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Pets have been part of our households for centuries, staying by our side through it all. There are many noted benefits of having pets in the home, including improvement in mental health. In fact, 74% of pet owners report mental health improvements from having a pet in the home. [1] We know that pets make wonderful companions and bring mental health benefits, which is why pet therapy programs for addiction treatment are growing in popularity. Our nationwide drug and alcohol detox programs and treatment facilities incorporate many therapies, with some locations offering pet therapy for addiction treatment.

What Is Pet Therapy?

Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, is a therapeutic approach where patients interact with pets such as cats, dogs, or even horses in a controlled setting. Patients usually pet the animals, they might play with the animals, or simply spend time in a room or space where animals are present. In equine-assisted treatment, a subset of animal-assisted therapy, patients spend time caring for horses.

Contact our drug and alcohol treatment professionals to learn more about our pet therapy programs for addiction and mental health treatment.

Pet Therapy Benefits

Whether interacting with pet therapy dogs or other animals, there are numerous benefits to seeking pet therapy for addiction treatment. By participating in pet therapy programs, patients can enjoy benefits such as:

• Reduced anxiety
• Better control of emotions
• Improved emotional comfort
• Lessening feelings of isolation or loneliness

The above benefits show how pets are able to respond to humans in healing ways, especially with nonverbal support to subtle emotional cues. [2] Pet therapy can also help those struggling with mental health disorders improve their social skills, making it easier to socialize with others. [3]

Pet therapy can help treat:

• Social anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Alcoholism
• Addiction
• Anxiety

In a drug addiction treatment center setting, pet therapy benefits include better overall mental health through support and companionship. We often offer pet therapy in conjunction with other programs at our mental health treatment facility, such as group or individual therapy. Pet therapy is one component of successful drug treatment.

Finding Pet Therapy Programs

There are numerous pet therapy programs available, but for treating substance use, it’s important to find a program that specifically addresses the challenges of addiction. At Banyan Treatment Center, we offer personalized pet therapy programs for addiction, helping patients heal and work towards sobriety.

Contact our team to learn more about pet therapy and our additional approaches to drug and alcohol treatment.

Sources:

1. ADAA – Alleviating Anxiety, Stress and Depression with the Pet Effect
2. NCBI – The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence
3. NCBI – The Benefit of Pets and Animal-Assisted Therapy to the Health of Older Individuals