Animal Assisted Therapy Paper

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This paper explores the numerous benefits of incorporating Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) during the therapeutic treatment of children suffering from the trauma of Sexual Abuse. The vast majority of these victims require a combination of strategies and long-term psychological assistance which may include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy among others. Each of these approaches have one common thread- the need to secure a reliable and trusting bond between the therapist and the survivor. Integrating Animal Assisted Therapy (for the purposes of this paper, dogs will establish the leading example), could help enhance this bond and quicken the time it takes to establish it.
Animal Assisted Therapy …show more content…
A therapy dog can be perceived by a child to show unconditional support, love and acceptance. In the beginning stages of AAT relational development, through non-verbal stimulation between the child and the dog, a trusting relationship can form and a bond is created. The act of touching and being touched in a safe and loving way can create a sense of well-being and plant the seed for reversing the learned stigma attached to these acts. The facile idea of having an emotional connection and a secure attachment with another living creature can enhance frame of mind and self-image (Chandramouleeswaran, Russell, …show more content…
The initial reactions to these experiences of acceptance are difficult to fake or hide. The therapist has an opportunity to read the non-verbal cues of the child as they interact with the therapy dog. As the survivor evolves from their emotional shell they unconsciously amass themselves into a receptive and active mindset for the therapeutic process (Parish-Plass, 2008). Storytelling has been used in the therapeutic process to help children recognize and express myriad of complex emotions when it comes to confronting their abuse. As related to AAT, using a companion dog to focus on or talk to about the traumatic events can be beneficial-especially if the survivor has developed a fear or dis-trust of adults and disclosure about the abuse has not been forth coming. It has been found that hugging an animal and talking softly in their ear or simply expressing their anxiety to the therapy dog can create a bridge between the child and the therapist (Parish-Plass,
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