Therapeutic Benefits of Owning A Pet
It seems like nowadays grocery stores, restaurants, and even airports, display signs promoting the allowance, or non-allowance, of Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), or Therapy Animals. With the rise in popularity of being able to take “man’s best friend” to more animal friendly environments, a lot of us wonder “Are animals actually therapeutic?” or “Is than an excuse for you to be able to take your pet anywhere you want to?” This article will help break some of these questions down and show you the actual benefits of owning an animal.
What are the therapeutic benefits of owning a pet?
Many therapists have been integrating newer and more non-traditional therapy techniques to use with their clients. Such as play therapy, sand tray therapy, art therapy, and music therapy. This allows them to help further build rapport or appeal to a client in a way that “clicks” with them. In 1965, Dr. Boris M. Levinson was one of the first researchers to introduce and study animal-assisted therapy. What he found was that it enhanced the healing aspect of the therapeutic process. So, what other kinds of beneficial research have been found on owning a pet?
Why Animals?
They Help Us Stay Active.
Animals require A LOT of our attention. Animals need daily exercise just as much as humans do. Many dog (and some cat!) lovers have reported they love being able to take their dogs with them during physical activities such as running or walking. And their animals have helped them to stay more consistent on a fitness routine.
Animals Reduce Our Stress Levels.
When our bodies experience stressful situations or perceived threats, our adrenal glands produce a hormone known as cortisol. Which helps control our blood pressure and increases the body’s metabolism. Additionally, it activates the fight, flight, or freeze response. Different studies have shown animals were found to elicit a reduction in cortisol levels across all ages. Especially when compared to other stress relief tasks such as reading a book, interacting with other people, or playing with toys.
Animals Reduce Our Risk of Heart Disease.
Cardiovascular Disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The American Heart Association produced a study showing a reduction in cardiovascular risk by owning a pet. As owners with pets showed reduced levels of blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol. While they showed an increase in their physical activity. So it’s safe to say owning a pet is literally, figuratively, and emotionally good for the heart!
Animals Are Good for Mental Health.
Across ALL Ages. One amazing aspect of owning animals is their unconditional love for us. They are non-judgmental (unless of course, you’re a husky owner like me then this one may be debatable!). Animals are also able to sense distress in us. Many articles and studies have focused on finding the use of animals beneficial for different age groups with different needs for mental health care. Such as:
young children who experienced trauma from abuse and/or neglect
veterans suffering from PTSD
university students who are away from their families
older adults with anxiety, depression, or other psychological disorders
geriatric patients with chronic illnesses.
The list goes on and on!
Thoughts From A Miami Therapist Before You Get an Animal for Therapeutic Benefit
Okay, so now you’re convinced and ready to get a pet now, right? Awesome! Remember that owning an animal is a big commitment. Animals need care and attention much like us. Here are a few things to consider before buying or adopting a new furry (or scaley) friend to add to your family:
You Have To Take Care of Yourself
Just Because You Get a Pet, Does NOT Mean You Stop Taking Care of Yourself.
Remember those benefits listed earlier? Getting an animal doesn’t mean we replace things such as exercising, talking to a Miami therapist, and engaging in healthy relationships. Self-care is a constant process. This means building and sticking to things that are GOOD for us. And remember that things that are good for you are not always easy.
Not All Animals Are the Same
House Animals, Therapy Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Service Animals are NOT the same
House Animals
House animals are simply the pets that take up our couch space, purr when you give them attention, shed so much it really puts our Roomba vacuums to work, swim around in the at-home aquarium or fishbowl, have random zoomies in the hallway, bring you the ball when they want to play fetch, and want belly rubs while you’re watching your favorite show. These are our family members. Much like how we cannot expect our new relationship to heal our past issues from childhood, we cannot put on the expectation that our pets will “save” us as well.
Therapy Animals
Therapy animals are trained animals that are allowed to be in specific therapeutic settings. Such as hospital settings, schools, nursing homes, child advocacy centers, counseling centers, etc. Therapy animals are always accompanied in these locations by a handler and must require specific privileges by the facility to be allowed. Similar to a permit to enter the building.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are similar to house animals, only this time specifically to help with our emotional distress. They are pets owned by an individual and provide emotional support for their owner. These animals do not need any specific training. However, they can become certified ESA through specific classes offered by animal trainers. Owners of ESA must request specially written documentation by a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, etc. With a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression to receive special permission for their ESA to gain access to housing with restricted pet policies as well as access to airplanes.
Service Animals
Service Animals are highly trained animals providing specific services to disabled individuals such as someone who is deaf, blind, or suffers from epilepsy, heart attacks, and other illnesses. As this person relies heavily on the service animal.
Does The Type of Animal Matter?
Sometimes the type of animal or breed matters; sometimes it doesn’t.
I could sit here and discuss all day about whether some animals and their different breeds are more aggressive by nature than others. This is not always true as psychology has also taught us the Nature vs. Nurture debate stands to be about 50-50. When choosing an animal and breed, please do your own research on this animal and how to care for them. At the end of the day, we crave bonds whether that be with our family and friends or with an animal companion. Bonds help us feel less alone and can bring us happiness.
Start Therapy With a Miami Therapist
Do you want to learn more about the benefits of owning a dog? Do you need extra support for your mental health or finding stress relief? Then Miami Vibes Counseling can help! We can help you find the right techniques to start living a happier and healthiest life. Get started with one of our Miami therapists by following these steps:
Schedule your first appointment with a Miami therapist
Start improving your mental health
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Our caring Miami therapists offer mental health counseling using a variety of approaches, including CBT, EMDR, and Brainspotting. These methods can help with anxiety therapy, stress relief, life transitions therapy, and depression treatment. As well as parent coaching, family therapy, couples therapy and more. We truly look forward to supporting you and your family!
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