July 18, 2014 Animals Speak: Animal- Assisted Therapy In the Treatment of Eating Disorders and Addictions Cheryl Musick, Group Specialist, EAGALA Advanced Certified
Objectives History-Where did it all begin? What is AAT-Animal Assisted Therapy? Service, Therapy or Emotional Support-What is the Difference? The Pack, The Herd and the Human Deciphering Animal Language Animals Eating Disorders & Co-Morbid Complications Meet Rosewood s AAT Team
Prehistoric Cave Paintings
York Retreat 1792
Sigmund Freud & Jo-fi
1960 s Dr. Boris Levinson
Relationship Flipper, Mr. Ed & Lassie
Devotion Greyfriars Bobby 1856-1872 Hachiko 1923-1935
What is AAT? According to Pet Partners, formerly Delta Society, which is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization that promotes therapy, service and companion animals: Animal Assisted Therapy is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical health-care treatment process. AAT is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical applications of human-animal interactions.
Benefits of AAT Physical Health 1. Lowers Blood Pressure 2. Improves cardiovascular health 3. Releases endorphins (Oxytocin) 4. Diminishes Pain 5. Reduces need for medication
Benefits of AAT Emotional Health 1. Depression Reduction 2. Decreased feelings of isolation 3. Increased Communication 4. Comfort 5. Increased socialization 6. Boredom Reduction 7. Decreased Anxiety 8. Reduces loneliness 9. Children-Increased Speech
UCLA AAT Medical Study In conjunction with the Heart Association & PAC -People Animal Connection September 2005 Heart Failure Patients Vitals taken before session 12 Minute AAT Sessions Vitals after session revealed improvement in heart/lung, blood pressure, heart rate Increased peripheral skin temperature
UCLA AAT Medical Study Psychological benefits: Decrease in anxiety, isolation, fear of procedures. Improved social interactions, social support, communication, sensory stimulation and general overall happiness.
Companion, Therapy or Service Animals
Emotional Support Animal-ESA Comfort for persons with Psychological limitations. Fair Housing Act Requires prescription letter from mental health professional Travel-In cabin flight without pet fee Otherwise treated as pets.
Emotional Support Dogs The term Emotional Support Dog refers to a dog that provides therapeutic benefit to an elderly individual or individual with a disability. The primary purpose of an Emotional Support Dog is to provide the owner with affection, companionship, and provide motivation. Emotional Support Dogs should be trust worthy and have friendly dispositions. They should be well trained, although they need not be trained to perform tasks. There is no category for Emotional Support Dogs in the ADA, however these dogs are covered under the Fair Housing Amendment Act or FHA and Amended Air Carrier Access Act or ACAA. Heeling Allies Assistance Dogs http://www.mentalhealthdogs.org/contact-us.html
Service Animals Legally defined- Americans With Disabilities Act) Trained to meet the disability-related needs of handler Allowed in public places Not considered pets
Americans with Disabilities Act According to the ADA: Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. www.ada.gov
Therapy Animals Not legally defined by federal law Some states have laws defining therapy Animals Not limited to persons with disabilities Not service animals Works with handlers to provide services to others.
The Pack, The Herd and the Human AAT How do animals help?
Pack-Herd Behaviors Horse Herd Dominant-Subordinate pecking order Alpha Stallion-Lead Mare Dominant horses eat first Horses work their way to the top Stallion pushes herd Mare leads herd It s all about attitude Dog Pack Descendant of wolves Alpha: Dog eats first, leads the pack during hunting communicates authority by making eye contact, body language and mouthing/biting subordinates Beta-Next dog in line and dogs vying for lead position Omega-bottom of Pack Competition-possessions
Natural Human Response
Language Horse-Verbal 1. Squeal -challenging another horse 2. Snort -danger, warning, or play 3. Whinny or Neigh- looking for someone 4. Nicker-a Greeting Horse Non Verbal 1. Eyes-whites showing anxious or angry 2. Ears-flattened back-angry 3. Tight hard lips Anxious/tense 4. Tail-Swishing-irritated or flies 5. Tail- High, raised excited, happy
Tell Tail Signs
Canine Therapy
Observation What is Happening? Which Horse can you Relate to?
