Different types of therapy have been used for centuries to treat many different emotional issues, disorders, physical injuries and more. Recently, a new type of therapy involving the assistance of animals is being used. In physical therapy, animals are commonly used in order to help improve fine motor skills (Autism 2). The most common of all animals used for therapy are dogs, however, many other animals are being used for therapy (Bubar 1). Different animals ranging from dogs to dolphins are involved in therapy. “Animal assisted therapy is a form of therapy that aims to improve a patient’s physical, emotional, social, behavioral, and cognitive functioning through the involvement of animals” (Benefits 2). Animal assisted therapy benefits children with special needs and other disorders in many ways.
Autism is a disorder which affects communication and social skills. Often, autistic children benefit from participating in animal assisted therapy lessons. “Children with autism may especially benefit from interacting with dogs, which can provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love and companionship” (Autism 2). Dogs are a popular choice for children with autism because they are loving and teach responsibility. “Previous research involving children with autism found that those who had a family pet from a young age tended to have greater social skills” (Autism 2). Interacting with an animal can help a child with autism strengthen his or her social and communication skills.
The unique interactions special needs children have with animals teaches them how to interact with others as well. “For differently abled and special needs children, interacting with animals can provide countless benefits towards rehabilitation and general well-being” (Benefits 2). When children with special needs spend time with animals, it helps them practice and improve their behavioral skills and self esteem. “Therapeutic pets, who are trained to perform precise and important tasks, provide special needs children with the opportunity to form unique bonds and adapt to life with their specific differences” (Benefits 2). Caring for a pet teaches responsibility and nurturance (Animal 1). “People who have pets benefit in various ways, for example, the comfort of physical contact with animals, reducing loneliness, and increased opportunities for meeting others, via the pets” (Animal 1).The physical interaction with the pet does provide gratification and other social opportunities. Taking care and looking after a pet requires patience, love, responsibility and a unique connection with the animal. Those who support animal assisted therapy believe that motivation, responsibility, and contentment are established when special needs children bond with an animal (Benefits 2). This allows the individual to have a better sense of courage, independence, determination and companionship. Children who have learning disabilities, anger management and behavioral disabilities can also benefit greatly from spending time with animals (Bubar 1). Interacting with an animal can improve the behavior and mood of those with anger management issues.
There are many different animals used in animal therapy, such as, dogs, cats, birds, dolphins, lizards and other small animals (Animal 1). Dogs are the most common therapy animal because they are kid friendly and are better suited for a home. Therapy dogs allow children to be more enthusiastic and determined when completing therapeutic exercise because their therapy dogs participate (Benefits 5). “Therapy dogs that work with disabled or special needs individuals are trained to perform specific duties” (Benefits 4). For example, some people who are blind have a professionally trained dog to help guide them. “The difficulty with cats as therapy animals is that they aren’t as easily transported as dogs, and aren't usually trained as service animals as they aren’t large enough to perform tasks in the event of a medical emergency” (Bubar 2). Cats are used more for petting for the purpose of relief rather than dogs used for service and guidance. Rabbits and guinea pigs assist with comfort and companionship, fine motor skills and emotional and behavioral benefits just as dogs do (Bubar 3). Rabbits and guinea pigs are very low maintenance pets and provide tremendous emotional support. Reptile care requires a lot of attention and concentration. Reptiles offer relief from emotional, mental, or physical struggles and have been used in London to assist those who struggle with eating disorders and depression (Bubar 4). Individuals with mental and eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, depression and anxiety, can get a reptile as a pet to assist them in their recovery. Some birds, such as parrots have a greater level of compassion and empathy which allow them to assist greatly with emotional support (Bubar 4). “Parrots can be taught words and phrases, which can help individuals and their animals work together during certain psychological episodes” (Bubar 4). When hearing certain words and phrases from the parrots, this can help patients reinforce and strengthen certain positive behaviors. Parrots, both empathetic and intelligent, are also great therapy animals to assist with verbal and communication skills. Cerebral palsy is a condition which affects muscles and body movement and coordination. For children and adults who have cerebral palsy, animal assisted therapy with dolphins is a popular choice (Benefits 5). Dolphins are extremely intelligent marine animals and can sense and observe a child with special needs’s difficulties or weaknesses. “… dolphin assisted therapy serves as a recreational, complementary, or alternative form of therapy that increases the patient's motivation to complete and reach rehabilitation goals. A number of disabled and special needs individuals find dolphin assisted therapy an exciting and effective form of therapy that gives them a unique opportunity to interact with a remarkable marine animal” (Benefits 5). Dolphins are one of the very few marine animals that can be trained to assist those with special needs.
Horses provide a lot of support to special needs children. “AAT with horses is known specifically as equine-assisted creative living, equine assisted personal development, or hippotherapy” (Animal 1). There are some equine centers that provide hippotherapy lessons. Horses help teach trust, promote confidence and lessen impatience and anxiety by learning how to interact and care for a horse (Bubar 3). Riding and caring for a large animal such as a horse depends on focus, leadership and a strong bond with the animal. “Physically, equine therapy works to improve balance, gait, gross motor skills, range-of-motion (ROM), strength, coordination, and muscle tone” (Benefits 3). Being taught how to ride a horse teaches the child direction and control. A form of equine therapy is hippotherapy, which targets to improve neurological and sensory functioning and processing by interacting with a horse (Benefits 3). Hippotherapy is used to assist with an individual’s movement and coordination abilities. “The goal of hippotherapy is to help the patient move in response to the horse’s movement, ultimately establishing normal patterns of human walking, improving sensory processing and cultivating neurological functioning” (Benefits 3). In a hippotherapy lesson, the rider sits in different positions on the horse in order to help improve their balance. The horse’s gait moves along with the pelvis of the rider which resembles human walking (Benefits 3). Hippotherapy can also help those whose are disabled, exercise their muscles, improve posture and balance skills. “Children with a range of disabilities, injuries, and special needs have benefited from equine-assisted therapy- some of these special needs include ADHD cerebral palsy (CP), behavioral disorders, traumatic brain injuries, autism, and intellectual and developmental disabilities” (Benefits 3). Equine assisted therapy benefits children with many different disorders mentally, physically and emotionally.
During animal assisted therapy, sessions can be given in groups or individually and therapists document and assess the patient’s improvement (Animal 1). Individuals progress and benefit more in a group therapy lesson rather than individual lessons, because there is more interaction with others. “Research annually indicates that animal assisted therapy and companion pets help special needs individuals reach rehabilitative goals, experience greater well-being, and improve physical, social, cognitive, emotional and behavioral functioning” (Benefits 1). Various skills are learned and improved during therapy that can allow the individual to feel content and confident in themselves. “Many of these children have disabilities and neurological disorders including cerebral palsy, autism, behavioral disorders, psychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injuries, spine injuries, and more” (Benefits 3).
Animal assisted therapy is becoming more and more popular as the years go by. It is being used in everyday life. For example, in some court cases where victims are required to confront their violator, professional therapy animals are used for relief (Bubar 1). Even just petting you house pet at home can provide you with relaxation and happiness without you even realizing it. Many different animals are used for relief, for comfort, to improve skills, and much more. In the future, even more animals will be discovered to have qualities or traits that can benefit individuals greatly. Whether you have special needs, disabilities, physical injuries, mental or eating disorders, the guidance and companionship of animals can be remarkably therapeutic and healing. “Healing with animals is without dispute, a rehabilitative experience unmatched by another form of therapy for individuals with special needs or disabilities” (Benefits 1).