Category: Animal Assisted Psychotherapies
The Good Therapy Blog
July 20th, 2011 |
“Pets are embedded in the soul of our humanity,” says Dr. Edward Creagan, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as he explains his feelings for a special colleague in a recent article. Dr. Jack, the only four-footed professional at the Mayo Clinic, is one of more than 10,000 therapy dogs trained by Pet Partners, an organization whose foundation is based on the... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Beverly Hills Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
March 17th, 2011 |
It is a popular practice to use animals in the treatment of certain mental health issues. Animals used for therapeutic purposes are often used in hospitals and nursing facilities to redirect a client’s focus off of their pain and on to something positive. But a recent article suggests that animals can be an effective therapy for children with emotional and social problems. Dr. Aubrey H. Fine, psychotherapist and professor at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, has used animals... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Concord Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 19th, 2011 |
Anima(ls) meaning breath….soul
By encouraging the soul’s interest in animals, we can embrace what animals have: resilience, pleasure, and a link to the elemental forms that sustain and renew us all.
-Neil Russack, MD
Most of us have encountered animals as pets, wild creatures, or dream animals. Connecting with animals often helps us break through barriers we create as humans and opens the door to new ways of living.
As you read this post, I hope your imagination is stirred with the hope of re-connecting you to your animal life. Animals (other than the human variety) bring... Read More
December 30th, 2010 |
Pet ownership can be an extremely positive force in the life of an elderly person, especially if that person lives alone. The companionship of an animal can be therapeutic: pets have been shown to reduce depression, anxiety and loneliness and promote healing and cognitive sharpness. Caring for that pet can provide meaning and daily structure. But for some, injury or illness makes it impossible to give the animal the care it needs, and many elderly people are forced to part with their beloved animals. Recognizing that these seniors could provide companionship to animals but needed help with... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Santa Rosa Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
October 10th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities (AAA) are increasingly used to boost the benefits traditional psychotherapy and counseling. People from diverse backgrounds and facing a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological struggles have found not only comfort, but also growth and healing through animal-assisted psychotherapy. The premise is simple: the bond between humans and animals reaches beyond words, and an animal’s presence can offer a powerful level of comfort... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Oakland Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 4th, 2010 |
For many people participating in psychotherapy, supplemental activities outside of the counseling itself can be beneficial to their growth and healing. Equine assisted psychotherapy is one such supplement. In Gig Harbor, Washington, a program is helping people overcome emotional trauma by working with horses in addition to their regular therapy. Because horses are natural prey animals, they are always on guard and they read body language very well. This makes the animals easy for trauma victims... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Encino Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
July 20th, 2010 |
Mazey was three months old when I got her from the Humane Society. She and her three feral siblings were found in the snowy Rocky Mountains and needed a home. I took them all in and became their temporary mother while they learned to trust and even love humans. Like many animals, Mazey was special. She was attentive, affectionate, and friendly. She loved to meet new people and loves to give hugs, often at just the right time. Now at just over a year old Mazey is my therapy cat.
Most of us who own pets intrinsically know the value they have in our lives. Whether seeing them as a child or an animal,... Read More
June 11th, 2010 |
Survivors of the spring tornados that have been devastating Midwest towns have turned to friends, family, faith, and now animals for comfort. In Toledo, Ohio, community members gathered earlier this week to grieve together, and several therapy dogs were in attendance to help survivors heal. Bringing the therapy dogs to help tornado survivors move on with their lives was the idea of Bob Noble, a pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Toledo. Noble noted that the simple act of petting a dog offers “a few moments... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Los Gatos Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
