You’ve seen or read about animals visiting hospitals and nursing homes, and you’ve probably heard the term “pet therapy.” You may be wondering what the fuss is about, or you may think that incorporating the human-animal bond into healthcare is a brilliant idea.

The power of the relationship between animals and some people is undeniable. We have a history of linking people who are ill with nature: we bring plants and flowers to people who are sick in an effort to cheer them. It can be a natural next step to bring nature in the form of animals to help people heal.

Therapy animals can have a powerful, positive effect on patients/clients, staff, and visitors. You’ve seen people gravitate to the cat in the bookstore. You may have read about animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in physical, occupational, or speech therapy. AAT is not restricted to physical rehabilitation, however. Counselors, educators, and other professionals can incorporate therapy animals into their sessions.

Imagine an adolescent with behavior problems learning how to identify good things, not just things to complain about. Imagine him learning how to work with his anger because he doesn’t want to scare a dog or take it out on a dog. Through AAT sessions, the adolescent learns to change the way he interacts with his family because he learned new ways to relate to a dog. AAT works with the relationship we have with the animals in our lives. This is what animal-assisted therapy is all about: incorporating trained, screened, and healthy animals into a client’s treatment plan to help the client meet specific goals.

What can we do for you?

We provide cost-effective animal-assisted therapy sessions to help you meet the needs of your patient, client, or family member. We work individually or with facility staff to provide individual or group therapy. We also provide animal-assisted therapy sessions in a person’s home.

Healthcare facilities, mental health, and social service agencies

If you are a staff member in a healthcare facility, mental health facility, or social service agency, we first meet with the designated staff contact person. During this meeting we identify patient population needs, staff needs, facility layout, and facility policies. We find out if animal-assisted therapy is a realistic option for your facility. Together we determine if staff would be helped by an in-service prior to beginning AAT sessions. Then we contract for in-service and animal-assisted therapy sessions (frequency, duration, goals).

We provide counseling sessions as a direct-care provider, either individually or with your staff. We also provide co-treatment with staff of other disciplines.

We bring animals to you or you can bring your clients to an external facility. For example, out-patient mental health clients can work with shelter animals to address therapeutic goals such as increased cooperation, communication, and appropriate verbal expression of feelings.

Contact us for additional information or to schedule a meeting.

Individuals If you are an individual looking to enhance the quality of life of a family member or friend, we provide activity or therapy sessions in the home. We first meet with you to determine the needs and goals. Together we identify the practical details necessary to provide AAT to your family member, and we complete a contract for the sessions. Contact us for additional information or to schedule a meeting.

Therapists

If you are a therapist who wants to enhance the services you offer your clients, we will work with you to provide service that helps your client meet his/her treatment goals. We first meet with you to determine the client’s needs, your needs, and the goals you are working toward with the client. Together we discuss how AAT can benefit your client, and we complete a contract for the sessions.

Contact us for additional information or to schedule a meeting.

Animal shelters

If you are a staff member of an animal shelter, you can receive help meeting your animal care needs while working in cooperation with local mental health facility staff and their clients. We first meet with the designated staff contact persons of both your organization and the mental health facility to identify client population needs, staff needs, staff roles, shelter layout, and facility policies. Shelter and therapist staff members receive an in-service prior to beginning AAT sessions. We contract for in-service and AAT sessions (frequency, duration).

Contact us for additional information or to schedule a meeting.