While we might think of dogs as loyal friends and companions, their role in our lives go far beyond just “companionship”. Over the past several years conversion therapy has used dogs to help heal and comfort individuals in need of an extra push or reassurance that it’s going to be okay. In the following guide, we will consider in more detail what dogs can do before, during, and after therapy or counseling.
Understanding Therapy Dogs
A therapy dog is a type of service animal that has been trained to provide affection and comfort to those in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, or disaster areas. In contrast to service dogs which are trained for individuals with specific disabilities, therapy dog offers emotional support and companionship.
Benefits of Therapy and Counseling with Dogs
1. Emotional Support: They can sense emotions and provide us with unconditional love, healing our loneliness or anxiety from depression.
2. Stress Reduction: A dog by nature reduces the stress of its master, and can lower cortisol levels of spread (a hormone related to pressure) and promote relaxation… From now on lessening by the minimization overall during therapy sessions.
3. A Bridge for Communication: Dogs can help them communicate about their problems, especially in cases of trauma when they have been unable to talk about it, and also for all those people who simply cannot express any emotion at the sight or memories thereof.
4. Physical Benefits: As an extension to the mental health benefits, touching and talking with a dog can keep your heart rate low, diminish blood pressure, and generally support all-around cardiovascular well-being.
Different Forms of Therapies and Counseling with Dogs
1. Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) – A treatment in which pet dogs are used to help ameliorate social and emotional problems that result from ASD. It is intended to enhance emotional, cognitive, and social capacities as well as physical functioning.
Equine-Assisted Therapy. Although dogs are not part of this method, they may help make interactions with animals more therapeutic by their presence. Dogs in the role of Sherpas Trauma Therapy. The dog calms and gives the patient a sense of security and stability. Child Therapy. In the presence of a dog, kids open up and feel more relaxed. Dogs with specific training and certification. Opportunities to work with clients. Before integrating dogs into session practices, one must take into consideration the importance of obtaining of client’s consent and settingcooperating boundaries. One also should not lose sight of the advantages of cooperation with certified therapy dogs to ensure security in counseling. Conclusion Although dogs do not align with the general trends of professional counseling and clinical mental health counseling, they can significantly contribute to the client’s healing process. The dog’s affectionate approach reduces stress and provides a basis for developing social support. Do not hesitate to take advantage of the benefits offered by therapy dogs and alleviate clients’ difficulties.
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