What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, relationship problems and low self esteem.

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. 

In CBT the therapist and the client work together to modify the patterns of thinking and behaviour that are maintaining the problem.

CBT differs from other therapies because sessions have a structure rather than the person talking freely about whatever comes to mind. 

CBT improves mental wellness and overall quality of life in most clients. 

A CBT course usually takes place between 8 and 15 weekly or fortnightly sessions with each session lasting up to 60 minutes.

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals, such as dogs/rabbits into a treatment plan.

AAT is goal directed and can focus on physical, social, emotional and mental health issues of an individual. Objectives can be taken from Educational Health care plans.

It is a guided interaction between a person and a trained animal. It also involves the animal's handler. The purpose of pet therapy is to help someone recover from or cope with a health problem or mental disorder.

It is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy

What is Animal Assisted Activities?

Animal assisted activities (AAA) are defined as informal therapeutic interactions with an animal. These sessions provide opportunities for motivational, educational and or recreational benefits to enhance quality of life as a group or one to one.

An example of this would be incorporating an animal assistance dog into the learning environment to help an anxious child with their reading. As a non-judgemental friend the dog could build the child's confidence and self esteem, by sitting calmly and quietly with the child. It can release endorphins that can help with a calming effect on the child… helping to achieve goals together, stress free.

CBT and AAT CAN help with:

• Managing stress.
• Lowering blood pressure.
• Trauma & help improve movement & motor skills.
• Anxiety/ Depression.
• Speech and language delay.
• Provide comfort & reduce levels of emotional pain.
• Help to develop social or behavioural skills.
• Help increase motivation towards activities & socially.
• The human-animal bond itself may help to reduce boredom, increase movement through walks and play.
• Companionship & decrease loneliness, improving mood & well-being.
• Activities can include grooming, feeding and general caring for the animal – a dog walk or even collecting an egg or two from the chicken garden.