# Animal-Assisted Therapy. Discover Its Benefits

> It is a form of psychological treatment in which the animal is part of the therapeutic process. It is used in adults and in children who are...

- **Author:** mireia-navarro-vera · **Category:** Adultos
- **Published:** 2016-05-08 · **Updated:** 2018-03-02
- **URL:** https://elteuespai.com/en/animal-assisted-therapy-benefits/
- _Translation pending clinical review._

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## What is animal-assisted therapy?


It is a **form** of psychological treatment in which the **animal** is part of the **therapeutic** process. It is used in **adults** and in **children** who are exposed to vulnerable social circumstances or who have **altered** physical and/or emotional **conditions**. The animals most commonly used in this type of therapy are **horses**, **dogs**, and in some cases **dolphins**.


The **objective** of this therapy is to bring about a **change** and an improvement in various **aspects** of the person, whether **psychological, physical, educational, or emotional.**



### In which areas is this type of therapy used?


 	- **Education,** cognitive skills are taught, helping to improve reading.


 	- **Neurodegenerative Diseases,** such as Alzheimer's or dementia.


 	- **Prisons and juvenile detention centers,** participants take part in the care and training of the animal and help find it a home, thereby enabling the rehabilitation of the incarcerated person and the acquisition of social skills.


 	- **Programs for people with special needs,** whether physical or mental.


 	- **Visual and hearing difficulties,** they provide support so that these people can adapt more easily to their environment.


 	- **Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,** the animal becomes a focus of attention to concentrate on, allowing for more direct work on that deficient aspect characteristic of the disorder.


 	- **Play-based therapies** allow children to experience their emotional growth by recognizing emotions and controlling impulses. They have the opportunity to express fears, frustration, anger, aggression, etc., to work directly on them, confronting and controlling them.


## What benefits does it have?


Some of the benefits of this therapy are:



 	- A source of **calm**.
 	- A greater focus of **attention** for people with special needs and attention deficit.
 	- Direct treatment for **depression**.
 	- It reinforces **empathy**.
 	- It generates and strengthens the **bond**.
 	- Therapy through **physical contact** with the animal, generating a feeling of **well-being**.
 	- It provides help for **social reintegration**.
 	- They are a great **support** for people with disabilities due to the **help** they provide.