Animal Assisted Intervention: a special therapy

Thousands of years ago, animals have accompanied human beings throughout history playing different roles that have facilitated our survival and well-being.

Domestication put certain species at our service, adapting to the needs of the human being, however, the emotional and physical well-being of the animal has not been taken into account. Fortunately, in recent years, the process of evolution of the human being has gone hand in hand with awareness, education and respect for animals.

Although it is true that in Spain much remains to be done in terms of education and traditions that do not involve animal pain and suffering, we are pleased that there are more and more training initiatives that provide real knowledge about the animal to provide a more adequate life for its ethology. The new generations come wanting to do it well and it seems that empathy with living beings makes its way.

But why introduce our field of work with a paragraph on animal welfare? Because, as psychologists, if we want to focus on working with emotions and human well-being and

we want an animal as a facilitator and companion, our tool must be well cared for and balanced since it is also an emotional being like us.

• Related article: "The benefits of dog therapy"

Animal Assisted Intervention

But, let us start at the beginning: an Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) is a formula in which an animal is intentionally included or incorporated for the purpose of promoting improvement in the fields of health, education and the social in order to obtain therapeutic benefits in human beings.

Yes, as you read, they are therapies or interventions, although I do not intend to enter into the debate of the typical intrusion that we psychologists suffer in all our disciplines; IAAs are another focus of malpractice where we find professionals with profiles far from the socio-sanitary-educational field carrying out "Animal Assisted Therapies".

Being a little regulated area and still with many legal loopholes to consider it a psychological and/or therapeutic technique it is true that we are increasingly welcomed by public academic bodies. Since October 2015, thanks to the International University of Andalusia (UNIA) and the University of Jaén, the Official Master's Degree in IAA has been launched in order to regulate the profession. In addition, in Madrid, through the Rey Juan Carlos University, the need to inculcate and raise awareness among all audiences is being approached values ​​of respect and care for animals from an early age (Chair of Animals and Society - Office of Assisted Interventions with Animals).

• Related article: "Dolphin Assisted Therapy: acoustic waves that heal"

The origins of this strategy

Focusing on our profession, the introduction of dogs in consultation has its beginnings in the renowned Dr. Sigmund Freud whom his dog Jofi supported during his psychotherapy sessions. It was not until 1953 that Dr. Borris Levinson began to lay the foundations for Assisted Therapy with Animals thanks to his dog Jingles, a motivating companion and facilitator of the link between patient and professional.

With these precursors and within a wide range of experiences and scientific studies we find how the IAA bring benefits at an integral level: stress reduction, decreased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as decreased feelings of loneliness and abandonment, increased social interaction and socio-emotional functioning stable.

• You may be interested: "Sigmund Freud: life and work of the famous psychoanalyst"

The benefits of animal therapy

Although this field usually focuses more on working with children and people with some type of alteration in any of the areas mentioned above, we are all candidates to benefit from what animals give us.

And what types of specific benefits do they bring us then? For example, petting an animal helps lower blood pressure and, therefore, causes a state of relaxation, while playing or walking with it favors the practice of physical activity, associated with the creation of habits and routines associated with our need occupational. From an emotional point of view, the animal encourages and improves both communication and social skills and, in turn, enhances positive emotions and self-esteem.

It is important to bear in mind that the efficacy of a treatment with animals does not depend on the animal but on the the values, knowledge and skills of the psychologist to introduce this technique in the most effective way. There is a tendency to load a lot of responsibility on the animal and to claim a versatile tool that suits the needs specific to each patient and this is an important bias that we are observing in students and professionals who carry out IAA.

The fundamental role of the animal is to facilitate and motivate, thus providing different stimuli that enrich and complement the interaction between professional and patient. The animal will participate in the sessions within a welfare protocol that takes into account its emotions and, above all, its stress. Taking as an example the world of the horse and equine therapy, the effort is to put aside the mount and promote work "down to earth" that allows us to know the animal from its ethology and learn about its communication.

• You may be interested: Horse therapy: an alternative therapeutic resource"

Conclution

Without a doubt, animals can become great teachers who teach us to look deep inside ourselves, they are a mirror, a radar that informs us through their non-verbal language when we are not being clear or consistent.

The reaction of animals helps us to observe ourselves better, to assess our use of communication and its effectiveness. Responsibility cannot be passed on to them, if something does not work in our interaction with them, The need will be to become aware of what we are asking of them and, above all, how we are doing it. asking.

In this way, effectiveness involves finding the best version to offer to others and even to ourselves. And that is precisely the main objective of animal-assisted interventions: to improve the quality of life of patients with the help of those who can bring out our most natural side and emotional.