Mental Health Benefits of Dog Theapry
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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.