Animal-Assisted Therapy and Animal-Assisted Activities have become popular among pet friendly drug rehab centers. AAT has certain goals and uses animals to help the patient reach that goal. The goals are impartial and measurable. AAA, on the other hand, is less structured and less formal. It aims to improve whatever progress or healing is being worked on by using an animal. Learn more about how a pet friendly drug rehab operates by reviewing this article.
How Can Contact with Pets Help?
Petting a friendly animal can help lower blood pressure, heart rate and reported anxiety. It can also improve mood, anger management, beta-endorphin levels, and self-esteem. Animal-Assisted Activities can help stabilize mood and reduce feelings of stress. Therapy animals have been included in substance abuse programs. In nursing homes, therapy animals are used to provide enjoyment and comfort to residents. It’s also used in schools to help kids with reading problems and increase enjoyment and confidence.
Pet friendly drug rehab centers use therapy animals in various ways to help addicts recover. In an inpatient setting, the animal may live at the treatment center and be looked after by the staff and the patient. The addict may practice responsibility by taking care of the animals and gain unconditional acceptance and comfort from them. In an outpatient setting, a certified therapy animal will visit the facility. Time with the therapy animal will be included in the day’s activities.
The therapy animal usually stays for up to 15 minutes with an individual patient. The handler and the therapy would get regular breaks for pit stops outside, water and rest. The acceptance, love, and support of an animal can help a person open up to the therapist. They will not isolate themselves, and it will be easier for them to talk about their feelings. Caring for an animal can also help the patient learn to take care of themselves.
There are just some things that you need to check before going to a treatment center. One of these is the safety measures they implement. The rehab should only use handler teams and animals with certification. This ensures that the therapy animals are well trained and have successfully passed temperament testing. This gives you peace of mind knowing that the animal is suited to therapy work and that the handlers know the best practices in Animal-Assisted Therapy and Animal-Assisted Activities. They should groom animals before visits and train the pets to behave properly. Handlers should know how to manage the animals to avoid any stress to both human and animal.
Pet friendly drug rehab centers should also screen participants to make sure that those who have prior bad experiences and/or allergies have been kept safe. You have to ask the rehab center about their setting for AAT and AAA. Interacting with pets is a positive and memorable part of treatment. Pets have become an important part of sober living and relapse prevention. Caring for an animal can become an anchor in the patient’s on-going recovery process. It may be hard to find pet friendly drug rehab centers, but it’s not impossible to find one. Do your own research, and you will definitely find the right pet friendly drug rehab center for you.
