What is Animal-Assisted Therapy and How does it work?


AAT or Animal Assisted Therapy is a kind of therapy that focuses on improving physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems with the help of animals. This form of therapeutic intervention involves forming a bond between the patient and the animal. Animal Assisted Therapy is goal-oriented and often implemented along with other therapies to complement the treatment process. The patients are made to form a bond with the animals to promote their psychological, emotional, interactive, and physical well-being. So let’s see how Animal-assisted therapy works.
As mentioned earlier, animal-assisted therapy focuses on building a bond between animals and humans. Studies have shown that having positive interaction with animals stimulates the brain and reduces blood pressure. Having an animal as a companion also helps in reducing stress and initiating relaxation in mind. Besides mental calmness, animal-assisted therapy aids in improving physical well-being. Horseback riding therapy, in particular, is effective in stimulating vestibular sensory and enhancing motor skills and balance.