Working within the NHS and the private sector, we tailor sessions to each individual’s needs. Moreover, we work with health practitioners to create and facilitate sessions with activities or interactions that meet individual goals. Therefore, informal AAI is always popular; it’s an excellent aid to communication and a good talking point. As a result, health professionals and practitioners recognize that Animal Therapy benefits our health and well-being. Plus, it improves:

• Interpersonal skills
• Community living skills
• Vocationally relevant skills
• Social interaction skills
• As part of graded exposure and anxiety management plan
• Meaningful leisure activities
• Engagement in community services outside of the NHS
• Reintegration back into the community

Clinical teams recognise the valuable input and interactions animals have with our service users. They also acknowledge the positive effect it has on a person’s mental health. What’s more, research evidence supports these effects, which we’ve observed ourselves.

We’ve engaged challenging patients and have used our group facilitation skills to form professional relationships with people in our care. Hence, our sessions are goal-orientated and research exists to support using pets in mental health rehabilitation. Furthermore, we’ve worked in CAHMS to Medium secure wards, including Forensic and PICU.

We also work with brain injury patients. And by working with OTS developing programs, we help and encourage movements while building each individual’s confidence and social skills. Consequently, this offers a welcome distraction from pain and infirmity.

AAT and Autism

Many parents are often surprised when they see the connection their autistic child can have with an animal. Likewise, some notice that their child becomes playful, focused, and happier when around a pet. Hence, being around house pets or introduced to therapy animals in a safe structured way aids physical and emotional health.

Animal-Assisted Therapy might be as simple as a household pet visiting, or a more structured and focused therapy. Moreover, animals can be amazing for autistic children and they, as well as the animals, can relate to each other. Therefore, this helps with their physical and emotional well-being.

Covering:

• Reptile handling and education (2 days)
• Mammal handling and education (2 days)
• Bird handling and education (2 days)
• Work experience and certificate of achievement (5 days)
• The final day leads towards a 1-hour presentation at a venue (1 day)

We supervise clients as they work within the team and learn general pet care with hands-on experience with pets.

• Increase self-esteem
• Decrease anxiety or loneliness
• Increase verbal communication
• Develop social skills
• Increase willingness to join in activities
• Improve interactions with others
• Interpersonal skills
• Community living skills
• Vocationally relevant skills
• Social interaction skills
• As part of graded exposure and anxiety management plans
• Meaningful leisure activities
• Engagement in community services outside of the NHS
• Reintegration back into the community

Designed for CAHMS, the course has a small charge per person.

Qualified Therapist’s and Members of Association of Holistic Complementary Practitioners.