Animal Assisted Therapy

 Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is the utilization of animals as a therapeutic modality to facilitate healing and rehabilitation of patients with acute or chronic diseases.

AAT offers numerous benefits beyond those available through traditional therapies. In this era of managed care and cost reduction, AAT allows therapists to use one treatment tool, an animal, to target a variety of goals. These include, but are not limited to, improving patients' range of motion, strength and endurance, balance, mobility and sensation. During the same session, using the animal, cognitive and perceptual deficits can be addressed. The patient also receives psychosocial benefits such as building rapport, increasing self-esteem, motivation and  stress reduction. What other treatment modality offers such a variety of benefits in such a delightful package?

“One of the programs I facilitate is where clients are scheduled to meet with myself and the dog one-on-one. The course of each client’s session is unique. The dog sits on laps much of the time while clients talk. Sometimes the client will want to take the dog for a walk, feed him a treat, brush him or give him water.  Each person has their own unique relationship with the dog and I try and help them feel their uniqueness. While working with a dog, many people will state very simply what is going on in their minds; this gives us the opportunity to chat about subjects that might not have been otherwise articulated, but are of great importance to the client.” --Lynna Hilts