Winston

Benefits of Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs offer several clinical benefits that enhance the therapeutic process:

- Facilitating Emotional Expression: Clients, especially children, who are initially shut down may become more open and communicative when interacting with therapy dogs, sharing thoughts and feelings they might not otherwise disclose.

- Reducing Stress and Anxiety:The presence of therapy dogs has been shown to lower stress, anxiety, and depression on a chemical level, contributing to a calming effect during therapy sessions.

- Enhancing Emotional Safety: Therapy dogs can create a culture of safety and healing, allowing clients to feel more secure and comfortable during sessions.

- Breaking Down Barriers: The nonjudgmental and comforting presence of therapy dogs can help clients lower their defenses, facilitating deeper emotional exploration and connection.

These benefits highlight the valuable role therapy dogs play in supporting mental health treatment and fostering therapeutic breakthroughs.

Gleeson, S. (2023, February). “The walls come right down”: The clinical benefits of therapy dogs. Www.counseling.org. https://www.counseling.org/publications/counseling-today-magazine/article-archive/article/legacy/the-walls-come-right-down-the-clinical-benefits-of-therapy-dogs