What is Animal-Assisted Therapy? AAT is the use of animal interactions with patients to aid recovery from health problems or to help people cope with certain medical conditions. Those medical providers and therapists who support AAT believe it has many benefits such as helping with personal and social development, increased self-esteem, improved mental health, better social skills, and increased empathy and nurturing skills.

Some forms of AAT involve caring for animals, such as feeding, grooming, and bathing the animals, on a regular basis. Other forms of AAT include an animal being brought to a care facility for patient interaction. For example, ATD’s volunteers bring their therapy dogs to rehabilitation centers, hospice facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities to visit and interact with those in need of comfort. APA

In the 1960s, ATT pioneer Dr. Boris Levinson’s practice focused on children’s therapy sessions. When Dr. Levinson’s dog, Jingles, was in the room for the child’s therapy sessions, he noticed that the sessions were much more productive. Ultimately, Dr. Levinson discovered that children who were withdrawn and had difficulty communicating were more at ease when Jingles was present and oftentimes made real attempts at engaging in conversation. What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Canines are often used in hospitals, mental health institutes, and rehabilitation centers where their presence diminishes feelings of fear, distrust, rage, and aggression and help enrich interpersonal relationships. During a visit from therapy dogs, patients break from their monotony and share moments that allow them to disconnect from their sickness and feel secure and hopeful. In facilities for institutionalized senior citizens, the frequent interaction with a dog keeps people active, stimulates contact with reality, promotes self-care, and improves physical well-being simply by making them happy. The effects are so positive that prisons currently use therapy dogs to reduce violence, antisocial behaviors, cases of suicide, and drug addiction.