What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Animal assisted therapy incorporates the use of a trained and certified therapy animal in sessions to assist health professionals to achieve specific therapeutic goals.
An expanding body of research worldwide has recognised the many health, and therapeutic benefits of the ‘human animal bond’, including increased levels of ‘feel good’ neurochemicals, decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increased capacity for social connection.
This is particularly useful in the treatment of Developmental Trauma in which a child’s neurobiological development and ability to self-regulate internal experiences is impacted. Research has found that children who have experienced developmental trauma often have a higher base-line of stress hormone, causing hypervigilance and a dampened production of the 'feel good' hormone oxytocin, which is necessary for experiencing positive social connection. This can pose relational barriers to a child’s capacity to engage with the counsellor in the therapeutic process.
Animal assisted therapy ‘shortcuts’ the therapeutic process by providing cues of safety to a child’s nervous system. A therapy dogs relaxed state, unconditional positive regard, and immediate feedback to a person’s behaviours and moods, provides ample opportunity for the connectivity of neural social engagement systems of the brain to repair and develop. As well as combats the common trauma-based misinterpretation of an adults verbal communication and subtle facial and body cues. Setting the stage for the development of trusting human relationships.
The demonstration of positive unconditional regard by the therapist to the animal, for all of the animals behaviours and traits develops a child’s own self-acceptance, facilitates connection to self and the formation of a healthy identity.
Overall the effective treatment of trauma is dependent on the very therapeutic benefits that AAT can provide. Including regulating the nervous system and fostering a therapeutic alliance. This in turn enables connection to higher cognitive functions of the brain such as memory and language, that are necessary for the processing and integration of trauma.
Parish-Plass, N. (2020, December 10) Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy for Developmental Trauma Through the Lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology of Trauma: Creating Connection With Self and Others. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. American Psychological Association.
For further information on the research and benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy see:
Animal Therapies LTD Animals Helping Humans Australia : https://www.animaltherapies.org.au/