Animal Assisted Therapy Essay

Animal-assisted therapy sprouted from the idea and initial picture in the supernatural powers of animal(prenominal)s and animal spirits. First appearing in the groupings of early hunter gatherer societies. In modern times Animals are seen as agents of socialization and as providers of social support and relaxation. 5 Though animal assisted therapy is believed to have began in these early human periods it is undocumented and based on speculation. The earliest describe use of AAT for the mentally ill took place in the late 18th century at the York move back in England, led by William Tuke.6 Patients at this facility were allowed to wander the grounds which contained a population of atrophied domestic animals. These were believed to be effective tools for socialization. In 1860, the Bethlem Hospital in England followed the same trend and added animals to the ward, greatly influencing the team spirit of the patients living there.6 Sigmund Freud kept many cut acrosss and often had his chow Jofi present during his pioneering sessions of psychoanalysis.He noticed that the presence of the dog was helpful because the patient would find that their speech would not shock or disturb the dog and this calm down them and so encouraged them to relax and confide. This was most effective when the patient was a baby bird or adolescent.7 The surmisal behind AAT is what is known as Attachment theory. Therapy involving animals was first used in therapy by Dr. Levinson who accidentally sight the use of pet therapy with children when he left his dog alone with a difficult child, and upon returning, found the child talking to the dog.8 However, in other pieces of literature it states that it was founded as early as 1792 at the Quaker hostelry 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 therapeutic inter vention with psychiatric patients in 1919 at St Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC. Increased recognition of the value of humanpet bonding was noted by Dr. Boris Levinson in 1961.9Wikipedia Animal-assisted therapy