Enhancing Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Well-Being.

Animal assisted therapies (AAT) are health interventions designed to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing [1]. Growing in popularity, AAT has shown to offer significant therapeutic benefits, with a robust body of research supporting its effectiveness. Research shows that before any specific interventions are applied, even the presence alone of an animal can contribute to a sense of peace and improve overall wellbeing [2]. While therapy dogs and equine assisted therapies (EAT) are the most common, positive outcomes have also been observed with a variety of animals, including farm animals [3].

Therapy dogs are versatile and can be utilised in a range of settings, from schools and hospitals to care homes, providing support that improves the quality of life for individuals with dementia [5]. In school settings, reading interventions involving therapy dogs have proven effective in creating a non-judgemental environment, promoting confidences, decreasing anxiety and supporting reading development in children [6]. Further research shows interaction with a therapy dog enables more positive social interactions among children [7].

Equine assisted therapies can have both physical and psychological benefits. Evidence has shown that children with cerebral palsy have had improvements in their motor function following EAT [8]. From a mental health perspective, EAT has been shown to positively influence mental wellbeing and self-confidence with aspects such as grooming and feeding supporting occupational skills, which then have a positive impact on day-to-day life [9]. EAT has further been shown to improve motivation, self-confidence and support healthy physical activity [10] having been successfully applied across a range of circumstance from supporting stroke patients [11] to individuals with epilepsy [12].

While the benefits of AAT are clear for both children and adults, the welfare of the animal is an important consideration. Training and assessment of the animals prior to being used with clients is essential [4]. This not only ensures that the animals are well-suited to their therapeutic role but also provides documentation that may be necessary in the event of a claim. Conducting a thorough risk assessments is also important to ensure the safety of both animals and clients, minimizing potential risks and establishing necessary precautions [4].  

Here at Cliverton, our knowledgeable team can source the right insurance for your business including public and employers’ liability, property and equipment cover, legal expenses and personal accident. With research consistently showing the positive impact of AAT, having the appropriate insurance ensures that you can focus on delivering high-quality care while protecting your business.

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References:

[1] Bert et al.(2016) Animal assisted intervention: A systematic review of benefits and risks https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382016300798

[2] Koukourikos et al. (2019) Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy in Mental Health 64_koukorikos_review_12_3

[3] Berget et al. (2008) Attitudes to animal-assisted therapy with farm animals among health staff and farmers attitudes to animal‐assisted therapy with farm animals among health staff and farmers - BERGET - 2008 - Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Wiley Online Library

[4] Winkle et al. (2020) Dog Welfare, Well-Being and Behavior: Considerations for Selection, Evaluation and Suitability for Animal-Assisted Therapy, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2188

[5] Olsen et al. (2016) Effect of animal-assisted interventions on depression, agitation and quality of life in nursing home residents suffering from cognitive impairment or dementia: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Effect of animal-assisted interventions on depression, agitation and quality of life in nursing home residents suffering from cognitive impairment or dementia: a cluster randomized controlled trial - PubMed

[6] Brelsford et al. (2017) Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Classroom—A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/7/669

[7] Wu and Wei (2023) The Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy for Children With Anxiety The Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy for Children With Anxiety | Published in Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia

[8] Stergiou et al. (2023) The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy Frontiers| The efficacy of Equine Assisted Therapy intervention in gross motor function, performance, and spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy

9] Højgaard-Bøytler and Argentzell (2022)Experiences of Equine Assisted Therapy and Its Influence on Occupational Engagement among People with Mental Health Problems Full article: Experiences of Equine Assisted Therapy and Its Influence on Occupational Engagement among People with Mental Health Problems

[10] Souilm(2023) Equine-assisted therapy effectiveness in improving emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and perceived self-esteem of patients suffering from substance use disorders Equine-assisted therapy effectiveness in improving emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and perceived self-esteem of patients suffering from substance use disorders | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

[11] Trunk and Gharabaghi (2023) Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy on Recovery after Stroke –A Systematic Review Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy on Recovery after Stroke – A Systematic Review |medRxiv

[12] Lanning et al. (2014) Equine-assisted therapy inquality of life and functioning of people with active epilepsy: A feasibility study Equine-assisted therapy in quality of life and functioning of people with active epilepsy: A feasibility study - ScienceDirect

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