“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”

Winston Churchill

What are Animal-Assisted Therapy and Animal-Assisted Activities?

Animal-Assisted Therapy

• Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.

• AAT is directed and/or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise, and within the scope of practice of his/her profession.

•  AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning.

•  AAT is provided by a variety of settings, and may be group or individual in nature.  This process is documented and evaluated.

Animal-Assisted Activities

• AAA provides opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance quality of life.
• AAA’s are delivered in a variety of environments by a specially trained professional, paraprofessional, and/or volunteer in association with animals that meet specific criteria.

At Promise Village:  Home for Children the Animal-Assisted Therapy model is used in the treatment planning and is an integral component to the therapeutic process.  The research that we have done has uncovered the many benefits of using animals in helping those with emotional needs, and physical or cognitive challenges.  The animals, in a very real sense, take on the role as therapist with the residents they work with.  They enable them to heal emotionally, develop self-confidence, become more empathetic, form attachments, and also develop a bond for maybe the first time in their life.

Animals can become safe transitional objects for the children to attach to and form a healthy bond with, while learning to care for and take responsibility for something. The animal can also help the child develop empathy and compassion as the child develops a relationship and forms a bond with the animal.  The animal will listen to all of their cares, concerns and worries without exploding or criticizing the child.  The uncritical, listening ear that the animal gives the child helps him/her learn to trust something, even if initially it is not a person.  Ultimately, the goal is for the empathic skills and newly developed ability to trust, be transferred to the child’s relationship with other human beings.

Arguably the most innovative component of the Promise Village: Home for Children residential intervention/prevention and treatment program, is Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), especially the emphasis on Equine Therapy.