• About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

Harris HouseHarris House
  • About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Addiction Treatment

November 29, 2016 Posted by grant Addiction, Physiological, Psychological, Recovery, Trauma

Any animal lover can tell you right away that having a pet around is a pleasure and a tremendous boost to your feelings of wellbeing and happiness. For this reason, scientists started researching the effect that pets have on humans, and the field of animal-assisted therapy was born.

Animal-assisted therapy rehab

Have you considered animal assisted therapy?

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Therapet, a non-profit organization that promotes animal-assisted therapy, describes it this way: “Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is the utilization of animals as a therapeutic modality to facilitate healing and rehabilitation of patients with acute or chronic diseases.”

In animal-assisted therapy, the interaction between pets and recovering addicts is used to support other substance abuse treatment measures like medication intervention and cognitive and behavioral therapies.

How Does Animal-Assisted Therapy Work?

Exposure to and interaction with pets has a number of significant health benefits. Prevention lists benefits such as:

  • Lower blood pressure
  • Reduced depression
  • Stress relief
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Immune system boost
  • Enhanced self-worth

In many cases, a recovering addict may be dealing with the effects of trauma, emotional disturbances, or mental illnesses that have contributed to the substance abuse problems. Depending on the severity of the addiction and associated trauma, some addicts may have trouble interacting appropriately with other people.

Animal-assisted therapies can do much to help addicts re-connect with another living being. Therapy dogs are trained to respond with positive reinforcement to addicts who interact with them. Forming a connection with a therapy animal is a good first step on the way to reconnecting with other people.

Meanwhile, by caring for a pet, addicts can improve their feelings of self-respect and show themselves and others that they are capable of handling responsibility.

From a purely chemical perspective, animal assisted drug therapy makes sense. According to DrugRehab.US, being around and touching animals has also been shown to raise levels of a hormone called oxytocin, which makes people feel happier and more loving.

Goals of Animal-Assisted Therapy

While no one is claiming that pet therapy is the only thing an addict needs to make a recovery, it can be very effective when combined with other therapies. The goals of animal-assisted therapy are simple. Addicts in animal-assisted therapy can:

  • Learn how to interact with another living being
  • Learn to build trust and a sense of security
  • Learn new skills that lead to increased self-confidence
  • Receive emotional support in a non-judgmental environment
  • Learn to think about responsibility toward others, starting with the therapy animal

Can You Take Your Own Pet to Rehab?

In most cases, it is not possible for you to take your own pet to drug or alcohol rehab with you. While there are some facilities that allow it, for the most part, it is not allowed. However, there are a growing number of facilities that are embracing animal-assisted therapy with trained therapy animals. In these facilities, therapy animals like dogs are brought into the facility for both group and individual therapy sessions.

Alcohol and drug rehab

Animals can help you heal.

Finding the Right Therapy Setting

Whether your particular rehab program allows animal-assisted therapy or not, a program that uses integrated therapies is a good idea. Addiction is a difficult enemy to battle, and you will want to have all tools available at your disposal to fight your war with addiction and win.

 

We’re Here to Help

Harris House offers a variety of treatment options and therapies to meet your individual needs. Please contact us today to talk about how we can help you win your fight.

Tags: animal-assisted therapyrehab program
Share
0

About grant

This author hasn't written their bio yet.
grant has contributed 289 entries to our website, so far.View entries by grant

    You also might be interested in

    Teen Drug Addiction: 5 Things You Should Know

    Jan 24, 2017

    There is good news in the fight against teen drug[...]

    Medical Detox for Addiction Treatment

    Mar 13, 2017

    Even though you have come to realize that living the[...]

    The Frightening Rise of Fentanyl

    Jul 13, 2017

    This past spring, an airline pilot and his wife were[...]

    Recent Posts

    • A Guide to Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers
    • What to Look for When Searching for the Right Rehab Facilities in St. Louis
    • The Benefits of a Holistic Inpatient Rehab for Alcohol Addiction – The Solution You’ve Been Searching For
    • What to Expect from Your 28-Day Residential Treatment Program
    • The Difference Between Intensive Inpatient Therapy (24-Hour Drug Rehab Centers) and Other Facilities

    Insurance Providers

    Substance use insurance coverage and benefits can be multifaceted and will vary with the different insurance companies and plans. The Harris House Insurance Department has experience working with insurance providers to get our clients the maximum benefits possible. Let our staff do the work for you. LEARN MORE

    Insurance Providers Insurance Providers Insurance Providers

    Credentialing Partners

    Harris House is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International). Harris House is also certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, approved by the Better Business Bureau as an A+ accredited charity and a proud member of United Way of Greater St. Louis. LEARN MORE

    DMH Carf BBB United Way

    Contact Us

    Let your recovery begin

    We're here to help.

    Please reach out with any questions

    CONTACT US

    314-631-4299

    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate

    Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

    Harris HouseHarris House
    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate
    About Us
    Treatments
    Resources
    Gallery
    Contact Us
    Donate

    For individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs, Harris House helps people achieve sobriety and become healthy and productive individuals. Since our founding in 1961, Harris House has grown to become a top-rated non-profit treatment center.

    CALL US TODAY

    314-631-4299

    2706 S. River Rd
    St. Charles, MO 63303

    8315 South Broadway
    St. Louis, MO 63111

    © 2023 HARRIS HOUSE FOUNDATION.

    Prev Next