How Animal-Assisted Intervention Improves the Treatment of Veterans

dog and man

Dogs are the best friends of humans. They have been our loyal companions for hunting, protection, and transportation for years. And in recent years, they have found new purposes in our lives through being detectors for the ill, extensions for the disabled, and therapists for the troubled.

One example of the last newfound purpose is complementing the treatment of veterans who suffer from mental problems after service. Due to the popularity of animal-assisted therapy, most veterans who avail of a program want to be partnered with a service dog or emotional support animal.

As Rear Brain, a clinic director and clinical psychologist at Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Psychiatry, said, “In addition to evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-based processing therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, we aim to integrate what each individual is aiming for into a treatment plan. People really want the power of animals. As I know, I had some patients come and ask us to connect them with organizations that provide animal support therapy and service animals.“

That means that animal-assisted therapy is not only going mainstream but it’s also really effective in helping servicemen and women integrate into the society they swore to protect.

Source: FLORIDA NEWS TIMES


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