Animal Therapy Research Paper

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Presented to the administration at the

Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero

Proposal submitted by

Alexandra Serino, MS, ATR

Registered Art Therapist

Certified AAT Handler

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. METHODS OF ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY

III. ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY IN PSYCHIATRIC SETTINGS

IV. ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS

V. CONCLUSION

VI. LESSON PLANS & ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Acknowledgments

Introduction

While strolling along a popular boardwalk with my dog, Cheswick, I was quickly surrounded by a dozen people who wanted to pet him. Cheswick, however, focused on a distraught young

Research has shown that interactions with animals have a positive impact on us both physically and emotionally. Physically, petting an animal has been shown to reduce risk for cardiovascular and chronic diseases, lowers blood pressure response to mental stress, and has a positive effect on the pain level a patient may experience. Emotionally, interactions with animals activates the Social Brain, also known as the Limbic System, common to all mammals, which is expressed in a need for connection to others (Sapolsky, 2015). Animals give us hope, understanding, love, and

They ask no questions and they pass no criticism.” The idea behind AAT is that individuals struggling physically, mentally or emotionally, can benefit from an animal’s trusting and loving behavior because animals do not pass judgement and treat everyone the same, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Thereby, animals model behaviors that individuals should demonstrate with each other. Research suggests that individuals who learn to be kind to animals have a better chance at developing empathy, self-esteem and social skills. The psychological problems for which AATs are used include schizophrenia, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum and a host of developmental