Animal Assisted Therapy Local MA. Programs
Animal and therapy are a way to support those that struggle with traditional talk therapy.
Pet therapy has grown in popularity recently. Because of its ability to aid people with a range of mental health conditions. Teenagers going through a tough moment may benefit most from this type of therapy, which uses animals to help with the healing process. Here, we look at the possible benefits of using animals to help your problematic teen.
1. Emotional support: The ability of animals to love and support humans without passing judgment makes them unique. Teens who are lonely or isolated may not get the same level of comfort and companionship from people alone. But having an animal companion can help.
2. Reduced anxiety and stress: By engaging with animals, stress and anxiety level can reduced. Due to social challenges, familial problems, or academic responsibilities. And teenagers usually endure high levels of stress. Interactions with animals can promote relaxation and lower stress-related cortisol levels.
3. Increased self esteem: Adolescence is a critical period for developing self worth and confidence. Through their loving disposition and ability to communicate nonverbally; animals offer continual affirmation, which can enhance a teen's feeling of self and worth.
4. Improved social skills: Group sessions with youth interacting with the animal and other program participants are common in animal-assisted therapy. This gives children a chance to practice critical social skills like collaboration, empathy, communication, and respect—all of which are necessary for wholesome relationships.
5. Enhanced emotional regulation: During this growth stage, when hormone levels fluctuate greatly, many teens find it difficult to successfully regulate their emotions. Teens learn how to better control their emotions by exercising patience, empathy, and responsibility through activities like walking or grooming an animal under professional supervision during therapy sessions. These are all important life skills that they may use in different contexts.
6. Promotion of physical activity: Animal-assisted therapy often includes physical activities such as walking dogs or engaging in playtime exercises which promote increased physical activity levels among teenagers who may otherwise spend excessive time indoors engaged in sedentary behaviors like screen-time activities which have negative impacts on mental health
7. Encouragement of responsibility & accountability: Taking care of an animal requires commitment , patience , accountability , planning well ahead etc. Thus, participatingin animal assisted teraphy will make them understand these concepts quite clearly thereby helping them grow up more responsible individuals
Ultimately , animal assisted therapy has proven benefits across different domains, here are a few that you may want to check out as we head into the summer.