About Animal Assisted Therapy
Benefits
Reduces anxiety – the presence of a friendly animal reduces the physiological symptoms of anxiety (increased heart rate, breathing, high blood pressure etc.), allowing clients to feel more comfortable in therapy.
Fosters healthy attachment relationships, not only with the animal, but also with people.
Develops empathy, sharing, and care-giving capabilities.
Builds skills and confidence in clients.
Helps clients share traumatic experiences in an emotionally safe way.
Helps clients who have been abused, neglected, or rejected, to find new hope.
Allows modelling of different things, one of the most beneficial being how the therapist manages the animal’s behaviour.
Teaches appropriate behaviour with animals, and consequently, with other people.
Helps calm clients both emotionally and physiologically.
Provides a unique opportunity for clients to overcome a fear of dogs, and can prepare children for encounters with unfamiliar dogs in public.
How it works
Clients help train the dog, learning basic obedience commands and teaching the dog new tricks.
Clients learn how to stay safe with dogs as well as how to keep the dog safe.
Clients take part in grooming and caring for the dog, learning appropriate touch and sensitivity to the dog’s signals. This is often calming for both the client and the dog.
Clients learn to regulate their own emotions and behaviours as they interact with the dog.
Child clients may communicate their thoughts and feelings to the dog, either directly by telling the dog, or indirectly through stories or artwork involving the dog.
Child clients may engage in problem-solving by helping the dog “resolve” problems that might be similar to those experienced by the child.
Are the dogs safe?
Every effort is made to ensure the safety of everyone involved at Modpsych Psychology. Milo and Angus have had and will continue to have intensive training and been assessed by industry professionals to be behaviourally safe. All interactions with clients are completely supervised. Parents or caregivers (in the instance of child clients) should discuss with their therapist any pet allergies or prior negative experiences with animals that their child may have had.
This program is completely voluntary. In the very unlikely event of scratches or other injuries, staff will apply first aid and immediately inform parents (in the instance of a child client). To date, the program has run successfully with no negative incidents.
We provide hand sanitiser at every session and the animals are kept to a very high standard of grooming and general health (vaccinations, worming, etc.). Please contact us if you have question or queries.
Milo
We have Milo who is Modpsych Psychology’s certified therapy dog (certified through Positive Response Dog Training). Milo is teacup poodle who is full of playful energy. Milo is’t the most cuddly of dogs, but he loves to play ball! If you or your child are not comfortable with dogs then he does not need to be in the in room during the session - Kathleen or Bek will look after him. We have treats in the reception area and in the clinic so the client can connect with and help train Milo
If you would like to learn more about A.T.T (Animal Assisted Therapy) then click this link here.
Angus
Angus is our second therapy dog, currently working towards his future role at Modpsych Psychology! As he is still a puppy, Angus is not yet accredited. Once he reaches 18 months of age, we will begin the accreditation process to help him become a fully qualified therapy dog.
In the meantime, Angus is busy making friends and welcoming clients as they arrive at the clinic. He is a playful, enthusiastic and affectionate little guy who absolutely loves pats, cuddles and meeting new people. We look forward to watching Angus grow and develop into his role as a therapy dog!
