Animal Assisted Therapy
At The Hope Place, we’re incredibly lucky to have the ability to offer treatment using a variety of animals. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) recognizes the potential for an unique bond between animals and humans, and capitalizes on that to assist the therapeutic process across a variety of professions. You may see animals helping nurses, speech therapists or mental health providers, just to name a few.
Anyone that is willing to learn with, and from, animals can benefit from animal assisted therapy. At The Hope Place, we view the animals that work with us as willing partners that have a choice. The same goes for you. A partnership with an animal during your time at The Hope Place will never be forced on you - or the animal.
Animals can have an unique way of connecting to humans, at times, in ways other humans can't. The unconditional appreciation from animals often helps the humans they come in contact with feel special and cared for. Due to the non verbal nature of animals, many report appreciating the emotional space to address more difficult areas of mental health concerns.
Benefits of AAT:
rapport building
decreasing anxiety
developing trust
improving motivation
develop physical, emotional, cognitive and social competencies.
and many other ways!
Depending on the personality and maturity of a child, they could even benefit from animals in the therapy session. If the child shows respect for age appropriate boundaries and limitations, they may be a good fit for AAT.
We care for a variety of animals including Nigerian dwarf goats, horses, and dogs. You may even see a few pigs running around our pasture.
To schedule an intake with one of our AAT providers, you can click on the button below.
