A social support system is extremely important in the beginning stages of recovery. No one said that support system has to consist of only humans. Many treatment centers have taken on alternative therapeutic practices using animal assisted therapies, bringing mans best friend into the recovery process.
Therapy Dogs in Treatment Centers
Treatment centers have been using therapy dogs to help clients to learn the values of service, empathy, teamwork, trust, self-expression, cooperation and communication. Working directly with the dog, the client is given an non-judgmental ear, trust, love without reason, a way to release tension and a good laugh with any silly dog antics that may take place.
In addition to the love and comfort from the dog, they also play a great role in the healing process. When caring for another being, many clients will begin to develop a positive sense of self worth, experience empathy and lower levels of anxiety and depression. Dogs help to give recovering addicts a sense of purpose, keeping them active, reducing stress and loneliness, all of which helping to prevent relapse.
Benefits to Canine Assisted Therapy
There have been many studies on the benefits of the use of dogs in a therapeutic environment, including:
- Decrease in stress
- Increase in physical activity
- Relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Hands-on interaction helps to increase focus and attention
- Improvements in communication and social skills
- Learning to treat themselves and others appropriately
- Dogs offer unconditional love, affection and nurturing with nothing expected in return
- Increase in self-worth
- Reduced blood pressure
- Positive mood and mindset
- A sense of purpose and reduced loneliness
- Learning boundaries and respecting them
- Patients are most likely to participate in therapy session and motivation to stay in treatment
How Canine Assisted Therapy Works
Canine assisted therapy allows the client to spend time with the dog, developing a bond. The client may be given the responsibility of grooming and caring for the dog. They will learn how to communicate with the dog using both verbal and non-verbal commands. Therapy sessions may take place in an individual or group setting. The dog offers the client a sense of security and trust, they are able to open up and express their feelings as they simply stroke the dog. Sessions will allow them to speak freely about their experiences with the dog and how they feel he/she is helping him throughout the treatment process. Each client is treated as an individual and provided with an unique treatment plan involving canine assisted therapies included.
Who Will Benefit from Canine Assisted Therapy?
Even the most resistant addict can benefit from canine assisted therapy as they are able to open up and express themselves with ease, the dog offers them a purpose and what they truly need to heal. Each person will bring home something different from the program.
Individuals with a history of violence, animal abuse or allergies to animals may be excluded from animal assisted therapy programs.
