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Pet Assisted Therapy

Image: Rocky, Certified Therapy Dog with TDI

Benefits of Pet Assisted Therapy

According to Dr. Cynthia K. Chandler, Director of the Center for Animal Assisted Therapy, at the University of North Texas, in Denton, TX:
"Animal assisted therapy is the incorporation of pets into the therapeutic process. The therapy animal works in partnership with a human therapist to provide compassionate and stimulating therapy designed to facilitate human client recovery."

The benefits include:

* May increase client motivation to participate out of a desire to spend time with the therapy pet.

* May temporarily shift a client's focus away from disabling pain so the client can work longer in a therapy session and potentially gain more benefit.

* Client may receive healing nurturance and affection through physical contact with the therapy pet.

* Client may experience soothing comfort from petting or holding a therapy pet.

* Client may experience unconditional acceptance by the therapy pet.

* Client may experience enjoyment and entertainment from interaction with a therapy pet.

* Client may be able to form a more trusting relationship with a human therapist who is observed by the client to have a positive relationship with the therapist's pet.

* Client may be able to achieve goals not otherwise possible without the assistance of a therapy pet.

Dr. Chandler's Web Site

Therapy Dog International

Delta Society

Reading Program with Animals PDF brochure


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