Animal Assisted Therapy Essay

Animal-assisted therapy sprouted from the idea and initial belief in the supernatural powers of animals and animal spirits. First appearing in the groupings of early huntsman gatherer societies. In modern times Animals are seen as agents of socializing and as providers of social support and relaxation. 5 Though animal assisted therapy is believed to pass began in these early human periods it is undocumented and based on speculation. The earliest reported use of AAT for the mentally ill took place in the novel 18th century at the York Retreat in England, led by William Tuke.6 Patients at this facility were allowed to wander the grounds which contained a population of scummy domestic animals. These were believed to be impelling tools for socialization. In 1860, the Bethlem infirmary in England followed the aforementioned(prenominal) trend and added animals to the ward, greatly influencing the morale of the patients living there.6 Sigmund Freud kept many dogs and lots had his c how Jofi present during his pioneering sessions of psychoanalysis.He noticed that the presence of the dog was encouraging because the patient would find that their speech would not shock or disconcert the dog and this reassured them and so encouraged them to relax and confide. This was most effective when the patient was a child or adolescent.7 The theory behind AAT is what is know as Attachment theory. Therapy involving animals was first used in therapy by Dr. Levinson who out of the blue discovered the use of pet therapy with children when he left his dog completely with a difficult child, and upon returning, found the child talking to the dog.8 However, in other(a) pieces of literature it states that it was founded as early as 1792 at the Quaker golf club of Friends York Retreat in England.9 Velde, Cipriani & Fisher also state Florence Nightingale appreciated the benefits of pets in the treatment of individuals with illness.The US military promoted the use of dogs as a ther apeutic intervention with psychiatric patients in 1919 at St Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC. Increased recognition of the value of humanpet stick was noted by Dr. Boris Levinson in 1961.9Wikipedia Animal-assisted therapy