Maite Ahuir, psychologist Llunàtics
When we talk about animal-assisted therapy (AAT) some people believe it is animal psychology, but it is not that, but rather to work with animals as a therapeutic tool to help people with problems or various pathologies.
The animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic process in which the needs of the individual are evaluated, objectives are proposed to meet, carried out a therapeutic process regulated followed by a record of what happened at the meeting and post evaluation -session. They must be taught several sessions.
It is imperative that the team has a graduate or diploma in social sciences, health or educational therapist who has extensive knowledge about the characteristics of the physical / mental disability, among others. TAA training I consider essential, but the therapist not only entitled, but team members, including volunteers. And it is that therapy can not carry out a single person, but are required (in the case of working with horses) in most cases at least three or four people. Depending on which case they may increase.
There are other activities with animals, but not considered therapy by not complying with the above requirements (evaluation, therapeutic process, setting goals, involving a therapist), although specific criteria (animal training, security, etc.) must be met so that they can carry out.
Among the different types of TAA we find the Equestrian Therapy (TE). We could believe that just a person who knows how to handle a horse can already make tea, and above it alone with the patient and is not. It would be a great irresponsibility. It needs a multidisciplinary team adequately trained in the field.
To work not just any horse, but must be evaluated and chosen horse thoroughly trained on purpose and not to exert any other parallel activity.
In my training on this subject I have been able to feel some benefits this weekend. I've been riding a lovely therapist, lying about it in a specific way horse and I could feel her warmth, her breathing, rhythm, power and warmth. I almost sleep at how relaxed I've been !. What the benefits will not get this wonderful animal!?. It is found that benefits are achieved in socialization, emotional, cognitive, physical, psychomotor, undoubtedly improving the quality of life of people.
In addition, these animals are animals loved, respected and cared for to the limit ... Any animal human-interactive activity that serves to improve the quality of life of people, loving, caring, valuing and respecting animals, welcome it !. You'll have a good summer, estudiantesconasignaturascolgando included.