Interaction Ineffective communication Control issues Unwillingness to seek support
Application Learning to speak their language
Knowledge-Client Safety
Metaphors Parents Fighting Sibling Rivalry Marital conflict Issues with Co- Worker Metaphors
Metaphors The Rope ED/Drugs The Hand - family or Treatment Team Dog Me (Holding on to Addiction) I need to let go.
Interpretation of Behaviors Natural horse behavior No one likes me The Horse doesn t like me The horse is annoyed Human Interactions I m worthless Person doesn t like me Person is angry at me Horse walks away Person walks past client
Animal Behaviors-Client Reality Clinician-Question 1. What did you notice? 2. Where did the horse go? 3. What is the horse doing now? 4. Did he leave you to go eat? 5. How will you find out? 6. What is the horse doing? Megan-Answer 1. The Horse walked away 2. To the other side of the pen 3. The horse is eating 4. I m not sure 5. I ll try to pet him 6. The horse is letting me pet him. Maybe he likes me.
Human Behavior-Client Reality Clinician-Question 1. What did you notice? 2. What does this mean for you? 3. How can you be sure? 4. What did you do with the horse? 5. What did you find? 6. What can you do with the person? 7. (Next session) What did you find? Megan Answer 1. The person passed and didn t say Hello 2. She s mad at me. 3. I don t know. 4. I went to her to find the truth 5. That she likes me. 6. Go talk with her 7. The person told me she was having a hard day and was not angry at me.
Fear Big Scary Horse He ll kick me He s going to hurt me
Metaphor Big Scary Step Father He Hits Me He hurts Me
Facing the Fear of the Horse
And the Fear that Drives the Addictions
AAT, DBT & Eating Disorders
DBT-Mindfulness- WHAT skills Mindfulness observe Describe Participate
Observe
Describe
l Participate
DBT-The How Skills Mindfulness Non- Judgmentally One- Mindfully Effectively
Food-the Best Medicine
Digestive System
Horses and Body Image Horses are refreshingly free of comparing and judgment
Choosing Appropriate Animals A Guide Dog. Why not a chicken?
Choosing Therapy Animals Calm Temperament, willing, interactive Tolerant of various persons handling the animal Horses able to handle pressure without kicking or biting Dogs trained and certified for obedience
Jack 16 yr. Old Quarter Horse Huggable-Comfort Sensitive to Pressure Resistant to Tugging Large Size-Fear Requires confidence & assertive communication Non Verbal Request Boundaries
Rosie 22 Yr. Old Miniature Seasoned Therapy Horse Undaunted Self Confident Teaches Effective Communication Skills
Milo 7 Month Old Nigerian Dwarf Goat Inquisitive Affectionate Humorous Socially Interactive Anxiety Reduction Nurture/Self Care
Otis 7 Month Old Nigerian Dwarf Goat Wary Playful Cuddly Gentle
Cash 5 yr. Old Black Labrador Retriever Devoted Gentle Affectionate Playful Comfort Anxiety Reduction
Fuchsia Beta Responsibility- Nurture Distraction Comfort Anxiety Reduction
Emma-RIP July 10, 2014 30 yr. Old Miniature Horse Rescue Horse Trust & ability to forgive Restoration Survivor We miss you and thank you!
Continuing Education Certificate 1. Attending LIVE Webinars 2-Ways to earn CE s for Webinars: 1) Attend LIVE Webinar presentation. 2) Following the LIVE Webinar you will receive an email with an Evaluation Form and Post-Test attached. 3) Complete both forms and return to: TRI@rosewoodranch.com 4) Upon receipt of the Post-Test and Evaluation Form, and successful completion of the post-test (score of 80% or better), a CE Certificate will be sent to you. 2. Attending Recorded Webinars under the TRI Website CE Webinar Tab 1) Register at TRI where you will find a list of chosen pre-recorded webinars under the CE Webinar Tab. 2) Here you will be able watch the full video presentation and have access to the Post-test and Evaluation Summary. You will be able to download the CE Certificate available upon passing the post test. Sylvia.Gargan@rosewoodranch.com
How To Contact Us Email TRI: TRI@RosewoodRanch.com Visit us: www.rosewoodinstitute.org Contact Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders 1-800-845-2211 Info@RosewoodRanch.com