General
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is simply more than spending time with an animal. It involves specific therapeutic goals and strategies and outcome measures. Therapeutic experiences for an animal, as well as processing the experience of trying to achieve a given task.
Animal Assisted Therapy improves the mental, physical, social and emotional functioning with the aid of animals. Animal Assisted Therapy is gaining traction in numerous settings. Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland has a wealth of experience supporting children with assistance dogs.
Animal are accepting, non-threating and non-judgemental manner. Making it easier for people, children to open up.
What are the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy?
Some of the benefits of animal assisted therapy include:
- Improve motor skills
- Improved balance
- Increased focus and attention
- Increased self-esteem, self- confidence
- Reduced anxiety, grief and isolation
- Increased trust, empathy
- Greater self-control
- Improved social skills
- Reduced need for medication
Assistance Dogs NI have several Animal Assisted Therapy programmes throughout Northern Ireland.
We have an AAT programme within the following settings:
- Court
- Hospice/Dementia Unit
- School
- Prison
If you are thinking about availing of Animal Assisted Therapy in your particular setting please complete our Animal Assisted Therapy Enquiry Form.
We have four types of Assistance dogs - Autism Assistance and Autism Companion Dogs, Disability Assistance Dogs and Therapy Dogs.
Click on an image below for more information.
Autism Anchor Dogs
Helping a child remain safe, calm and focused in busy places.
Autism Companion Dogs
Assisting individuals to gain more independence.
Disability Assistance Dogs
Learn how our dogs can help full-time wheelchair users.