Research Notes on Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal assisted therapy is a type of therapy where specially trained animals aid in the treatment of a patient. This therapy is designed to improve physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning. Animals commonly used include dogs, cats, birds, and horses.
Fast Facts:
- Animal assisted therapy requires professional medical staff supervision.
- Used in medical, psychiatric, rehabilitation, and special education facilities throughout the world.
- Benefits extend not only to the recipient of the therapy, but also to the handlers and animals.
5 Great Resources on Animal Assisted Therapy
- Wikipedia: Animal Assisted Therapy
- Holistic Online: Pet Therapy
- Delta Society: Official Site
- Humane Society of the United States: Sometimes Everybody Needs a Little Therapy...Pet
- Animal Behavior Institute: Online Training in Animal Behavior, Training and Husbandry
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5 Latest Headlines on Animal Assisted Therapy
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
- Holistic Junction: Animal Therapy
- University of Minnosota: What is a Therapy Animal
- Utah Animal Assisted Therapy Association: What is Animal-Assisted Therapy
What Are The Uses for Animal Assisted Therapy?
- Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback: Therapist Uses Pets to Lead Patients to Recovery
- Holistic Online: Pet Therapy and Stress Relief
- WALB News: Inmates Get Therapy from Pets
- Natural Standard (via Revolution Health): Pet Therapy
What are some Types of Animal Assisted Therapy?
- Kind Planet Society: Elephant Assisted Therapy
- Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association: Horse Assisted Therapy
- Dog Play: Dog Assisted Therapy
- About.com: Cat Assisted Therapy
Wisdom, Blogs and Message Boards about Animal Assisted Therapy
- Common Ties: Pet Therapy
- Meetup.com: Pet Therapy Meetup Group
- Autism-PDD Message Boards: Discussion on Dogs for Autism
- iVillage: Therapy and Training for Your Pet Bird
- Big Dog Blog: Therapy Dogs
Clinical Trials for Animal Assisted Therapy
- Clinical Trials: Clinical Trials on Animal Assisted Therapy
- Center Watch: Clinical Trials on Animal Assisted Therapy
Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Animal Assisted Therapy
- Oxford Journals: Medical Journal Articles on Animal Assisted Therapy
- Google Scholar: Medical Articles on Animal Assisted Therapy
About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Jacky Graves
- Reviewer: Tara
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 1, 2008
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