Dogs as aids to therapy - Charlotte & Ruby
The use of animals (especially Dogs) as therapy is not a new idea - dogs have been used in the care sector for over 40 years. The benefits of Animal Assisted Therapies (AAT) have been extensively studied and the results range from improvement in general health and wellbeing to increased confidence levels, improved and controlled movement to improved communication skills.
Therapy Dogs Nationwide is a national Charity where visiting volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to give comfort, distraction, and stimulation. All dogs are temperament tested.Ruby is registered under “Therapy Dogs Nationwide” and Dr Charlotte Bolt is insured as her animal assisted therapist.
Who Ruby can help:
Ruby is particularly useful for working with people who find the idea of therapy daunting, particularly if they struggle with social anxiety or autism, as she can help facilitate communication or offer opportunities to discuss the difference between human and animal communication and associated difficulties.
Ruby is also great for working with trauma, offering opportunities for grounding and providing a safe therapeutic frame.
For people who are generally anxious, or slightly wary of dogs but anxious about other things, Ruby can be good to overcome this anxiety and think about how anxiety can then be overcome in other areas of life.
Ruby is also helpful in graded exposure as part of overcoming dog phobias.
Ruby is particularly good with working with children!
For more information:
Therapy Dogs Nationwide: http://www.tdn.org.uk
Animal Assisted Therapy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/animal-assisted-therapy
Evidence summary for dogs in therapy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decoding-your-pet/201501/what-if-your-therapist-had-dog-in-the-office
Sessions with Charlotte & Ruby cost £130 for 50 minutes.
For more information/to enquire about Charlotte & Ruby’s availability please contact Dr Laura Keyes, Clinical Psychologist.
T: 07880 610 449
E: admin@drlaurakeyes.com
