Animal-Assisted Therapy as an Adjuvant Method in Treatment Process

Animal-Assisted Therapy as an Adjuvant Method in Treatment Process

Damla Özçelik

Middle East Technical University

Animal Assisted Therapy

Throughout history, animals have played significant role in human life. Primitive people realized that human-animal relationships were important and in 9th century animals were used for handicapped people in Belgium for the first time. After that significance of human-animal relationship is realized and animals started to be used for therapy purpose. First record of use of animals for therapy purpose was in 1972 and in this retreat small animals were used to care psychiatric patients (Netting, Wilson & New, 1987). After this year, animals are used for different therapy purposes and animal-assisted therapy became popular and interesting area.

Animal assisted therapy(AAT) is the type of therapy that includes animals for the purpose of treatment. All therapy animals work with professional therapists to provide adjuvant method and facilitate patients’ recovery process. Palley et al. (2010) defined the term of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as the interaction of an animal to one or more persons in the purpose of providing a beneficial impact on human health or well-being. According to Brodie and Biley (1999), pets are usually selected according to their initiation and reaction ability to attachment and they are used for therapeutic purpose to solve human problems. Animals that are used in animal-assisted therapy are trained and selected carefully and professionally and these trainings continue further to reach the best result at the end of therapy. According to Murray (2004), for all AAT programs some principles should be carried, which are;

1. AAT programs are goal directed therapies and before any program, goals should be set for each participant. For example, riding a horse has specific goal, which is improving physical strength of patients’ specific body part which is influenced by trauma or disability and increasing motivation of patients to attend physical rehabilitation.
2. To achieve this goal, animals are selected and trained specifically and carefully.
3. AAT is programmed to improve cognitive, emotional, social or physical functioning.
4. Only part of the whole treatment program of one specific individual is formed by AAT.
5. AAT is directed and delivered by health service professional and an animal specialist.
6. All process of AAT is documented and evaluated.

Types of AAT

AAT has several types to provide more efficient and effective AAT program. They are divided into two categories, individual vs. group and animal based. Selection of type for each therapy program plays important role in effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy. Type that is used in animal-assisted therapy depends according to goal of the program.

Individual vs. Group. AAT programs can be implemented in an individual basis or in groups according to expected patients’ outcomes, suitability of therapy animals and settings. Individual basis AAT is effective when pets are used for patients with stress-related behaviors by providing one-to-one interaction. Group base AAT is beneficial when more than one individual has similar needs by improving social interactions.

Animal based. AAT programs also can be sub-classified according to animals that are used in therapy. Mostly cats, dogs, horses and dolphins are used as therapy animals.

Canine assisted therapy includes social interaction between dogs and people and it is used with children or adults in a group or individual therapy programs.

Feline assisted therapy involves interaction between cats and people and it is usually long-term so cats are like pets rather than therapy animals in feline assisted therapy.

Equine assisted therapy includes horses and donkeys and in this type of therapy, some goals are set for clients to achieve. After completing these tasks, discussion about process of their thought and problem solving are made for the purpose of healing process.

Dolphin-assisted therapy in which clients swim or interact with dolphins.

By the correct implication of AAT programs and careful selection of animals, the highest benefits can be achieved from AAT. Interactions with animals positively influenced people in a variety of health care settings. Therefore, AAT can be used as an adjuvant way to support patients in their healing processes. Through studies and literatures, effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy is analyzed and most of them concluded that animal assisted therapy for patients with health problems such as mental, physical and psychological disorders is very effective adjuvant method in their healing process. This paper will give overview about benefits and potential risks of animal-assisted therapy.