Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy for Children 2-12 years. Animal assisted therapy promotes the unconditional relationship qualities of animals, to enrich therapeutic experiences.
The goal of animal assisted therapy with our children and teen clients is to create positive interactions between humans and animals so that they can learn about each other’s behaviours and emotions. The ongoing relationship between the client, animal and therapist helps to create an emotionally safe space where children and teens can express and explore themselves in a unique experiential way.
Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy
Here at Hinterland Childrens Therapy we focus on the client’s individual therapy goals which could be emotional, social, physical, and cognitive. Kids and teens come to us for a variety of reasons including:
- Support with emotional regulation
- Increase self-esteem and confidence
- Create a sense of empowerment
- Increase empathy and build stronger connection to self and others
- Develop social skills
- Promote positive reinforcement
- Helps develop language skills
- Rewire negative thinking patterns
- Improves motor skills
We offer both individual and group sessions which may include working with horses, dogs or cows. Animals are always invited into sessions in a gentle respectful way. All our work with animals is done on the ground. No mounting or riding the horses.
Animal assisted therapy for children and teens helps them connect with nature, connect with themselves, and restore the body-mind balance.
