Opening Statement:
Animal therapy can help people heal, face their fears, tell their story, and understand how their actions impact the outside world. There is something deeply wonderful about our furry, four-legged friends. Animals can provide comfort, joy, and most importantly nonjudgmental support. They can also be used in animal therapy to help people build relationships, face fears, and develop or improve behavioral skills.
Why Do Animals Make Us Feel Better?
According to the National Institutes of Health, studies have shown that interactions with animals have several positive health benefits that include:
· Decreased cortisol levels (stress hormone)
· Lowered blood pressure
· Reduced feelings of loneliness
· Boosted mood
Who Can Benefit from Animal Therapy?
· Owning a pet can provide general health benefits, such as helping to increase activity levels and decrease loneliness.
· Structured animal therapy may be recommended for a variety of behavioral health conditions and can help people achieve their educational, professional, or personal goals.
Animal Therapy Has Been Proven Effective for Many Groups:
· Veterans and individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder
· People with substance use disorder
· Individuals with behavior issues
The Difference Between Animal Therapy and a Service Animal:
· Animal therapy and a service animal are not the same. Although both involve animals with providing needed assistance, a service animal is specifically trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, whereas an animal used in therapy provides comfort and emotional support without necessarily being trained for specific tasks. A therapy animal can be used with a wider range of people in various settings like hospitals or schools.
· Key differences and Functions:
A service animal is trained to perform specific tasks related to a person's disability, like guiding a visually impaired person or alerting someone to a medical crisis, while a therapy animal is primarily used to provide comfort and emotional support through interaction.
· Access Rights:
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals have the legal right to accompany their owners in most public places, while therapy animals generally do not have the same access rights unless the facility specifically allows them.
· Who They Work With:
A service animal works solely with their owner who has a disability, while a therapy animal can interact with multiple people in a setting like a hospital or school.
Closing Message and Additional Information:
I wanted to add important information concerning the differences of a “Service Animal vs. Emotional Support Animal” so all reading this article can have a greater understanding of all types of helpful animals. Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals do not require any training or licensing. This doesn't mean they're not helping individuals that need the help. People who struggle with mental illness often report that petting or holding their animals helps them feel less anxious and lonely. There are ways of getting government/state approval for an emotional support animal, so please research, have your case manager/support coordinator help you, and fill out the necessary forms.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches and Printed Marketing
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
Comments