Pet therapy: what it is and what are the benefits of therapy with animals
The benefits that are introduced into our life thanks to pets are increasingly recognized. Having a dog or cat in the house helps us to keep us dynamic in taking care of another living being, to counteract loneliness in the most difficult moments and even to fight anxiety and stress. In short, they are a panacea for our mental and physical health.
In addition, it has been noted that having a pet since childhood favors interpersonal relationships and promotes respect for others from childhood.
This key role of pets has been known for years, to such an extent that dogs and cats, but also horses and dolphins have become the focus of a special type of therapy, the so-called pet therapy.
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What is pet therapy and when is it born
The term pet therapy was born in the 1960s and was coined by the American psychiatrist Boris Levinson. Literally it means "pet therapy"or" companionship "and it is a particular form of therapy that relies on the interaction between man and animal. From here, a special relationship is created between a patient and the pet, exploiting all the positive effects that derive from it.
In Italy, pet therapy was officially recognized in 2003 and from there it began to be used in the treatment of children and the elderly with various pathologies, from cognitive deficits to motor problems. It is often found under the name of IAA, or Assisted Interventions with Animals. To date, the title of pet therapy indicates two different therapeutic forms.
The first is defined "animal assisted activities"(Animal Assisted Activities - AAA) and consists, precisely, in contact activities with animals that aim to improve the quality of life of a patient of any age. Usually, this type of treatment is found in hospitals to alleviate the time spent in the facility.
The second "branch" of pet therapy, on the other hand, is the "animal-assisted therapy"(Animal Assisted Therapies - AAT). In this case, we are faced with real therapy paths that aim to recover or improve the cognitive, motor and social skills of patients. The users who use them can be both children and adults and the elderly with disabilities or psychiatric disorders and this treatment is always accompanied by other therapies.
The animals protagonists of this type of therapy
Thus, pet therapy consists of assisted interventions with animals. But which animals are best suited for this treatment? In general, these are pets or, perhaps, it would be more correct to call them companions. In fact, in addition to dogs, cats and rabbits, we also find horses and donkeys, while in some cases dolphins are even used. According to the National Guidelines, any animal that is used in therapies must first undergo a "training course" together with its owner or educator. Only in this way can he be certified through behavioral requirements and the good relationship he has with his handler, or the person who trained him and who will follow the meeting between the animal and the patient together with the therapist.
The choice of which animal is more suitable depends on the problems and physical and psychological needs of the user. For motor problems or for disabled people, we usually resort to "hippotherapy, socialization in the tank with dolphins or even the management of dogs. However, horses can also be the protagonists of sessions for behavioral and psychic disorders that require contact and approach only from the ground.
The benefits of pet therapy
Animal assisted interventions are aimed at virtually all patients, depending on their ailments and needs. As a rule, pet therapy is used with children, the elderly, disabled people or people with psychiatric problems. Depending on the age of the user, certain benefits are noted. For example, research has shown how the interaction between a child and an animal stimulates cognitive processes and the development of behavioral skills. Not to forget, then, is the psychological factor: thanks to pet therapy sessions, small patients - and not only that - they discover or rediscover the beauty of play and smile.
Now let's see in detail the main benefits of this type of therapy.
Improvement of the relationship between patient and therapist
Especially in the case of users with psychiatric disorders, pet therapy helps to lower the patient's level of apprehension towards their therapist. In fact, one of the aims of these assisted interventions is to change the relational style. People who suffer from autism or who have other related diseases change their behavior in the presence of the pet. Experts explained that this improvement occurs because the patient feels almost obliged to take care of the dog, cat or any other. animal has next to him.Thus, there is an increase in the sense of responsibility and a greater openness towards the therapist.
In this regard, pet therapy can also be used during visits between doctors and cancer patients. Several studies have shown how the relationship that is established between the sick and the animal favors communication with professionals and thus involvement in treatment therapy.
Body control
We have said how pet therapy does not only act at the level of mental health, but also in favor of physical well-being. Sessions of this type are offered to children or patients with disabilities and motor difficulties, which may relate to limb movement, balance and coordination. For example, command or agility activities with dogs are very useful for improving. the spatial-temporal orientation skills: observing how the animal moves in open space, the user learns to correctly execute the movements and all the exercises concerning the control and direction of the dog.
Dogs, however, aren't the only ones who benefit from this. We have already mentioned "hippotherapy, which can be from the ground and" in the saddle ", where children and the disabled become aware of their bodies by following the movements of the horse, or there is the dolphin therapy with games in the pool with dolphins.
Lowering the level of anxiety and tension
It has been shown that the presence of a pet not only improves the behavior of certain patients, but that, in general, it contributes to the lowering of anxiety and tension in the people who benefit from it. All this has been proven on a scientific level. We have seen how children who face the first blood sample with an animal next to them show a regular heartbeat, stable blood pressure and increased blood oxygenation. These factors reveal how the patients felt anxiety and stress, but were relaxed during the normal medical procedure.
For this reason the animals are used in the so-called assisted activities (AAA), to try to reduce the negative moods that naturally derive from hospitalization and to prevent the appearance of depression and restlessness.
Self-confidence
Finally, the relationship between man and animal plays a fundamental role in terms of self-esteem. It was demonstrating how this interaction can become a means for some patients to relive and deal with traumatic events and stimulate reflections on important concepts, such as trust and respect for oneself and for others. There have been many positive results in this regard especially with teenagers in their teens.
Furthermore, since the IAA always bring progress, perhaps not immediate but still visible over time, users are the first to recognize improvements in their skills and all this directly affects self-esteem.
