Mental Health Benefits of Dog Theapry

Dog Therapy can have many mental health benefits.  Some of those mental benefts are:

  • lifts spirits and lessens depression
  • decreases feelings of isolation and alienation
  • encourages communication
  • provides comfort
  • increases socialization and sense of community
  • reduces boredom
  • decreases anxiety
  • helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders
  • creates motivation for the client to recover faster
  • reduces loneliness

I have personally seen these mental affects with patients with my therapy dogs.  I attend a facility once a week, it gives the residents something different and someone different to talk to for a few hours on that day.  Boredom and loneliness are gone for that time since I engage everyone with the dogs.  There are a lot of smiles and laughter.  It truly is a miracle to witness these mental changes that a dog can bring.  If you are a talker and people person and your dog loves to be pet, consider finding a therapy test in your area.  If you already do therapy visit then you know how rewarding it can be.  Consider adding a Smoocher or scarf for decoration to really brighten things up.