Animal Assisted Human Health
Animal Assisted Human Health
Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has built upon the benefits of the human-animal bond in order to assist the therapeutic process in a variety of settings with children, adolescents and adults. The Delta Society (2004) defined AAT as "a goal directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is delivered and/or directed by a health service provider working within the scope of their profession. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning."
Studies of AAT have supported improvement in the health and well-being of individuals and groups struggling with autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, conflict within families, chronic medical conditions, self-esteem, developmental disabilities, anger management, anxiety and depression.
“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
-Charles M. Schultz (cartoonist, Peanuts)
All therapy dogs and work exclusively at the Firefly Institute in session with their handlers. Dogs either complete the Canine Good Citizen certification through the American Kennel Club providing him with the CGC designation or complete evaluation by the institute's animal assisted human health program for temperament testing and a behavioral evaluation.
Firefly handlers and trainers have achieved credentialing and met the criteria or standards for completion or are within the process of completing a program under supervision for animal assisted human health. Therapy dogs and their handlers must meet specific criteria to be recognized and certified as a Therapy Dog and Handler team by the institute.
Canines meeting the Firefly Institute's policies are not the only members of the handler team with required training, therapists must have a masters degree in mental health and have completed post-graduate training and coursework in animal assisted human health from recognized institutions. Therapists working with children or adolescents meet the additional criteria of completing their animal assisted human health certification.
The Firefly Institute is committed to maintaining the health and safety of all persons. Should you or your child have an allergy or fear of dogs please notify your therapist of your concerns. The clinic locations are routinely cleaned and maintained to help control for potential allergens or healthcare related issues.
Veterinary care is closely monitored and managed through a local veterinarian. All dogs are up to date on all vaccinations and have been given a clean bill of health.
Therapy dogs at the institute typically work 2-3 days/week to maintain their physical health and well-being. We are committed to ensuring no dog is overly stressed or over-worked and as a result they have days off. The dog's schedules are subject to change depending upon a variety of factors. We will do our best to notify you of any schedule changes.
The features of Animal Assisted Human Health maintain ethics and welfare for both the child and animal within the interaction. Dogs integrate well into a play therapy setting with children for a variety of reasons. Children from most cultures are drawn to dogs and enjoy interacting with them. Dogs are playful and tap into a child's natural connection and language for problem solving and understanding the world through play. Dogs are accepting and non-judgmental in their relationship with people which allows a child to be himself or herself freely without worry. Dogs show great empathy and as one child stated "Apollo is such a great listener. He really cares about what I'm saying!" -boy, age 7. -or- "I can feel my whole body be better when I breath and Apollo breath together" -girl, age 4. Dogs enjoy physical contact; touch is an important kinesthetic quality for children within the medium of play and learning calming or regulation skills. Therapists certified in a neurobiologically-informed approach to animal assisted therapy learn to help children make associations with their physiology (nervous system states, which are mirrored by the dog in session) bringing their system up or down depending upon the need. This builds mastery and control for regulation and coping with heightened states of distress (anger, anxiety, panic, fear, etc) or with lowered states of distress (fatigue, depression, disconnection, withdrawal, etc).
Animal assisted human health and play therapy offer a way of being in a harmonious relationship with both a child client and animal partner. Animal assisted therapy utilizes interpersonal neurobiology to create a triangle in which an animal meeting specific criteria becomes an integral part of the treatment process. Animals join trained and certified play therapists in providing children a safe and nurturing space for empathy building, reduction of stress, emotional regulation, engagement in theory of mind and to help children build mastery for overall symptom reduction. Animal assisted therapy provides children with the opportunity to integrate the negative effects of perceived challenges or adverse experiences, thus reestablishing a sense of power and control within their lives.
Canines can have the same behavior or social problems as children, such as trouble following directions, hyperactivity, anxiety or shyness. Children find that they learn how to 'help the dog' thereby helping themselves. Dogs are also social animals and focus on attachment and relationship. They align themselves with humans and have the ability to engage and connect with children within the play therapy context bringing confidence and increased self-worth along with connection to children's lives.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has shown to be useful in working with adolescents. Similarly to work with children the goal of AAT is to help strengthen and promote teens’ emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Animals help teens to openly engage in the treatment process, to gain insight into their own behaviors, thoughts and emotions, to increase communication skills, improve relationships, as well as to improve their sense of social awareness and build greater social skills.
Animal Assisted Therapy can help teens to feel less stressed, decrease anxiety and depression, open up within the counseling process, gain confidence and self-esteem. Teens can also grow in their empathy toward others as well as their willingness to take responsibility for their own actions. Finally, Animal Assisted Therapy provides teens with an enjoyable, comforting aspect to their treatment process, which is especially powerful during what can be a very challenging time.
Firefly Institute
Phone: 503-560-5822
Fax: 888-503-2864
Locations:
Hillsboro: 4950 NE Belknap Ct. Ste 205
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Forest Grove: 3307 19th Ave, Forest Grove, OR 97116
