History of animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
Animals have been a part of human existence for a long time. We first kept animals 10,000 years ago. We didn’t realize animals could be used for therapy until much later. Contact with a horse once healed a sick patient. Florence Nightingale later discovered the therapeutic effects of animal contact on her patients. She noticed that keeping a pet helped psychiatric patients feel less anxious. This sparked a rising interest in employing animals as healing agents, and some famous clinicians have studied how animals affect the human psyche. Then an official study into animal therapy began to gain traction.
Animal-assisted therapy is now recognized as an effective field of practice by the medical profession. It’s extensively utilized as an effective treatment for a variety of mental and emotional issues. In these therapies, therapists use cats, birds, pigs, and dolphins. Therapy dogs, for example, are trained to behave in ways that patients find approachable. Body contact with patients may also be used to soothe and relax them (Goddard and Gilmer, 2015).
How does animal-assisted therapy work?
The AAT is now available in nursing homes, jails, schools, and private facilities. Its primary goal is to train and motivate people with various ailments. The “human-animal bond,” which refers to a person’s need to touch and interact with animals, is the foundation of animal therapy. Contact with a friendly animal creates a connection with that animal for many humans. This link makes the person feel at ease around the animal. This may benefit the individual in a variety of ways, including:
- Relief from boredom
- increased exercise and activity through walking and playing
- relief from rustiness
- social interaction
- Sense of well-being
Positive interactions with animals lead to physical and mental benefits, including reduced stress and an overall more mentally and emotionally balanced state.
However, depending on the person’s health and the type of assistance required, the type of therapy and coverage may differ. The animal handler (typically the owner) attends each session with the animal as part of the animal therapy procedure. Under the supervision of the physician, the animal handler aids the patient in reaching his or her therapeutic goals. Many organizations train and connect handlers with medical specialists. The majority of handlers are volunteers. To receive therapy, both the animal and the handler must be certified by these associations and organizations. In addition, animals require certain health examinations. These examinations include vaccination records and physical examinations to ensure that the animal is healthy and disease-free. Animals should also undergo a temperament test to ensure that they can interact appropriately with their owners and other people. In addition, pairs undergo obedience training. These rigorous tests and certifications ensure the safety and professionalism of all involved and the best possible therapy sessions (Johnson, 2020).
The reading ability of feelings in animals
Animals can read our facial expressions and perceive our emotions. They appear to have a remarkable ability to understand how we feel. They can learn the human way of life after several years of good behavior. They are always near humans and watch what they say and do. Many scientists and academics are interested in animal reading abilities, particularly those of dogs (Fader, 2013).
Previous research has demonstrated that using a combination of aural and visual cues, dogs can mirror human joy, rage, and melancholy. We discovered that dogs can discern between the good sound of laughing and the negative sound of crying only by listening, and that negative noises are more disturbing and interesting to dogs than positive sounds. Eye contact and a combination of auditory and visual clues have been found to help dogs figure out what people are thinking. We discovered that dogs can discern between the good sound of laughing and the negative sound of crying only based on listening, and that negative noises are more disturbing and interesting to dogs than positive sounds. Dogs have been shown to byout what people are thinking through eye contact. Just as mentalists follow eye contact to find out what is going on in the minds of people who do not want to be known, dogs follow eye contact to read what people are thinking. Therefore, animals can be there to cheer people up when they are sad, enjoy people when they are having fun, and provide emotional support (Gibeault, 2018).
What diseases can be cured with the help of animals?
Therapy animals assist people who are suffering from emotional and mental health concerns. They also assist people with physical health issues in dealing with emotional and mental factors. There have also been studies that show the usefulness of animal-assisted treatments in improving the physical health of animals, such as therapies for lowering blood pressure and discomfort levels. The following conditions can be treated using therapy animals (Olivin, 2022).
- Alzheimer’s disease
- anxiety
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- bipolar disorder
- cancer
- chronic illness
- dementia
- depression
- fears
- grief
- head injury
- high blood pressure
- loneliness
- mood disorders
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- sexual disorders
- stress
- tic disorder
- trauma
Conclusion
Animal-assisted therapy has been used for a long time, and animals have been supporting people. Currently, there are many kinds of diseases around the world. Of course, medical techniques have been developed, but the power of animals to heal humans is tremendous.
However, some people do not seem to enjoy animal therapy or are put off by it for other reasons, so alternative therapies may be an option. If you are considering animal therapy, you may want to consult with your physician or mental health professional about the process and what benefits it may offer.
References
fader, kristin (2013). Can Animals Sense Human Emotions. [online] prezi.com. Available at: https://prezi.com/yblqgaoww5mq/can-animals-sense-human-emotions/ [Accessed 11 May 2023].
Gibeault, S. (2018). Research Shows Your Dog Can Hear When You’re Happy or Sad. [online] American Kennel Club. Available at: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/dogs-can-hear-your-emotions/ [Accessed 11 May 2023].
Goddard, A. and Gilmer, M. (2015). The Role and Impact of Animals with Pediatric Patients. [online] Available at: http://www.pediatricnursing.net/ce/2017/article41026571.pdf [Accessed 10 May 2023].
Johnson, J. (2020). Animal therapy: How it works, benefits, and more. [online] www.medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/animal-therapy#benefits [Accessed 10 May 2023].
Olivin, A. (2022). What Is Animal Therapy? [online] Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/animal-therapy-5212800#:~:text=2%20For%20example%2C%20a%20service [Accessed 11 May 2023].
