animal assisted therapy
Animals have a natural ability to connect to humans and sense our emotions. They provide a calm, genuine, accepting environment that allows for healing from emotional and physical pain. Research shows that being around animals helps to reduce your cortisol (stress hormones) and increase your oxytocin (feel good hormones) in your body! Working with dogs is a unique experience that allow us to practice connection and boundaries in safe/supportive relationship, as almost all dogs are unconditionally accepting of people.Â
Benefits
Improvement in Mental Health
Increase attention skills (i.e., paying attention, staying on task)
Develop leisure/recreation skills
Increase self-esteem
Reduce anxiety
Reduce loneliness
Increase motivation
Improve interactions with others
Improve willingness to be involved in a group activity
