What is Animal-Assisted Play Therapy?

Animal assisted play therapy is the integrated involvement of animals in the context of play therapy, in which a trained therapist and animals engage to improve client’s development and psychosocial health, whilst simultaneously ensuring the animals well being and voluntary engagement. Animal assisted play therapy can assist with self-efficacy, attachment and relationship, empathy and self-regulation. The feature that most distinguishes AAPT from other forms of animal assisted therapy is the inclusion of play and playfulness as the primary means of expressing feelings, developing relationships, and resolving psychosocial problems.

How does AAPT work?

Animal assisted play therapy is rooted in the bond that can develop between children and animals. Animals can provide a bridge through to children with a lot of defence systems and anxiety. Focusing on an animal can help a child to relax, connect, feel safe and allow them to begin to explore how they feel about experiences and their lives.

Why AAPT?

• AAPT can be very effective for Children with ASD and ADHD as it can increase the attention span and have a positive calming effect and help with social interaction.

• For a chid with Autism, an animal can offer a powerful multi-sensory stimulus that counteracts the low sensory and effective arousal levels.

• Animals provide spontaneous behavioural responses which are simple and easy for children to interpret.

• AAPT releases endorphins (oxytocin) that has a calming effect for children and young people that struggle with emotional dysregulation.

• AAPT can help children and young people to restructure their emotional response, thus allowing whole brain learning. This is done through physical and emotional experiences with the therapy dog, engaging the sensitive limbic region of the brains mammalian centre and the autonomic nervous system.

• AAPT requires a trusting relationship which is helped by the therapy dog working as co- regulator of emotion.

• AAPT helps children focus better, in a non-stressful, non-judgemental environment and increases self-confidence.