Animal Assisted Psychotherapy
My wonderful therapy cat Earl passed away a few years ago of cancer. Thank you to the many clients who welcomed him into the therapy room and into your therapy process. He loved going to work! I am, therefore, currently unable to offer animal assisted therapy at this time.
Why incorporate an animal into the therapy process?
Therapy animals have the ability to help clients feel comfortable and at ease sooner in counseling. This helps facilitate rapport with the therapist as well as helping the client talk about sensitive issues more quickly. Animals have the ability to make the counseling process more positive and enjoyable. Clients may receive physical comfort from the therapy animal when they are expressing their most difficult emotions. Having a therapy animal present can also assist us in practicing tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy such as refocusing our thoughts on the animal's actions rather than on our unwanted or anxious thoughts. For clients with skin and hair pulling disorders they practice replacing the temptation to pull during sessions by petting the therapy animal. Animals also help focus the attention outward. This helps relieve symptoms of physical pain, depression, anxiety and other problems that are generally self or internally-focused. Lastly, research shows biochemical benefits of the presence of animals. Oxytocin levels have been shown to increase, while cortisol decreases lowering our stress and anxiety levels. Studies show that positive physical contact with an animal also lowers blood pressure and benefits social attention and behavior, interpersonal interactions and mood.
Training in Animal Assisted Psychotherapy
90 hours of post graduate training from Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado
Why incorporate an animal into the therapy process?
Therapy animals have the ability to help clients feel comfortable and at ease sooner in counseling. This helps facilitate rapport with the therapist as well as helping the client talk about sensitive issues more quickly. Animals have the ability to make the counseling process more positive and enjoyable. Clients may receive physical comfort from the therapy animal when they are expressing their most difficult emotions. Having a therapy animal present can also assist us in practicing tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy such as refocusing our thoughts on the animal's actions rather than on our unwanted or anxious thoughts. For clients with skin and hair pulling disorders they practice replacing the temptation to pull during sessions by petting the therapy animal. Animals also help focus the attention outward. This helps relieve symptoms of physical pain, depression, anxiety and other problems that are generally self or internally-focused. Lastly, research shows biochemical benefits of the presence of animals. Oxytocin levels have been shown to increase, while cortisol decreases lowering our stress and anxiety levels. Studies show that positive physical contact with an animal also lowers blood pressure and benefits social attention and behavior, interpersonal interactions and mood.
Training in Animal Assisted Psychotherapy
90 hours of post graduate training from Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado