Summary Report on the
AAT Online Session.
17 March 2019
Speakers: Subhadra Cherukuri, Unnati
Hunjan, Rachel Isaac
The online session on Healing through animals was hosted by SERPA on 17
March 2019.
The aim was to
provide an introduction to animal assisted therapy.
The session was
organized around five main topics:
- Animal Assisted Intervention
- The different perspectives of AAT
- Case Studies
- Who comprises of the AAT team?
- Procedure/ Process
Animal Assisted
Intervention
Animal assisted Intervention is the use of animals in improvement of
general health and well-being of the individuals. It is especially effective in
dealing with issues like depression, stress and anxiety. There are two types of
intervention:
Animal Assisted
Activities: Activities for schools, corporates and other groups of individuals
aimed at bringing about a sense of positivity and relaxation.
It is very useful in
dealing with issues like depression, anxiety, stress, learning delays. Research
studies have pointed out that special educators observed an improvement in
learning in students with learning difficulties when there were animals present
in the room as it created a positive, non-judgmental environment for the
students.
Animal Assisted
Therapy: Activities to help individuals with- Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Post- traumatic Stress Disorder,
Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord injuries, Strokes and Delayed
development of motor skills.
Some sample therapeutic goals in
AAT include:
- Activities to improve balance, endurance
- Fine motor and gross motor development
- Improvement in cognition, memory and problem
solving,
- Sensory stimulation
- Improvement in speech and
reading skills
The different
perspectives of AAT
The Psychological
Angle
Brain imaging studies
have shown that working with animals or being with animals lead to release of
two important neuro-transmitters: Serotonin and Dopamine. Serotonin is
associated with feelings of happiness and dopamine is associated with feelings
of reward. This is not only beneficial to the humans but to the animals as
well.
Working with animals
acts as a catalyst for emotions. It leads to cognitive development (improvement
in the executive functioning of the brain), improved assertiveness. The
presence of animals have also lead to decrease in abusive behavior, risky-
suicidal behavior, reduces the feelings of boredom, worthlessness and
guilt.
It is based on the
theory of Biophilia – which suggests that humans
possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of
life. Studies have shown that the presence of animals have made individuals
move anxiety from oneself to other stimulus in the environment and regulate
themselves in a better way.
Animals
have shown to act as a social mediator – Example, you may be someone who have
social inhibitions and have difficulty interacting with others but the presence
of the animal will make you more confident when someone approaches you to talk
to the animal. It leads to improved outlook towards life, makes you confident,
in control of the environment and contributes to the overall improvement in
well-being.
The
Physiological Angle
Equine therapy/
Hippotherapy/ Canine therapy
· It leads of better
physical co-ordination and proprioception
· It leads to
improvement in hand-eye awareness, balance, and muscle tone.
· It aids speech
therapy
· Improvement in touch
and tactile sensations
Case Studies
Case Study 1:
An 11 year old boy
with ASD, Non-verbal, Hyperactivity, Poor Eye contact
Equine therapy was
started with him and initially he would sleep on the horse, lie in one position
but eventually he started sitting upright, holding the reins of the horse,
walking the horse, getting off the horse. The movement of the horse improves
vestibular sensation and at the end of 3 months the following were observed:
- Hyperactivity was negligible
- He responded well to instructions
- Improvement in eye contact and speech
Case Study 2:
A 72 year old man
with stroke, non-mobile, reduced motor skills and speech, signs of
depression.
Canine therapy was
started with him and the main goals of the therapy were to improve his speech,
range of motion and better psychological well-being.
After 6 weeks of AAT
the following were observed:
- Improvement in motor functioning - He could
throw a ball; he was able to button his shirt, brush the dog, hold a tea
cup.
- He started enjoying his time in the
park.
- He would whistle to call the dog which he was
unable to do after the stroke.
Who comprises of the
AAT team?
Neurologists,
Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Special Educators, Animal therapists/handlers,
Therapy dog/horse trainers, Therapy dogs and horses
Procedure/
Process
Animals are assessed
themselves for phobias at a very young age (fear of traffic, lights, certain
sounds etc.). They are assessed for sensitivity to touch, presence of certain
objects, to understand their level of response to human beings.
They are further
trained to follow instructions, sit in certain positions, and perform certain
actions. Post- training, they are further assessed before starting therapy
sessions.
Horses are also
assessed for their temperament; their reaction to human’s tantrums, sudden
outbursts, people in wheelchairs etc. Horses are usually re-trained for
therapeutic reasons as generally they are used for races.
Question- Answer
Session:
- Is special training given to animals before
doing therapy?
· Yes they are given
specific training to handle different reactions from humans.
2.
Any particular breeds suit the best for therapy?
· There is a
misconception that only Labradors, Golden Retrievers are used for therapy but
any breed can be used as long as they are trained.
3.
Is there minimum number of sessions required?
· Yes a minimum of 2
sessions per week is required.
4.
Any particular animals used for particular diagnosis?
· No. The diagnosis is
broken down into individual symptoms and those are addressed in the
session.
5.
What if the child has tactile hypersensitivity?
· The therapist need to
ensure that certain parts of the animal doesn’t touch the child if they are
uncomfortable.
6.
What are some precautions to be taken in the sessions?
· Even though, for
example, dogs are trained, it is important to have a constant eye on them. It
is important to cut down on the sessions if there are too many continuous
outbursts. With regard to equine therapy, it is important to take all the
safety measures including using helmets, using the right kind of shoes,
ensuring the straps and seat belts are working properly, measures to de-mount
the child quickly if there are any incidents.
7.
Is there a retirement age for therapy animals? What happens
post-retirement?
· For dogs – 7-8
years
Horses- 15 years
Fortunately there are many families and
organizations coming forward to take care of the retired animals.
8.
Can street dogs be trained to become therapy dogs?
·
Yes, street dogs can be trained after careful
evaluation/assessment.
