Animals have a unique way of providing a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situations. Developing a bond with an animal helps people develop a better sense of self-worth and trust, stabilize their emotions, and improve their communication, self-regulation, and socialization skills.

 

Animal-assisted therapy often serves in conjunction with traditional work done by a licensed psychotherapist, social worker, or other mental health–care provider. Dogs are the primary animals used, although various animal-assisted programs offer different animals for people with different physical and emotional needs. Here at Counseling Center of West Michigan we currently offer pet assisted therapy with dogs and horses (equine therapy). Our therapy animals undergo formal training to be certified. 

 

If you'd like to learn more about animal assisted therapy and find out if this might be a good option for you, contact us here