therapy animals
Healing pet companions
Therapy animals are animals trained to provide comfort, affection, and emotional support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or disaster areas.
Unlike service animals, which perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy animals offer general psychological benefit through human-animal interaction: The therapy dog visited patients on the pediatric ward.
Dogs are most common, though cats, rabbits, and horses also serve.
Trained canine for blind
- hearing dogCanine aide for deaf
- mobility assistanceAid for movement-impaired individuals
- autism supportAid for developmental differences
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
psychiatric · visual impairment · wheelchair · accessibility · independence · trained · certified · handler
Forming close connections
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- emotional supportCompassionate help during distress
- connectionA joining or relation
trust · attachment · socialization · interaction · familiarity · routine · visits · relationship
State of being unwound
- anxiety reductionLowering excessive worry
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- calmingInducing a settled state
destress · mindfulness · grounding · breathing · soothing · peaceful · tension release · decompression
Regaining what was lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- wellnessOverall state of health
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
counseling · mental health · emotional regulation · coping · resilience · progress · breakthrough · intervention
guide dog
Trained canine for blind
- hearing dogCanine aide for deaf
- mobility assistanceAid for movement-impaired individuals
- autism supportAid for developmental differences
PTSD · psychiatric · visual impairment · wheelchair · accessibility · independence · trained · certified · handler · vest
bonding
Forming close connections
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- emotional supportCompassionate help during distress
connection · trust · attachment · socialization · interaction · familiarity · routine · visits · relationship · unconditional love
soothe
Gently ease discomfort
warmth · gentle · soft · furry · petting · stroking · nuzzle · lap · purring · cozy
relaxation
State of being unwound
- anxiety reductionLowering excessive worry
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
calming · destress · mindfulness · grounding · breathing · soothing · peaceful · tension release · decompression · sensory
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- wellnessOverall state of health
- traumaLasting psychological wound
grief · counseling · mental health · emotional regulation · coping · resilience · progress · breakthrough · intervention · treatment
dog
Domesticated barking mammal
guinea pig · miniature horse · llama · alpaca · bird · fish · dolphin · pig · chicken · goat
- animal welfareanimal rights, humane societies, humane treatment, shelters, animal ethics
- petsdog, dogs, cats, puppy, kitten
- accessibilitywheelchair access, wheelchair sports, wheelchair ramp, adaptive skiing, accessibility features
- pet lifepets, dog owner, cat owner, fur baby, pet ownership
- special animalsrare species, exotic wildlife, protected species, endemic species, giant panda
- Autism SupportABA, special education, IEP, early intervention, social skills training
therapy animalsdangerous animals
Fauna capable of harm
attack dogs · guard dogs · venomous animals · predatory animals · laboratory animals
therapy animalswild animals
Undomesticated fauna
feral animals · wild beasts · feral dogs · stray animals · wildlife
animals, therapy, therapist, therapeutic, therapies, therapists, psychotherapy, aromatherapy, chemotherapy