About Pet Therapy
What is Pet Therapy
Animals are scientifically proven to help lower stress levels and promote positive mental health; they can also bring positive energy to stressful situations. Pet therapy involves supporting people with various emotional difficulties, helping to improve physical, emotional, cognitive and social interaction; with the animal/s working with individuals or groups.
Benefits of therapy animals
Brighten up people’s day providing something to look forward to in the week
Helps tackle anxiety and depression in care homes
Reduces social exclusion and loneliness by encouraging interaction with others through animals
Helps people with dementia through sensory engagement and memory recall of owning animals
Reduces children general shyness, helping them to become active group members
Supports children in SEN schools with anxiety feel comfortable and secure in the presence of pets
Helps students relax during exams periods
Help children with social and emotional needs such as anxiety disorders to feel more comfortable and secure
Supports children with special education needs such as autism through sensory touch
Supports children with mental health needs including self harming by forming relationships with animals
Reduces children with shyness to become active group members
Reduces the stress of staff working in more difficult environments such as carehomes or SEN schools