Resource Person: Minal Kavishwar
Date: 19th August 2006
Venue: Bapu Office
Animal Angels Foundation is the only organization in India working in the field of animal assisted therapy. We use a scientific medium and train animals. Animal assisted therapy started in the 1960s in the west and since then has been a popular and a regular form of therapy. There are animal assisted therapy centers in most hospitals. Thus, it is not a new concept there. Boris Lewinson, a child psychologist worked with uncommunicative children. His own pet dog, Jingles would be around hen he was working with the children. He observed that the children opened up more when Jingles was around them. He documented his sessions in detail about the changes that were observed and he also presented a paper on this new form of therapy. Thus gradually, it became a scientific medium.
Animal Assisted Therapy is a goal-oriented therapy. It is a structured form where the goals are pre-determined and where the interaction with the animals leads to the goal. When it is structured and goal-oriented, it is called animal assisted therapy. But when there are no specific goals other than recreation and it is casual then it is called animal assisted activity.
To be an animal assisted therapist, the eligibility is to be a mental health professional because the basics of any kind of therapy are applicable here as well.
There are several different kinds of animals used for the therapy process but the most common one is a dog because it is easily trainable, it is more interactive and social. Dogs work on their auditory and olfactory senses more. These qualities are worked upon during training. For example, a dog that is not trained for therapy might be excited if he comes across children who pull its tail or ears or throw things at him. But a dog that is trained for therapy is trained not to be excited about it. A therapy dog, if put in an environment where there are children who are mentally challenged, is trained not to react sharply or not be threatened by the environment.
Therapy dogs are selected on the basis of certain pre-requisites.
Temperament - the dog should not be too aggressive or too shy. He has to be of calm temperament and friendly.
Personality - the dog has to be confident and outgoing.
Healthy - the dog has to be healthy and vaccinated because most people fear about hygiene. So each therapy dog is vaccinated and clean.
Trainability - this is an important pre-requisite for a therapy dog and he should be trained to do different things.
Several other animals are used in therapy like cats, birds, and rabbits. Horses are also used a lot in the west and it is called equine assisted therapy. This is a specialized form of animal assisted therapy. It is mainly used with people who have a physical disability, spastic and autistic children. The main focus here is to regain body balance, motor control, and self-esteem. In India this specialized form of therapy has not yet developed due to economical constraints as well as lack of training facilities. Dolphins are also commonly used especially with autistic children. Animals have their own medium of communication and they respond immediately to any emotional changes. They can sense an individual’s emotions very easily. One example of this is when one is afraid of dogs, the dogs inevitably bark at you because the dogs sense the individual’s fear and anxiety. This quality of animals is enhanced in therapy animals.
The kind of animal used differs from setting to setting. For example, in a geriatric setting, one cannot use a very jumpy or excited dog. Probably in that setting, a cat or a rabbit is more suitable. The individuals can just keep them on their laps and pet. But if it were a children’s setting, a dog would be more appropriate. The choice of animals depends on the clients as well as the setting.
Animal Assisted Therapy has wide applications in mental health:
Depression – it helps to build self-esteem. Animals have a non-judgmental attitude and listen willingly to the individual. They show unconditional love and support and also it is easier to open up to an animal.
Hyperactivity – playing with animals, especially jumpy dogs, is a good outlet for children’s energy. But at the same time it is systematically controlled. The focus in therapy is to increase the attention span and concentration. Normally, hyperactive children cannot sustain at any activity for too long but using this form of therapy, their sustainability at any activity can be increased. It has also been proven that when you pet an animal, your system automatically calms down. It also works with people who have high blood pressure.
Autism – children with autism lack social skills, communication and cannot relate to human beings. But they interact extremely well with animals. It is very hard to neglect an animal when in a therapy room.
Stress – animals help to reduce stress. Research has shown that watching a fish tank helps reduce your stress and brings down the blood pressure.
Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy and Spastic children
Behavioral Problems – these days, a lot of parents come in with behavioral complaints of their children. Animal assisted therapy works very well using behavioral techniques.
Reading and learning difficulties - animal assisted reading has increased popularity and has shown good results.
Theory of Biophilia:
This theory states that the human brain has been shaped by evolution to pay selective attention to animals. We have a highly developed ability to pay attention to animals and learn their ways. Humans have an innate need for an emotional or spiritual relationship with the rest of nature and without this our mental health could be at jeopardy. Thus, by learning their ways would have increased human fitness throughout human history. Human health and well-being are dependent on our interaction with our environment.
Animal assisted therapy is becoming popular form of therapy.
It works as an excellent icebreaker and provides a valuable breakthrough.
Helps to build rapport
Helps in building and improving communication skills
It can be incorporated with any other kind of therapy. Works as an excellent co-therapy and enhances the results.
Lowers anxiety, guards, or defenses.
Strong motivational point (especially with people having speech disability)
Very effective with withdrawn or uncommunicative children.
Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy:
Rapport building is easier.
Keeps the focus on the outer world. The animal helps as a link or medium of achieving the goals.
The animals accept unconditionally and give love irrespective of who the person is. They have an unconditional and non-judgmental attitude and accept the person without any qualifications.
Help in the socialization process and encourage interaction
Helps brighten the atmosphere in an institutional setting, gives mental stimulation, and increases laughter, amusement, and play.
Physical contact and touch is comforting and therapeutic.
Through interaction with animals, children learn to be empathetic.
Working with animals has several physiological benefits as well like reducing stress, anxiety, and blood pressure.
It provides entertainment in an otherwise routine and monotonous schedule.
The areas that animal assisted therapy works towards are:
- Behavioral
- Motivational
- Physical
- Educational
We conducted a study in JiddaSchool for mentally challenged children in Thane. The feedback obtained showed very positive results. The children showed a lot of positive behavioral changes, their motor skills improved, they were more expressive and got more involved in school activities.
Animal assisted therapists work in collaboration with rehab professionals. There are several different therapists involved like physiotherapists, speech therapists, counselors, and other professionals. The problem areas are identified and an outline of a schedule is made. The therapist, co-therapist (animal), and client work together towards the goal. Pre-therapy, mid-therapy, and post-therapy evaluations are done.
There is a need to increase awareness about animals. People should be educated about animals, not just from a therapy point of view but how to co-exist with animals in our environment. People in the urban areas are gradually becoming aversive towards living in the natural environment. People in the rural areas have some or the other domestic animal in their house. Thus, it works as a therapeutic environment even though it is not as structured as a therapeutic setting.
