Pet therapy refers to the treatment of a disorder through interaction between a person and a trained animal.
The purpose of this is to overcome or treat an individual’s mental or physical disorder, though this blog will focus mainly on the treatment of mental health disorders, most notably addiction (also known as a substance use disorder).
Per therapy can also be referred to as Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), though this refers more generally to other types of animals that may be used in treatment, not just dogs – the most common form of therapy animal.
In some cases, individuals with specific mental health issues may also take part in Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) where multiple individuals with therapy animals meet up to take part in therapeutic activities, as well as more recreational activities in general.
To learn everything you need to know about how therapy dogs can help treat addiction and mental health problems, call us on 0800 140 4690
Determining whether or not pet therapy may be effective for a specific individual can be challenging.
There are multiple benefits to owning a pet and taking care of one, [1] but the effects on mental health are more disputed.
For example, a therapy animal is not often considered a pet, due to the differences in the way they are trained, their duties while ‘on service’, and their general demeanour when it comes to everyday activities.
This could, for example, affect the ways in which someone may benefit from having a therapy animal and especially impacts the ways in which their mental health may be affected as a result of this.
There have been strong links drawn between having a therapy dog and physical health, [2] due largely to lifestyle effects such as the need to walk a dog daily, but this could also be argued to lead to an increase in their mental well-being due to the effects of physical health on mental health.
It is important to categorise the differences between a therapy dog and a service dog, as the two often have varying and very different roles when it comes to supporting an individual.
In general, a service dog is generally present for physical health conditions, with the ability to detect changes within their owner that may relate to their physical health and any ongoing conditions that they may have.
For example, a guide dog for an individual who suffers from blindness is considered a service dog, not a therapy dog.
A therapy dog, however, can attend to multiple individuals at once but is generally concerned with the emotional support of their owner, not their physical well-being.
The two can often be linked and there are many instances in which the two responsibilities may overlap, but the distinction is still important, especially when out in public.
To learn everything you need to know about how therapy dogs can help treat addiction and mental health problems, call us on 0800 140 4690
There are many benefits to having a therapy animal, especially in cases where an individual may need additional support and assistance in daily life.
As well as the benefits of getting out and about with a therapy dog (i.e., going on a walk/exercise), the benefits that these animals are trained to provide are also extremely helpful for the individual and their specific needs.
In many cases, therapy dogs are specifically trained for one individual and their needs, meaning that they are specially trained to deal with specific situations, symptoms of the individual’s unique condition, and services that the individual may need.
The following subheadings outline some of these benefits further, as well as provide specific examples of behaviours and training that these animals are equipped to deal with.
As a form of stress relief, many people can relate to the presence of an animal, but this can be taken even further with a specially trained therapy dog or animal.
For example, many therapy dogs are trained in Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) which can significantly reduce the individual’s heart rate, encourage them to take deep breaths, and generally help in their calming down should they find themselves in a particularly stressful situation or environment.
This forms a big part of their emotional support qualities, but it also shows how they may influence their owner’s behaviour and act as a form of treatment in some situations.
Another benefit of having the support of a therapy dog is that it encourages the individual to do things that they may not have previously thought they could do or felt as though they could not take part in.
For example, having a therapy dog may encourage the individual to go out into public more often, as well as talking to other people, either about their therapy dog and what it does, as well as educating others on what their role is.
Talking about a dog or other animal is a great way for this person to get out and about in society, as well as improving social skills and other related skills that they may have previously struggled with.
In some cases, it may be suitable for a therapy animal to be trained to help with an individual’s substance abuse (addiction) struggles.
Having a therapy animal can help in this way by providing a distraction from substances – something that may have been an activity that they would engage in regularly to take their mind off of other things.
By having an animal, this individual may feel a greater responsibility, meaning that they may be less likely to engage in addictive behaviours and take greater pride in their sobriety, making them feel better in general about their behaviours, but also giving them something else to work toward i.e., treating their animal well and caring for it as much as it is caring for them.
To learn everything you need to know about how therapy dogs can help treat addiction and mental health problems, call us on 0800 140 4690
Research has shown that individuals with therapy animals may feel more positively about their recovery journey, meaning that they are more likely to continue with it.
This makes it more likely that they will continue with any pre-existing treatment programs, as well as potentially increasing the likelihood of them being open to new treatments and/or therapies for their specific condition.
