The relationship between humans and animals is the central aspect of animal-assisted therapy. Animals positively impact mental health and the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children, adolescents, and adults.

Animals can support therapy for a wide range of conditions and issues. These include pain management for chronic conditions, assistance with physical limitations, long-term or nursing home care, as well as depression, dementia, autism, other psychological issues, developmental disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).

Working with animals uses the “one health” approach: The well-being of humans and animals are immediately linked to one another. Lasting positive effects can only be achieved when the well-being of both the animal and the human are considered.

Various types of animals can be used in therapy. Both pets and farm animals are options. Common support animals are rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs. Farm animals such as goats, donkeys, horses, and lamas have also been successfully introduced as support animals.

Animal-assisted intervention is distinguished by a therapeutic, educational, and/or social purpose:

• Animal-assisted therapy

Trained therapists, including OTs, PTs, speech therapists, psychologists, social therapists, and doctors, can use animals in therapy. The animal supports the selected treatment method, such as in animal-assisted physiotherapy, to improve physical, cognitive, behavioral and/or socio-emotional capabilities through therapy.

• Animal-assisted education

The basis of animal-assisted education are educational methods. Trained teaching staff (general and special needs education) use animals to promote academic goals or to improve social skills and cognitive functions.

• Animal-assisted activities

Animal-assisted activities can take place without a specially trained therapist or educator/teacher. The main goal is to promote motivation, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Additionally, instructional and educational goals may play a role.

Social effects

The presence of animals stimulates social interaction. The so-called “social catalyst effect” describes how the presence of an animal will make therapists or doctors seem more trustworthy, which can be beneficial for therapy.

Psychological effects

The presence of an animal reduces anxieties, especially before and during stress-inducing situations. Contact with animals improves the ability to concentrate, promotes motivation, and diminishes symptoms of depression. This is why animals are used frequently in the therapy of chronic diseases, rehabilitation, or psychotherapy.

Neurobiological effects       

The interaction between a human and an animal has a suppressing influence on the human stress system. It lowers the stress hormone cortisol and reduces blood pressure and heart rate.

Chronic diseases or severe health events can put the body in a state of permanent stress. Body and mind are virtually trapped in a stress spiral. Animals can provide relief from this stress reaction, at least for a short period of time, promoting recovery and rejuvenation.

Various concepts  offer explanations as to how animal-assisted therapy works:

• Attachment studies

Physical contact, be it with another human being or an animal, releases the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin. Activating oxytocin results in experiencing satisfaction, well-being and relaxation, promoting rejuvenation and recovery.  

Petting, caring for or playing with an animal triggers a global attachment reaction. This makes the person more open, trusting, and outgoing, which can benefit the therapy progress. 

• Biophilia

Biophilia describes the relationship between humans and nature or life. Severing this fundamental relationship can result in illness and unhappiness.

Animal-assisted interventions allow the individual to re-discover and re-connect with nature. It also triggers the so-called biophilia effect: Animal behavior directly impacts humans. Calm animals communicate a sense of relaxation and security to humans. 

• Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology assumes that every being has a desire to grow and develop, the so-called self-actualizing tendency.

Three basic elements are required to promote self-actualizing tendency:

• Unconditional positive regard
• Empathy: being able to relate to someone else’s situation
• Congruence: Maintaining validity, truth, and openness

Animals meet all three elements needed to promote self-actualizing tendencies. This creates a growth-inducing atmosphere with considerable potential for change in therapy.

Dogs are particularly popular therapy animals. Dogs are unbiased, free from prejudices and honest. They bring variety into everyday life and promote contact and physical proximity.  This means that they can offer support in a wide range of therapies.

• Therapy-assistance dog / visiting dog / on-ward dog

Therapy-assistance dogs are integrated into an existing therapy. This can be done in both individual and group therapy sessions.

Visiting dogs promote mobility in stationary settings, offer a conversation topic, and help form relationships.

On-ward dogs live in an institution or belong to employees who bring them along. Only very few dogs are up to this “full-time job”.

• School dog / presence dogs / visiting school dog

A school or presence dog is taken into a class for a defined period of time by teaching staff. They support social coherence within the class, the relationships between students and teachers, and the social skills of the individual students.

Visiting school dogs are introduced to the class once or at irregular intervals. The main goal is age-appropriate learning about dogs.

Author: Saskia Wibner

Sources:

Julius, Beetz, Kotrschal, Turner, Unväs-Moberg (2014) : Bindung zu Tieren. Psychologische und neurobiologische Grundlagen tiergestützter Interventionen. Hogrefe-Verlag

Prothmann A. (2008) : Tiergestützte Therapie – Medizin mit Streichelfaktor?. Karl F. Haug Verlag in MVS Medizinverlage Stuttgart GmbH & Co. KG

Beetz A. : Tiere in der Therapie – Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen. Handout zur Einführung

in die Weiterbildung Tiergestützte Pädagogik und Therapie

Animal-Assisted Therapy Improves Communication and Mobility among Institutionalized People with Cognitive Impairment, 2020

Animal assisted therapy: systematic review of literature, 2019

The IAHAIO definitions for animal assisted intervention and guidelines for wellness of animals involved in AAI, Whitepaper, 2018