Animals and humans have established a close bond since ancient times, and to leverage this connection, various types of animal-assisted therapies are being developed today. These involve animals ranging from horses to dogs and cats, as these animals have demonstrated their ability to create bonds of loyalty and affection with people.
The Biophilia Hypothesis
The American biologist Edward Osborne Wilson established the biophilia hypothesis, which states that humans tend to feel an innate affinity with nature and all living beings.
We have pets, care for plants, grow food, and some even adopt a vegan lifestyle, and these actions allow us to feel great personal satisfaction. Animal-assisted therapy is based on that feeling of well-being provided by the closeness of pets, which can successfully intervene in this therapy. It aims to provide a better quality of life, or a faster recovery for patients, using animal-assisted therapy in its different modalities.
How is Animal-Assisted Therapy Developed?
Animal-assisted therapy aims to promote the positive evolution of the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functions of various patients. These therapies must be led by specialized professionals. This may be a professional with higher education in animal-assisted therapy who, depending on the organization, may be in charge of an interdisciplinary team that includes psychologists, speech therapists, and other professionals. A team of this category can be essential in this therapy for autistic children, for example.
In an animal-assisted therapy process, the animal also becomes a therapist, and can do so because it has previously received adequate training. Recent research has shown that animal-assisted therapy results in feelings of tranquility and relaxation for the patient. Therefore, it is applied to people with different needs, such as the prison population and the elderly. Excellent results have been achieved in animal therapy for people with various disabilities, children, and adults. The methodology of this therapy can be developed in different environments, individually or in groups.
The Master’s Degree in Animal-Assisted Therapy
To make the most of the resources offered by animal-assisted therapy, it is essential that the treatment is carried out by a qualified professional. Someone with a Master’s Degree in Animal-Assisted Therapy has the ability to integrate an animal as part of the support generally given to people with different abilities. The animal is an essential support and, in addition to facilitating therapeutic processes, becomes a very important focal point for enhancing the patient’s comprehensive development.
Therapies involving animals have evolved to the point where it is now essential to establish a master’s degree that addresses this specialization. This is a pioneering master’s program, for which significant resources have been invested, including top-level faculty. The methodology followed by this important course is based on a strategic combination of theoretical and practical classes. This way, excellent preparation is guaranteed to start working immediately in the field of animal-assisted therapy.
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