In addition, having a therapy dog may improve their attitude and motivation in recovery, making it more likely that they will follow through with future treatment programs and/or therapies that they are recommended.
As well as being able to support individuals in a one-to-one situation, therapy animals are also able to support individuals within groups.
A common example of this is the use of therapy animals in hospitals where they are used to reduce stress within these environments, as well as providing daily encouragement to stick with their treatment and remain positive throughout the process.
Part of the reason that therapy animals are so beneficial is due to their flexibility in these kinds of environments.
Even a specifically trained animal may be able to provide support to others in specific situations, leading to a greater improvement in the health of whoever they are involved with.
To learn everything you need to know about how therapy dogs can help treat addiction and mental health problems, call us on 0800 140 4690
One of the most common questions that individuals are faced with when considering the training of a therapy animal is the type of animal that they may require.
For example, some conditions or disorders that individuals struggle with may be particularly unique or come with a unique set of challenges and requirements of a therapy animal, meaning that they may need to consider an animal with a specific set of skills rather than a general support animal.
In order to find out what kind of support animal may be most suitable for an individual and their specific needs, it is important that they bpeak with a professional in the area, getting advice and support on what they should be looking for, and how long this may take.
The following subheadings outline the most common forms of therapy animals, and who they may be most suitable for.
Canines are the most common animal for therapy animals – mainly due to their relative ease of training, the general intelligence of the species, and the range of breeds that are available (some people may prefer a medium-sized dog, whereas others may prefer a smaller breed – perhaps for living space reasons or personal preference).
There are some breeds that are more likely than others to become therapy animals.
For example, golden retrievers are commonly trained as therapy dogs due to their natural temperament and behaviour. [3]
Dogs, in addition, are also likely to be allowed into many establishments during an individual’s life compared to other animals.
Most companies, for example, would be much more open to a therapy dog entering a supermarket or restaurant when compared to a horse or cat.
Cats are another popular therapy animal choice for many individuals.
Though they may typically spend most of their time at the individual’s place of residence (at their house), they can still provide supportive behaviours when the individual requires them.
This may be a more suitable option for someone who doesn’t want to leave the house very often, but it may also be an option for people who are allergic to dogs, for example.
Though cats are not generally specifically trained for this kind of support, there are still many instances in which they can be supportive to their owner, as well as provide suitable forms of support when needed.
In some cases, individuals may also opt for equine therapy animals.
Referring to horses, this option may only occur in extremely specific situations but may provide great benefit when used effectively.
For example, someone who has a lot of space or access to these kinds of services may benefit greatly from being outside, going on rides, and interacting with horses in general.
Some breeds of horse, for example, are known to be particularly empathetic and aware of their owners’ needs, making them a great option for those who can access this form of support.
To learn everything you need to know about how therapy dogs can help treat addiction and mental health problems, call us on 0800 140 4690
Referring specifically to therapy dogs for support of individuals who may be struggling with addiction, there are many benefits to this form of care.
In short, therapy animals may help individuals with their sobriety and maintenance of this in the long-term.
The most common effects of therapy dogs for addiction are outlined in the following subheadings, as well as the ways in which they exercise their supportive duties in specific cases.
One of the main ways in which an individual can benefit from having a therapy dog is the ways in which just being around the dog in the first place can boost their mental well-being.
For example, if an individual is often by themselves and often experiences loneliness (one of the ways in which someone can develop an addiction in the first place), just having another individual i.e., a dog, around them most of the time can help massively.
This will give the individual new activities to do, someone new to interact with, and a general life companion moving forward.
Though this has been mentioned multiple times across this blog post, getting out into the world with a therapy dog can have a number of different benefits for the individual – both physically and mentally.
Getting out into the world on a walk with a therapy dog increases the individual’s exposure to fresh air, exercise, and interaction with others, improving their well-being in multiple ways within the same activity.
In addition to DPT, animals in general are often used for general stress relief, often being ‘prescribed’ to people in high-stress environments, those who may be struggling with a lack of stress relief, and increased access to relaxation techniques.
Studies have shown the improvement in college students, for example, who have engaged with therapy dogs before exams, showing that those who engaged with the animals were far less likely to report high levels of stress when compared to those who had not engaged with the animals. [4]
Addiction is a complex disorder, so getting the right support for you or someone you know is of utmost importance.
To learn more about addiction and different mental health issues, and to start the process of enquiring about a therapy animal for a specific situation or condition, get in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction today by calling our support line on 0800 140 4690.
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
