Animal Assisted Therapy and Interventions
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We are able to offer interventions with our own therapy dog team and ponies.
Animal assisted play therapy (AAPT®) and interventions can be in either 1:1 therapy or group sessions.
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This DOES NOT simply mean the therapist bringing their ‘pet’ into the therapy process
BUT involves carefully established clinical goals, identifiable methodology, risk assessments
and specialised training.
"Animal assisted play therapy ® is the integrated involvement of animals in the context of play therapy, in which appropriately trained therapists and animals engage with people with the goal of improving clients development and psychosocial health, whilst simultaneously ensuring the animals well-being and voluntary engagement. Animal assisted play therapy ® can assist in these area: Self-efficacy, Attachment and relationship, Empathy, and Self-regulation"
- Animal Assisted Play Therapy, VanFleet & Faa-Thompson (2017)
Why AAPT?
AAPT® is just one of the many forms of Animal Assisted Interactions (AAI) that is being applied in a variety of health and social care settings to access, amongst others, the physical, psychological and emotional benefits than have been evidenced.
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AAI can also be very effective for Children with ASD and ADHD as it can increase the attention span and have a positive calming effect and help with social interaction.
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AAI can be extremely effective in interventions for Autism as animal offer a powerful multi-sensory stimulus that counteracts the low sensory and effective arousal levels.
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Animals provide spontaneous behavioural responses which are simple and easy for children to interpret.
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AAPT® releases endorphins (oxytocin) that have a calming effect for children and young people that struggle with emotional dysregulation.
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This can help the children and young people we work with to restructure their emotional response, thus access whole brain learning. This is done through physical and emotional experiences with the dogs and ponies, engaging the sensitive limbic region of the brains mammalian centre and the automatic nervous system.
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Such work requires a ‘trusting relationship’ which is helped by our dogs and ponies working as co-therapists and co-regulators of emotion. AAPT® helps children focus better, provides non-stressful, non- judgemental environment and increases self-confidence.
Costs
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1:1 intervention £65 per session
(plus travel costs outside 10 mile radius of Crewe)
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Small group £105 per session
(plus travel costs outside 10 mile radius of Crewe)
If your needs differ from the above then please get in touch so we can look at how we can help.