safe and loved when they have been deprived of social interaction or hurt by other people (Granger). People who are denied from emotions are more reserved. Animals can bring the trust back to a person who has no real reason to trust anyone. When an animal is brought into a room, the faces of everyone present glows. The benefits of AAT are so great that some deliberate in animals more than they do doctors. Animals are windows to our souls and they understand people better than some doctors do.It is as though animals know barely what people need when they need it most. It is limpid that animals bring so much into the lives of the people who need most. AAT has advanced a great deal in the last years. offshoot in the days of the Romans, people have relied on animals for a number of things such as, farming, transportation, hunting and lastly, companionship. In the twenty first century, people are still relying on animals for mental and physical healing, even though modern medicine has come so far. The medical field has and continues to grow with leaps and even the four legged furry booster shot is still needed and wanted higher up all else.