Rachel Ann Rodriguez
Candidate Number: 00243-014
May 2012
Word Count: 3636
Abstract
Animal Assisted Therapy, a type of therapy that involves the use of different animals with specific characteristics, can be a natural aid in a patient’s treatment, as this approach successfully addresses a variety of physical, emotional, and psychological illnesses. Drug treatments and other means of healing are effective; however, they often have negative effects on the patient’s body. Drugs may lead to addiction, severe physical side effects, and potentially to death. Animal Assisted Therapy, on the other hand, deals with the use of specially trained animals with handlers and does not have any negative medical side …show more content…
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a newly developed form of therapy that uses the long existing human-animal bond as an aid. Animals can be used in place of traditional medications and can serve as a form of motivation in different types of rehabilitation for people requiring physical, emotional, and psychological rehabilitation and therapy. Animal Assisted Therapy is now being employed in many different contexts, from in-home pets, to feline and canine visits to facilities, to therapeutic equine facilities, and lastly to aquatic environments. The bond between humans and animals is something AAT enforces by encouraging maximum interaction with therapy animals. Such therapy is performed by trained professionals who have studied the field and are certified to be working with both the patient and animal on physical, emotional, or psychological patients. This paper intends to examine the extent that “animal therapy” involving felines, canines, equines, and dolphins has resulted in physical, emotional and psychological rehabilitation of human beings, and how effective is this fairly new …show more content…
The rhythm and vibrational sounds that dolphins give off can alter the moods of patients. Dr. Cole, chairman of the Aquathought Foundation, found that by swimming with dolphins, patients experience physiological cell tissue changes in their bodies. Dolphins have natural sonar: they emit ultra sound waves to localize objects and to communicate with one another through a process called “echolocation.” The sounds generated by a dolphin are so strong that they can cause holes in the molecular structure of fluids and soft tissues. Dr. Cole believes that dolphin signal frequencies have a profound effect on the human brain by modifying the brain wave activity. Such modification may result in the development of stronger emotional states in